How does scoring work in doubles?
Rule- USA
- USA Pickleball
- Recreational play
- League play
- All ages
- Doubles and singles
- 2026 rules
- Players
In standard (side-out) scoring, only the serving team scores points (Rule 4.A). Games are typically to 11 points, and you must win by 2.
- The score is called as three numbers: serving team's score, receiving team's score, then the server number (1 or 2). Every game starts at "0-0-2" (Rule 6.B.2).
- Both partners serve before a side out, except at the start of each game, when only the starting server serves before the first side out (Rule 5.B).
- The server keeps serving, switching sides after each point won, until their team loses a rally. The serve then passes to the partner. When the second server loses a rally, it's a side out (Rules 5.B.5, 5.B.6).
- The whole score must be called before the serve is hit, and the server then has 10 seconds to serve. Serving while the score is being called, or after 10 seconds, is a fault (Rules 6.C, 6.D).
In singles, the score is two numbers: server's score, then receiver's score (Rule 6.B.1).
Added 21 Oct 2026