Pickle Hub use a modified version of Rally Scoring at Pickle Hub sessions.
Here’s how Rally Scoring at Pickle Hub works.
Scoring
- Every rally results in a point being earned. That means both the receiving team and the serving team are able to earn points.
- Games are played to 21 points, win by 1.
- When a team reaches 20 points, a ‘freeze’ occurs. To earn the 21st point (the match point), a team must be serving and win the point to win the match.
- The score is called as 2 numbers, rather than 3 numbers, as there are no 1st or 2nd servers.
Serving
- The game begins with a server on the right serving. The score is called as 0:0.
- Thereafter, the team who won the previous point gets to serve.
Who serves?
- If your team’s score is an even number (0,2,4,6…) the player on the right serves.
- If your team’s score is an odd number (1,3,5,7…), the player on the left serves.
- The serving team’s players do not switch sides after each serve.
- At the start of the game, if the serving team win the initial point, the serving team’s player on the left serves next, with the score called as 1:0.
- At the start of the game, if the receiving team win the initial point, that receiving team get to serve next, with the player on the left serving, with the score called as 1:0.
Player positions
- Players remain on the same left or right side of the court during the game.
- Players do not switch sides of the court with their partner after serving.
- If you start on the left side of the court, you remain on the left side of the court.
- If you start on the right side of the court, you remain on the right side of the court.
Tip: at the commencement of the game decide with your partner who will play ‘left side’ and who will play ‘right side’.
Tip: left handed players generally prefer playing on the right side.
Rotate ends at 11 points
- When a team reaches 11 points, the teams rotate ends of the court.
Optional switching left-right player positions
When ‘ends’ occurs (ie. when the teams have rotated ends at 11 points), both teams have the OPTION of changing their player positions from right to left.
This is optional. If the players wish to remain on the same left or right side they may stay on that side.
If the players wish to switch sides from right to left they may do so.
You may make a strategic decision to change sides once you see what left or right side positions your opponents’ have chosen. You must take your final left or right court positions before commencement of the next serve after the change of ends. You will remain in those left or right positions for the remainder of the game.
After the change of ends, the serving rotation remains as the player on the right serving if the serving team’s score is even or the player on the left serving if the serving team’s score is odd.
Tips: Reasons for switching from left to right.
- Switching sides gives both players an equal opportunity to play on both sides of the court during a game.
- If an opponent’s serving style is dominating points, you may like to switch player positions.
- If an opponent’s returning style is dominating points, you may like to switch player positions.
- You may find that one player has a stronger forehand and is best suited to playing on the left.
- You may find one player has a strong backhand and prefers playing on the right.
- You may wish to switch sides to have a better cross-court skill level matchup with your cross-court opponent.
FAQs about Rally Scoring
Is rally scoring used elsewhere?
Yes, rally scoring is used in professional tournaments including MLP (Major League Pickleball) and NPL (National Pickleball League) in Australia and the USA.
Is rally scoring popular?
Rally scoring is becoming increasingly popular amongst players, with many players preferring the rally scoring format.
Why do most players prefer rally scoring?
- Rally scoring often results in closer scores for match results.
- Most players find that rally scoring gives a more ‘competitive’ feel to the game.
- Timed matches are fun, though some players find that they prefer to have a points target to aim for (ie. 21 points).
- Rally scoring better reflects what’s happening on the court. The rally outcomes are awarded based on all errors made and all winning shots from both teams.
- In side-out scoring, the receiving team don’t earn points. They are not rewarded with points for their efforts.
- In side-out scoring, the serving team are not penalised for making serving errors. Whereas making serving errors in rally scoring does result in your opponents earning points.
- In side-out scoring, the serving team are not penalised for making errors but the receiving team are penalised for making errors.
- Side-out scoring can get ‘stuck’ on a score for an extended time without the score changing, causing the game time duration to vary from game to game.
What are the modifications to rally scoring?
- Rally scoring in tournaments is played to 21 points, win by 2. At Pickle Hub we play to 21, win by 1.
- Rally scoring in tournaments use a different ‘freeze’ format that applies to both teams at 20 points and 18 points. At Pickle Hub we keep it more simple by only applying the ‘freeze’ at 20 points.
- Pickle Hub use the ‘optional’ change of player positions from left to right part-way through the match (at the change of ends). Pickle Hub view this as being a more fun and fairer format for players if they have the option of changing from left to right.