Pickleball is a popular sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s played on a smaller court with a lower net and a perforated plastic ball. The game is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels and is a great way to stay active and have fun. However, before you start playing, it’s important to understand how scoring works in pickleball.
This article will explain the basic rules and scoring system used in pickleball, so you can hit the court with confidence.
The Basics Of Scoring In Pickleball
Pickleball is a sport that is played on a badminton-sized court with a net in the middle. The objective of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s side of the court in such a way that they are unable to return it.
Scoring in pickleball is relatively simple. Each game is played to 11 points, with the exception of tournament play where it is usually 15 points. A team or player must win by two points. The serving team or player starts the game with a score of 0 and earns points by successfully hitting the ball into the opponent’s side of the court and having them unable to return it.
When the serving team or player scores a point, they continue to serve. If the receiving team or player scores a point, they then become the serving team or player. This continues until one team or player reaches 11 points, and wins the game.
In addition, there are two types of serves in pickleball, the “zero” serve and the “let” serve. A “zero” serve is when the ball is served and lands in the correct service area but is not touched by the receiving team or player. In this case, the serving team or player earns a point. A “let” serve is when the ball is served and touches the net, but still lands in the correct service area. In this case, the serve is replayed and no point is earned.
Overall, scoring in pickleball is simple and straightforward, with the objective being to hit the ball into the opponent’s side of the court in such a way that they are unable to return it, and the first team or player to reach 11 points wins the game.
Scoring Systems In Pickleball
In the traditional scoring system, points are awarded to the serving team when the opposing team is unable to return the ball or makes an error. If the serving team wins the point, they get to serve again. If the receiving team wins the point, they become the serving team and the score is called out as “side-out.”
In the newer scoring system, known as “rally scoring,” points are awarded to both teams regardless of who is serving. This means that both teams have the opportunity to score points on every point, and the game is played to 15 points with a 2-point margin.
Another scoring system that is becoming more popular is the “power point” scoring system, which is similar to rally scoring but with a few key differences. In this system, games are played to 11 points and must be won by at least a 2-point margin. Points are awarded to both teams regardless of who is serving, and games are divided into two sets of 5 points each. After the first set, teams switch sides and play the second set. The team that wins the most sets is the winner of the match.\
Scoring In Tournament Play
Pickleball uses a scoring system that is similar to tennis but with some variations. The game is played to 11 points and must be won by at least a 2-point margin. In tournament play, pickleball is typically played with a scoring system that is similar to that of tennis. Each match is played to a set number of points, typically 11 or 21, and the first team or player to reach that number of points wins the set.
In addition to traditional scoring, some tournaments may also use a variation called “no-ad” scoring, where each team or player starts the game with a score of 0, and the first team or player to reach a certain number of points wins the game. This variation is typically used in shorter matches and is designed to increase the pace and excitement of the game.
In doubles play, tournament scoring is typically the same as traditional scoring, with the first team to reach 11 or 21 points winning the set. However, in some tournaments, teams may also play a tiebreaker if the score is tied at 10-10, where the first team to reach 7 points wins the set.
Conclusion
In pickleball, the scoring system is similar to that of tennis. A game is played to 11 points and must be won by 2 points. If the score reaches 10-10, the game is played to a “win by 2” format, where the first player or team to reach 12 wins the game. Points are awarded only to the serving team, and the serve changes hands after every point. The team that wins the game earns one point in the match. The first team to reach 11 points in a match wins the match.
