Don’t be in a pickle. Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports because it is so easy to play. Once a game gets going, it’s hard to stop.
But before a game of pickleball begins, you need to know its rules. Don’t worry. Once you do, you will be playing in no time.
Here is a quick guide to pickleball scoring.
The Basics of Pickleball
Pickleball combines tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played with a paddle and a Wiffle ball, or a specialized plastic ball with holes in it. It is played on a badminton court, with the net slightly shortened.
A game begins with a coin toss to determine a server. The server stands on the right-hand side of their half of the court. They serve the ball underhand and under their waist, knocking it to the receiver on their side.
Players cannot volley the ball within seven feet of the net. They can otherwise hit the ball however they like. Players often volley, dink, and smash the ball.
The paddle and ball are the two most important pieces of equipment in pickleball. Research the top pickleball paddles and find one that works for you. Test it in the store, assessing how it feels in your hand.
Pickleball Scoring
Only the serving team can score a point in pickleball. They score when the receiving team commits a fault.
Faults in pickleball are similar to faults in tennis. They include hitting the ball before it bounces on the first serve, hitting the ball out of bounds, or hitting the ball into the net.
In singles, the server switches sides when they score a point. They always serve from the right side when their score is even, and from the left side when their score is odd. In doubles, the team members switch sides whenever their team scores.
In singles, if the server faults, the receiver now gets to serve. In doubles, the other member of the serving team gets to serve. The ball only goes to the receiving team after the serving team commits a second fault.
Games are played to 11 points, but the winning team must win by 2. If the score is 10-10, one team has to get to 12.
Announcing the Score
Before serving, the server must announce the score. In singles, they say two numbers, the first number being their score, and the second being their opponent’s score. In doubles, after saying the scores, they say what their serving position is, one or two.
This rule applies to the whole doubles game except the first serve. On the first serve, if the serving team commits a fault, the ball goes straight to the receiving team. The very first server should declare their position as two, to signal that the ball will pass to the other team if they fault.
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Pickleball will only become more popular as time goes on. Learn its rules so you can join in.
Pickleball scoring is similar to tennis scoring, except that only the serving team can score a point. They score when the receiving team commits a fault.
In singles, the server gives the ball to the receiver when they fault. In doubles, the servers switch before the ball is forfeited.
Pickleball is just one fun way you can improve your health. Learn more ways by following our health coverage!
