Whether you're new to the game or just need a refresher, understanding how pickleball scoring works is essential. In this article, we'll break down the basics of scoring, including some of the basic rules and techniques for keeping track of points. Let's jump in.
Rally Scoring vs Traditional Scoring
There are two main scoring systems: rally scoring and traditional scoring.
Traditional scoring is how the game was originally designed and what you will most likely encounter when playing. In this system, only the serving team can score points. If they win a rally while serving, they earn a point and continue serving. However, if they lose the rally, the serve goes to the next person for a chance to score a point.
Rally scoring is a newer approach that has gained popularity. With rally scoring, every point matters. It doesn't matter which team served the ball - if you win the rally, you earn a point. This means that each serve is an opportunity to score, keeping the game fast-paced and exciting. If you’re short on time, this might be a better option as the game will go much faster than traditional scoring.
Both scoring systems have their pros and cons. Rally scoring keeps players a bit more on their toes and is faster-paced than traditional scoring. Traditional scoring slows the game down a bit and allows for more strategic gameplay as teams have to strategically earn points through their serves.
Ultimately, whether you prefer rally or traditional scoring depends on your personal preference and playing style. For the sake of this article, the focus will be on traditional scoring, meaning only the serving team can win a point.
Pickleball Scoring in Singles Matches
Keeping score in singles pickleball is actually quite straightforward. Here's a step-by-step breakdown to help you understand how it works.
The game begins with the serving player standing behind the baseline and serving diagonally to their opponent's service court.
Once the ball is served, the players rally until someone commits a fault. A fault can occur from any rule violation.
If the server commits a fault, the ball goes to the opponent to serve. If the receiver commits the fault, the serving player wins a point.
The first player to reach 11 points with at least a 2-point lead wins that game. However, if both players reach 10 points (a tie at 10-10), then play continues until one player has a 2-point lead to win.
Calling out the Score in Singles Pickleball
In pickleball, the server is responsible for calling out the score before serving to the opponent. The sequence is your score first, then your opponent's score. So if you are serving and your score is 5 and your opponent's score is 8, you will call out “5 - 8”.
It's important to note that there may be variations in scoring rules depending on specific tournaments or leagues, so always check for any specific guidelines before playing in an organized event.
Pickleball Scoring in Doubles Matches
Doubles pickleball scoring is the same as singles, but with a twist that can sometimes seem a bit confusing. The game starts the same and the scoring is the same, it's the serving order that is the key difference, as you will see:
The game begins with the serving player standing behind the baseline and serving diagonally to their opponent's service court.
Once the ball is served, the players rally until someone commits a fault. A fault can occur from any rule violation.
If the server commits a fault, the ball goes to the next second person on the serving team to serve. If the receiver commits the fault, the serving team wins a point.
The first team to reach 11 points with at least a 2-point lead wins that game. However, if both players reach 10 points (a tie at 10-10), then play continues until one player has a 2-point lead to win.
Calling out the Score in Doubles Pickleball
This is another element that differs from singles play. In singles, you simply call out the scores. In doubles, the server must call out the scores and their serving number, which will be either 1 or 2.
It is a 1 if you are the first person on your team to serve and a 2 if you are the second. This helps everyone keep track of the serving order and who has serving honors next.
For example, if the serving team’s score is 4 and the receiving team’s score is 3, and the player who is serving is the second person to serve (their partner just served and a fault was committed passing serving honors to the second person) the server should call out “4-3-2.”
This tells everyone that the serving team’s score is 4, the receiving team’s score is 3, and the server is the second person on the team to serve, meaning the next fault the serving team commits will pass the serving honors over to their opponents.
Tips for Effective Pickleball ScoreKeeping:
Keeping score in pickleball doesn't have to be a daunting task. Of course, your casual backyard pickleball pickup game probably won’t require any special scorekeeping tactics. But for more official games, here are some tips to help you keep score accurately and efficiently:
Familiarize yourself with the scoring system: Before you start keeping score, make sure you understand how the scoring system works in pickleball. In most cases, points are only scored by the serving team, and games are typically played to 11 points and winning by at least 2 points.
Consider Investing in a score tracker or scoring station as shown in the photo above. This is not required and the score can be tracked by the players most of the time, but it can help prevent any confusion or disputes over the current score.
Assign someone as the official scorer: Designate one person as the official scorer for each game or match. This person should focus solely on keeping track of the score and updating it after each point.
Communicate clearly with players: As the scorer, it's important to communicate any changes in score promptly and clearly to all players involved. Use verbal cues to indicate when a point has been scored.
Double-check scores regularly: To ensure accuracy, double-check scores at regular intervals during gameplay. This will help catch any potential errors before they become bigger issues later on.
Stay focused and attentive: Pay close attention to every rally and point scored during the game, avoiding distractions that may lead to inaccurate scoring.
Know and understand the rules of pickleball. This is crucial for scorekeeping and maintaining fair gameplay.
By following these tips, you'll be able to keep score accurately in pickleball and contribute to a smooth and enjoyable playing experience for everyone involved!