So, how does rally scoring work in pickleball?

 This is the format for rally scoring used at certain Major League Pickleball events.

  • Each partner on a team determines which side of the pickleball court (the left side or the right side) to start on. Then, each partner remains on those respective sides throughout the entire game.
  • The team that serves first will start the game. The player on the right-hand side of the court will serve first (serving crosscourt).
  • If the serving team wins the rally, then they will win a point and continue to serve. However, the partner on the left-hand side of the court will serve next (but, remember, the players will stay on their respective sides of the court). The serve alternates between the players on the left- and right-hand side of the court (without the players changing positions) until they lose a rally.
  • If the serving team loses the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the receiving team will win the serve. To note, there is no second server (so the score will only be two numbers—the serving team score and the receiving team score—and there will be no third number for the server number).
  • Which player will serve on a team is determined by the score of the serving team. If the score is even, then the player on the right-hand side of the court will serve. If the score is odd, then the player on the left-hand side of the court will serve. So, for example, if the score is 0-0, and the receiving team wins the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the right to serve. The score will now be 1-0, so the player on the left-side of the receiving team will serve next.
  • The first team to15 points, wins (win by 2 points). However, points after the 14th point may only be scored on the serve. 
Opinion: The Benefits of Rally Scoring