Pickleball doubles scoring explained: the three numbers, who serves, which side
How pickleball doubles scoring works: only the serving team scores, the three-number score call, the 0-0-2 start, switching servers, and serving from the right or left court.
Pickleball doubles scoring confuses new players: only the serving team scores, and the score is called as three numbers. These five points are all you need.
1. Only the serving team scores
If the serving team wins the rally, it gets a point. If the receiving team wins, it does not score; it only wins the serve back (or ends the current server’s turn).
Games are usually played to 11, win by 2. At 10-10, play continues until one side leads by 2. Some events play to 15 or 21; organizers announce this in advance.
2. The three-number call
Before each serve, the server calls:
- The serving team’s score
- The receiving team’s score
- The server number (1 or 2)
Example: 5-3-1 means the serving team has 5, the receivers have 3, and the first server is serving.
3. Games start at 0-0-2
The team that serves first gets only one server to offset the advantage. The first server counts as server 2, so the call is 0-0-2. Lose that rally and the serve goes to the other team.
4. Right or left: even or odd
| Serving team’s score | Server serves from |
|---|---|
| Even (0, 2, 4, 6…) | Right court |
| Odd (1, 3, 5, 7…) | Left court |
Each time the serving team scores, the two partners switch sides and the same player keeps serving from the other court. The receiving team does not switch.
5. Second server and side out
- Server 1 loses a rally → the partner serves next, and the call ends in 2 (e.g. 5-3-2). The partner serves from where they stand, with no switching.
- Server 2 loses a rally → side out. The other team serves, starting with the player on their right court as server 1.
Let the app keep score
On DinkDink, the referee taps “A wins rally” or “B wins rally”. The app calls the three-number score, tracks the server, the court side and server 1 or 2, and shows live scores to spectators. One tap undoes a mistake.
Try it at app.dinkdink.asia.
FAQ
How does pickleball doubles scoring work?
Only the serving team can score. Games are usually played to 11 and must be won by 2. The score is called as three numbers: serving team score, receiving team score, then server number 1 or 2.
Why does a game start at 0-0-2?
To offset the advantage of serving first, the first serving team gets only one server. The first server is treated as server 2, so the call is 0-0-2.
Which side does the server serve from?
When the serving team's score is even (0, 2, 4…), the server serves from the right court. When it is odd, from the left court.
When is it a side out?
When both players on the serving team have lost their serve (only one at the start of the game), the serve passes to the other team. Their first server is the player on the right court.