How Pickleball Scoring Works (Without Making Your Head Hurt) 🧠✨

Let’s be real — the first time you try to keep score in pickleball, it feels like someone handed you a calculator and a jigsaw puzzle at the same time.

“Why are there three numbers?”“Why can’t I score unless I’m serving?”“What do you mean I’m ‘server two’?” 😵

Don’t worry. We’ve got you.

Here’s a no-stress, beginner-friendly breakdown of how scoring works in pickleball — and why it actually makes a lot more sense once you get on the court.

🔢 The Pickleball Score Has 3 Numbers (Yes, That’s Normal)

Let’s say someone calls out:“6 – 4 – 2”

That means:

• 6 = Your team’s score

• 4 = The other team’s score

• 2 = You’re the second server on your team

In doubles, each team gets two chances to serve (except at the very start of the game). That’s why server number matters — it tells you which partner is serving and whether your team keeps the serve or gives it up.

🧠 Key Rule: You Can ONLY Score When You're Serving

Unlike tennis or ping pong, you can’t win points on defense.

If your team is receiving, you're just trying to get the ball back — you don’t earn a point, even if you win the rally.

That’s what makes pickleball unique — momentum shifts when you earn the serve, not just the rally.

👯‍♂️ Doubles Scoring: Here’s How It Actually Flows

Let’s break this down into a basic match flow.

1. The serving team starts on the right side of the court.

2. Only one player (the “second server” rule doesn’t apply here) serves first at the beginning of the game.

3. After that, each team gets two serves per turn — one per player.

4. If both players lose their rallies, the serve switches to the other team.

Example:

• Team A serves → Player 1 loses rally

• Team A serves → Player 2 loses rally

• Serve goes to Team B

📌 Remember: Every time your team wins a point, you switch sides before serving again.📌 If you lose the rally, you stay put and either your partner serves or the serve goes to the other team.

👤 Singles Scoring: It’s Way Simpler

Playing singles? Good news — you only keep track of two numbers:→ Your score and your opponent’s.

Still, you only score on your serve, and you switch sides each time you win a point.

If you’re serving and your score is even, serve from the right.If it’s odd, serve from the left.Easy.

🍳 Bonus: What’s the Deal with the Kitchen?

Ah yes — the kitchen (aka the Non-Volley Zone).

Here’s the rule that throws beginners off:You can’t hit a volley (a shot out of the air) while standing in the kitchen.

This prevents people from camping out at the net and smashing everything.It keeps rallies strategic and balanced — especially when dinking (the soft shots you play just over the net).

You can step into the kitchen to hit a ball that bounces first.You just can’t smash it out of the air from in there.

🤷 Still Confused? Come Learn In Person

Honestly, you don’t need to memorize this stuff perfectly before showing up.

At Bloomington Pickleball Warehouse, we’ve got:

✅ Friendly players who will help you mid-game

✅ Free beginner clinics

✅ Staff who will explain everything on the spot

✅ Open Play sessions full of people still learning too

We’ll call the score for you. We’ll laugh when it’s wrong. You’ll pick it up fast.

🎯 TL;DR: Pickleball Scoring Is Weird — But Fun

• Only score when you serve

• Doubles uses three numbers: score–score–server

• You get two serves per team turn

• In singles, score + side = serve side

• Don’t volley in the kitchen

Got all that?

No?

Perfect. Come play anyway. 😄