Complete Guide to Pickleball Scoring | How to Count Points, 3-Digit Calls, and Side Outs Explained

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2026年6月12日

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Complete Guide to Pickleball Scoring | How to Count Points, 3-Digit Calls, and Side Outs Explained

"What are those three numbers said before serving...?" - Almost everyone who starts playing pickleball struggles with scoring.

Hi, I'm Coach Yoshi. I've played tennis for 15 years and became a pickleball coach in 2026. While the rules themselves are simple, the scoring in pickleball is a bit unique at first. But don't worry, once you understand the system, it all clicks into place. In this article, I'll break down the "side-out scoring system," "three-digit call," and "0-0-2 start" that beginners often stumble on, using diagrams to explain them step by step.

This article is a deep dive into the "scoring" section of the Complete Guide to Pickleball Rules, which covers the entire set of rules.

The Big Premise: Only the serving team can score points

First, this is the most important rule:

Only the team serving can score points.
If the receiving team wins the rally, they don't score points. Instead, they gain the "serve."

This system, where only the serving team can score, is called the side-out scoring system. Unlike tennis where both sides can score, the key characteristic of pickleball is that you must first gain the serve, maintain it, and continue winning rallies to accumulate points.

Matches are played to 11 points, winning by a margin of 2 points (some tournaments may play to 15 or 21 points).

Breaking Down the "Three-Digit Call" in Doubles

In doubles, you must always call out three numbers before serving. For example, "4 - 2 - 1." It's easy to break down what these three numbers represent.

Diagram breaking down the pickleball score call: 'our score - opponent's score - server number'

First number = Our score (serving team)
Second number = Opponent's score (receiving team)
Third number = Server number (1 or 2)

So, "4 - 2 - 1" means: Our team has 4 points, the opponents have 2 points, and Server 1 is currently serving. Until you get used to it, try to count while repeating "Our score - Opponent's score - Server number" in your head.

(Note that the very beginning of the game starts uniquely with "0 - 0 - 2." The reason for this will be explained later.)

What do "Server 1" and "Server 2" mean?

In doubles, as long as a team has the serve, both players on the pair serve in turn.

The person who serves first is "Server 1," and the next is "Server 2."
As long as Server 1 continues to win points, Server 1 continues to serve.
If Server 1 faults (loses a rally or serves incorrectly), the serve does not immediately go to the opponents; instead, Server 2 of the same pair takes over.
If Server 2 also loses, then finally the serve transfers to the opposing team (this is "side-out").

This means one team can continue serving until both players fault. The third number in the call is used to communicate to everyone whether the first or second player is currently serving.

Why does it start with "0 - 0 - 2" only at the beginning?

The call at the start of the game always begins with "0 - 0 - 2." This might seem confusing, making you wonder, "Wait, no one has served yet, but it's Server 2...?"

This is a measure to prevent the first serving team from having too much of an advantage.

While doubles typically allows two players to serve, only for the very first team of the game, the serve passes to the opponents as soon as the first player faults (there is no second server).
This "first player" is, for convenience, counted as "Server 2" in the call. So, the game starts with "0 - 0 - 2." You can imagine it as starting with Server 1's turn already used up.
This minimizes the advantage of the "side that serves first."

For the initial "0 - 0 - 2," it's fine to just remember it as "that's how it is." From the second service possession onwards, both players can serve normally.

Which court side do you serve from? (Even/Odd Rule)

The score is also linked to where you serve from. Knowing this will help you avoid confusion about which side you should serve from.

If your team's score is an even number (0, 2, 4...) → Serve from the right side (deuce court in tennis)
If your team's score is an odd number (1, 3, 5...) → Serve from the left side (advantage court or ad side in tennis)

Since the game starts at 0 points (an even number), the first server always serves from the right side. As points are scored, the server switches sides, hitting from either the left or right. Just remember "if the score is even, serve from the right" to avoid confusion about your position.

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip If you forget the score, the server's position can be a hint. If they are on the right, your score is even; if on the left, it's odd. The call and position always go together.

Singles scoring is even simpler

In 1-on-1 singles, you don't need the server number, so it's a two-digit call.

The call consists of only two numbers: "Your score - Opponent's score."
The even/odd rule for serving position is the same (if your score is even, serve from the right; if odd, from the left).
It's still first to 11 points, winning by 2 points.

Once you get used to the three-digit call in doubles, singles will feel surprisingly easy.

A game flow example

Since words alone can be confusing, let's trace the beginning of a doubles game:

Team A serves. The call is "0 - 0 - 2." Since the score is 0 (even), they serve from the right side.
Team A scores 1 point. Since they scored, the server continues. The next call is "1 - 0 - 2." The same person serves, now from the left side because the score is 1 (odd).
Team A's server faults → Since the first team only gets one server to start, the serve passes to Team B.
Team B serves. The call is "0 - 1 - 1" (our score 0, opponents 1, server 1). They serve from the right side.
From then on, with each fault, the server moves from Server 1 → Server 2 → then to the opposing team.

It might be confusing for the first few games, but after three games, your body will remember. Don't rush; consistently calling out the score is the quickest way to improve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What happens if I make a wrong call? A. If it's before the serve, you can just correct it. It's good etiquette for everyone to confirm with each other. If you notice a mistake, don't hesitate to stop and correct it.

Q. When a point is scored, which pair swaps positions (left/right)? A. Only the serving pair that scored the point swaps positions (left/right). The receiving pair does not move.

Q. What's the winning score? A. Typically, it's first to 11 points, winning by a margin of 2 points. If the score reaches 10-10 (like deuce in tennis), play continues until one team has a 2-point lead. Some tournaments may adopt 15 or 21 points.

Summary

Only the serving team can score (side-out system). First to 11 points, winning by 2.
The three-digit call in doubles is "Our score - Opponent's score - Server number."
In doubles, both players can serve (except at the very start of the game, where only one serves = 0-0-2).
Serve from the right if your score is even, and from the left if it's odd.
Singles uses a simpler two-digit call.

Understanding the scoring system makes the game much more enjoyable. For how to hit the serve itself, check out the Complete Guide to Pickleball Serves, and for strategic positioning, see Doubles Formations and Positioning. If you're still struggling to remember the calls, feel free to ask me (Coach Yoshi) on LINE.