If you've heard someone call "4–2–1" and wondered what's going on, you're not alone. Here's how pickleball scoring works.
Video: How to Keep Score in Pickleball, with USA Pickleball referee Maddie Toren (YouTube)
The basics
- Games are usually played to 11, win by 2.
- In traditional scoring, only the serving team can win a point. If the receiving team wins the rally, they win the right to serve.
Why three numbers in doubles?
| Number | Means | Example "4–2–1" |
|---|---|---|
| First | Serving team's score | 4 |
| Second | Receiving team's score | 2 |
| Third | Server number (1 or 2) | 1st server |
Server 1 and server 2
Each player on a team gets a turn to serve. When the first server loses a rally, their partner serves (server 2). When server 2 loses a rally, it's a side out and the other team serves.
The one exception: at the very start of a game, the first serving team only gets one server. That's why games start at "0–0–2".
Where to stand
The server switches sides after each point they win. A simple check: when the serving team's score is even, the player who started on the right should be on the right.
Rally scoring
Some social sessions use rally scoring, where a point is won on every rally no matter who serves. It's faster, so ask what format your group plays.
Quick answers
What does 0–0–2 mean in pickleball?
It's the starting score: 0 for each team, and the serving team begins on its second server so only one player serves first.
Can you score when you're not serving?
Not in traditional scoring. In rally scoring, yes.
