In doubles pickleball, only the serving team can score. Before every serve you call three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number, 1 or 2. Every game starts at 0-0-2 and is played to 11, win by 2. That is the whole system. The rest of this guide shows how the pieces fit. For more on the topic, see all our scoring guides.
Who can score in doubles?
Only the serving team. This is called side-out scoring, and the rulebook puts it simply: points are scored only on the serve.
So there are two ways a rally can end:
- The receiving team faults. The serving team gets a point.
- The serving team faults. Nobody gets a point, and the serve moves on.
If you win a rally while receiving, you do not add a point. You earn the right to serve, and you can score on the next rally.
How is the score called?
Say three numbers, always in the same order, before every serve:
- The serving team's score
- The receiving team's score
- The server number (1 or 2)
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0-0-2 | Start of the game. Second server, no points yet. |
| 4-2-1 | Serving team has 4, receivers have 2, first server is up. |
| 3-6-2 | Serving team has 3, receivers have 6, second server is up. |
The serving team's number always comes first, so the call changes shape after a side out. If the serving team faults at 5-3-2, the other team serves, and the call flips to 3-5-1. Say all three numbers out loud, even when everyone is sure of the score. It catches a disagreement before the next serve instead of after it.
Why does a doubles game start at 0-0-2?
Because the first serving team gets only one turn at the serve. Normally each team has two servers, and the serve passes to the other team after both have lost a rally. At the start of a game, the rulebook treats the opening server as server 2, so one lost rally ends the turn. That is the "2" at the end of 0-0-2.
After that first side out, both players on each team serve in turn, and the number runs 1 then 2.
How do servers rotate?
The rotation follows a short script:
- After a side out, the player on the right side of the new serving team serves first. That is server 1.
- Server 1 keeps serving as long as their team keeps winning rallies.
- When server 1 loses a rally, the partner becomes server 2. The score call stays the same except for the last number.
- When server 2 loses a rally, it is a side out. The other team takes the serve, and its right-side player starts as server 1.
Players on the serving team switch sides only when their team wins a point. The receiving team never switches sides, however long the rally. If you want a deeper walk through who is server 1 or server 2 at any moment, that page covers it.
The even and odd check
If you lose track of who should be serving from where, look at the score. When the serving team's score is even, the player who was first server at the start of the game stands on the right. When it is odd, that player stands on the left. If the positions do not match the score, someone has drifted, and you can fix it before the serve.
How does a game end?
Games are usually played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. A game can run past 11 until one side leads by two. Some events play to 15 or 21 instead. In a one-game match or a deciding game, teams switch ends at 6 points in a game to 11, at 8 in a game to 15, and at 11 in a game to 21.
What mistakes come up most often?
Three slip-ups cause most scoring arguments:
- Calling only two numbers. Without the server number, nobody knows if a lost rally is a side out.
- Starting at 0-0-1. The first serve of a game is always from server 2, so the opening call is 0-0-2.
- Switching sides after a side out. Players only switch when their own team wins a point on serve.
A quick call before each serve catches all three.
Try it with Pickle Call
Keeping the call straight is easy for the first few points. It gets harder in the middle of a long game. Pickle Call is built for that. You tap the side that won the rally, and Pickle Call works out the call for you: the new score, the side out when it happens, and the server number. It shows the call in large type before every serve, from the serving side's view, so the first number belongs to whoever serves next.
- Doubles side-out scoring uses three numbers, singles uses two, and rally scoring uses the two scores.
- Every doubles side-out game starts at 0-0-2.
- Banners show game point, match point and when to switch ends.
- You can undo the last rally, all the way back to the first serve.
It is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Until then, say the call out loud and keep the glossary handy for the terms.
Bottom line
Only the serving team scores. Call serving score, receiving score and server number before every serve, start every game at 0-0-2, and play to 11, win by 2. If the score and the court positions disagree, stop and sort it out before the serve.
Questions
- What is the score at the start of a doubles game?
- 0-0-2. The first serving team gets only one server, so the opening server counts as server 2. If that server loses the rally, it is a side out.
- Can the receiving team score a point?
- No. Only the serving team scores. The receivers win a rally to earn the serve, not a point.
- What does 4-2-1 mean?
- The serving team has 4 points, the receiving team has 2, and the first server on the serving team is about to serve.
- How do I know the score call is right?
- Check positions. When the serving team's score is even, the player who was first server at the start of the game stands on the right. When it is odd, that player stands on the left.
- How many points do you play to?
- Usually 11, and you must win by 2. Some events play to 15 or 21.
