📊 BEGINNER TIPS
5 MIN READ
5 MIN READ
How to Score in Pickleball —
Pickleball scoring confuses almost every new player — not because it’s complicated, but because one rule is different from every other racket sport. Understand that rule and the rest clicks immediately.
SCORE
THE ONE RULE THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING
Only the serving team can score points.
In tennis or badminton, any team can score any rally. In pickleball, only the server scores. If the receiving team wins a rally they don’t get a point — they get the serve.
EVERY GAME STARTS WITH THIS CALL
0 – 0 – 2
SERVER SCORE
RECEIVER SCORE
SERVER NUMBER
Step-by-Step Scoring Example
1
Game starts → call: 0 – 0 – 2
Server 2 serves first. Score is 0–0.
2
Serving team wins rally → call: 1 – 0 – 2
Point scored. Same server continues.
3
Receiving team wins → side-out. Call: 0 – 1 – 1
Serve changes. No point for receiving team.
W
First to 11 — win by 2
Standard game. Tournament format: 15 or 21. Always win by 2 clear points.
Term
Meaning
0-0-2
Game start — score 0–0, Server 2 serving
Server 1
First designated server on the team this rotation
Server 2
Second server — serve changes after both fault
Side-out
Serve passes to the other team
Win by 2
Must lead by 2 clear points to win the game
PRACTICE THE RULES
Find a session in Phnom Penh this week
