Side-out vs rally scoring
The short answer
Side-out scoring (the traditional way): only the serving team scores, and each doubles team gets two servers. Rally scoring: whoever wins the rally scores, each team gets one server, and the call is two numbers. Since 2026, the receiving team can win game point under rally scoring too.
Rules 4.A, 14.A.2, 14.A.3, 14.A.5
| Side-out | Rally | |
|---|---|---|
| Who scores | Only the serving team | Whoever wins the rally |
| The call (doubles) | Three numbers: 0–0–2 to start | Two numbers: 0–0 to start |
| Servers per turn (doubles) | Two (just one at the start of the game) | One |
| Receivers win on game point? | No: winning a rally only wins them the serve | Yes, since 2026 |
The same rallies, both ways
Eight rallies, scored by SunPickle's engine under each system. Nina & Theo serve first.
| Rally | Won by | Side-out call | Rally call |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nina & Theo | 1–0–2 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Nina & Theo | 2–0–2 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Dana & Marcus | 0–2–1 | 1–2 |
| 4 | Dana & Marcus | 1–2–1 | 2–2 |
| 5 | Nina & Theo | 1–2–2 | 3–2 |
| 6 | Dana & Marcus | 2–2–2 | 3–3 |
| 7 | Dana & Marcus | 3–2–2 | 4–3 |
| 8 | Nina & Theo | 2–3–1 | 4–4 |
Same rallies, different scores: 2–3–1 under side-out scoring, 4–4 under rally scoring.
New in 2026: the receivers can win game point
Until 2025, rally scoring didn't give the receiving team a point that would end the game. From 2026, every rally scores, game point included.
Rule 14.A.2
1–10: Dana & Marcus are receiving at game point. Win this rally and they win the game, 11–1. The receivers won: a point and the serve, under rally scoring.
Game lengths
Most recreational games go to 11, win by 2. Tournaments play games to 11, 15 or 21, win by 2, and with rally scoring a tournament can shorten games to 7 in bad weather.
Rules 15.C, 15.C.1, 15.C.2
Which should your group play?
Side-out scoring is the standard. Rally scoring is still a provisional rule in 2026 (USA Pickleball will decide in 2027 whether to keep it), and its games are shorter, because every rally scores. Pick one before the first serve, and agree on what the call sounds like.
Rules 14.A, 15.C.2
Try it with your own game in What's the call?
More scoring answers
- Who serves, and from which side?Which side to serve from, server 1 and server 2, and how to never lose track.
- What does 0-0-2 mean?The three numbers of the call, and why the game starts on server 2.
- Skinny singles rulesHalf-court singles, the official way: your own score picks your half.
- Kitchen rulesStanding in it, momentum, the line, the erne, and who calls the fault.
- What changed in 2026Rally scoring game point, spin serves, out calls and more.
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