SOUTHERN OREGON PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION

RALLY SCORING

In rally scoring, players do not move from their original positions (i.e., if you start in the right-hand service box, you remain in the right-hand service box throughout the entire game). However, players may choose to change service boxes (left-hand/right-hand) at a “time out” or a “side change” (mid-game).

The team that serves first starts the game. The player in the right-hand service box serves first (serving cross court as in traditional scoring).

If the serving team wins the rally, they score a point and continue to serve. However, the partner in the left-hand service box will serve (remember, the players will stay on their respective sides of the court). The serve alternates between the players on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the court (without the players changing positions) until they lose a rally.

If the serving team loses the rally, the receiving team wins a point and the receiving team wins the serve. (NOTE, there is no second server. The score will only be two numbers, the serving team’s score and the receiving team’s score.)

Which player will serve on a team is determined by the score of the serving team. If the score is even, then the player on the right-hand side of the court will serve; if the score is odd, then the player on the left-hand side of the court will serve. (EXAMPLE, if the score is 0-0, and the receiving team wins the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the right to serve. The score will now be 1-0, so the player on the left-side of the receiving team will serve next.)

Games are played to a score of 15 (or 21). Teams may change sides of the court with the opponent when a team reaches 8 (or 11) points; teams may also switch service boxes with their partner at this time as well.

Once one team reaches 14 (or 20) points, (one point from winning the game), the team with 14 (or 20) points can only score going forward on their own serve. This is called being “frozen” at 14 (or 20) points or the “freeze”. When the opposing team reaches 14 (or 20) points, the same rule applies – they can only score the winning point on their serve. When both teams reach 14 or 20 points, the remainder of the game is played using the traditional side out play - where either team only scores a point on their serve. 

The first team to win by 2 points wins, with a cap at 18 (or 24) (winning is achieved on their serve only).