What is the Starting Score of a Doubles Pickleball Game?

Pickleball is a fun and exciting game that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, and it is played with a paddle and a plastic ball. Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, but doubles is the most popular version of the game. One of the most common questions that new players ask is, “What is the starting score of a doubles pickleball game?” In this article, we will answer that question and provide you with a comprehensive guide to the scoring system in doubles pickleball.

The Scoring System in Doubles Pickleball

The scoring system in doubles pickleball can be a bit confusing for new players. Unlike other sports, where the score starts at 0-0, the score in doubles pickleball starts at 0-0-2 [3]. The first two numbers represent the scores of the serving team and the receiving team, respectively. The third number represents the server number, which is either server #1 or server #2.

The reason why the score starts at 0-0-2 is because of the “two serve” rule in pickleball. In doubles pickleball, each team gets two serves before they have to give up the serve to the other team [1]. This means that the first server serves twice before their partner takes over as the server. The third number in the score represents which server is currently serving.

How to Score Points in Doubles Pickleball

In doubles pickleball, points are scored when one team fails to return the ball over the net or hits the ball out of bounds. The serving team can only score points when they are serving, and the receiving team can only score points when they are returning serve [2]. The first team to reach 11 points and be ahead by two points wins the game.

The Role of Side-Outs in Doubles Pickleball

Side-outs are an essential part of the scoring system in doubles pickleball. A side-out occurs when the serving team fails to score a point, and the serve switches to the other team. This means that the receiving team becomes the serving team, and the score remains the same [1]. Side-outs can occur for several reasons, such as hitting the ball into the net, hitting the ball out of bounds, or failing to return the ball over the net.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the starting score of a doubles pickleball game is 0-0-2. The first two numbers represent the scores of the serving team and the receiving team, respectively, while the third number represents the server number. Points are scored when one team fails to return the ball over the net or hits the ball out of bounds, and the first team to reach 11 points and be ahead by two points wins the game. Side-outs are an essential part of the scoring system in doubles pickleball and occur when the serving team fails to score a point. With this guide, you should now have a better understanding of how to keep score in doubles pickleball.