# What Happens When You Fault in Pickleball?

Source: https://picklecall.app/blog/rules/what-happens-when-you-fault-in-pickleball. Rules, published 2026-11-08, updated 2026-11-08. Kallos Labs.

> A fault ends the rally. If the serving side faults, nobody scores: the serve goes to the partner (server 1) or to the other team (server 2). If the receiving side faults, the serving side scores 1 point and keeps serving.

A fault ends the rally, and what it costs you depends on who made it. If the serving side faults, nobody scores and the serve moves on. If the receiving side faults, the serving side scores 1 point and keeps serving.

That's the whole idea. The details below cover who gets the serve next, what changes at the start of a game, and which mistakes count as faults. For how server numbers work in general, see the guide on being [server 1 or server 2](https://picklecall.app/blog/doubles/am-i-server-1-or-server-2-in-pickleball).

## What does a fault actually do to the rally?

It stops it. The rulebook treats a fault, called by a player or committed by one, as a dead ball. Nobody hits another shot. See the [rulebook's records on faults and dead balls](https://rules.usapickleball.org/) for the exact wording, and check which edition your event plays by, because the section numbers moved between the 2025 and 2026 books.

A fault is normally enforced the moment it is spotted. It can also be enforced any time before the next serve, so a late call about a double bounce or a foot in the kitchen still stands if it comes before the next ball is served.

## What happens when the serving team faults?

No point is scored. Only the serving side can score, so a fault by the serving side just moves the serve. In the [official guide to side-out scoring](https://usapickleball.org/strategies/pickleball-scoring-positioning-side-out-scoring/), when the server loses a rally there is a side out and the opponent wins the serve.

In doubles it takes two faults to lose the serve, one per partner:

| Who faulted | What happens | Score call |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Server 1 | The serve goes to the partner, who becomes server 2 | Same score, last number goes from 1 to 2 |
| Server 2 | Side out: the serve goes to the other team | Scores swap, new team starts as server 1 |

After a side out, the new serving team starts with the player in the right (even) court, as server 1. Our guide on [who serves first after a side out](https://picklecall.app/blog/doubles/who-serves-first-after-a-side-out-in-doubles) walks through that handoff.

In singles there is no partner, so the first fault by the server is a side out.

## What happens when the receiving team faults?

The serving team scores 1 point. The server keeps the serve, crosses to the other service court and serves again. Nothing happens to the server number: if you were server 1 before the point, you are server 1 after it.

The receiving side never scores from a fault by the serving side, and it cannot score at all in side-out scoring. The only way a receiving team gets points is to win the serve first.

## Why does the first serve of the game work differently?

The team that serves first gets only one fault before a side out. As the [overview of the game's scoring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickleball) puts it, after that first side out each team gets two faults before the serve changes.

This is why a doubles game starts at 0-0-2: the opening server is treated as server 2, so the first fault is already a side out. If you want the reasoning in full, read why a [pickleball game starts at 0-0-2](https://picklecall.app/blog/scoring/why-does-pickleball-start-0-0-2).

## Which mistakes count as faults?

Common ones on the serve:

- The serve lands outside the diagonal service court.
- The serve is volleyed, or the first return is volleyed, when it has to bounce first.
- The server's feet are not where the rules say they must be.

Common ones during the rally:

- The ball goes out of bounds.
- A player volleys while standing in the kitchen (the non-volley zone).
- A player, their clothing or their paddle touches the net.
- The ball bounces twice on one side.

A serve that clips the tape has its own rules, covered in [the guide to a serve that hits the net](https://picklecall.app/blog/rules/serve-that-hits-the-net-pickleball-fault). For the bounce requirement see the [two-bounce rule](https://picklecall.app/blog/rules/what-is-the-two-bounce-rule-in-pickleball). The rest of the [rules guides](https://picklecall.app/blog/rules) sit beside them.

## Try it with Pickle Call

Faults are where scores go wrong. The same mistake is a point for one team and a lost serve for the other. Pickle Call is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and it [keeps the call for you](https://picklecall.app/features/pickleball-score-call): one tap per rally, with the server number and the serving side kept. Tap who won the rally, and the app works out whether that was a point or a side out. The [side-out scoring page](https://picklecall.app/features/side-out-scoring) shows how.

## Bottom line

Look at who made the fault. If it was the serving side, no point is scored: server 1 hands the serve to the partner, and server 2 hands it to the other team. If it was the receiving side, the serving side scores 1 point and serves again. The first server of the game gets only one fault, which is why games start at 0-0-2.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the other team get a point when I fault on my serve?
No. In side-out scoring only the serving side can score. A fault by the serving side gives no point to anyone; the serve moves to your partner or to the other team.

### What happens if the receiving team faults?
The serving team scores 1 point and the same server keeps serving, switching sides after each point.

### Can a fault be called after the rally has ended?
Yes. A fault is normally enforced as soon as it is identified, but it can also be enforced any time before the next serve.

### How many faults does the team that serves first get?
One. The side that serves first in a game gets a single serve, so its first fault is already a side out. After that, each team gets two faults, one per partner.

## More you might ask

### Does the other team get a point when I fault on my serve?

No. In side-out scoring only the serving side can score. A fault by the serving side gives no point to anyone; the serve moves to your partner or to the other team.

### What happens if the receiving team faults?

The serving team scores 1 point and the same server keeps serving, switching sides after each point.

### Can a fault be called after the rally has ended?

Yes. A fault is normally enforced as soon as it is identified, but it can also be enforced any time before the next serve.

### How many faults does the team that serves first get?

One. The side that serves first in a game gets a single serve, so its first fault is already a side out. After that, each team gets two faults, one per partner.

## Where the facts come from

- [Official rulebook: Pickleball Scoring & Positioning (side-out scoring)](https://usapickleball.org/strategies/pickleball-scoring-positioning-side-out-scoring/)
- [Official rulebook: rules and rule-change records](https://rules.usapickleball.org/)
- [Wikipedia: Pickleball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickleball)