Pickleball Scoring Systems: Traditional Scoring v Rally Scoring
Pickleball games are typically played to 11 points, with players or teams needing to win by at least 2 points. Some tournaments or recreational games may use rally scoring, playing games to 15 or 21 points, but the win-by-2 rule remains consistent.
Traditional scoring states that points are scored only by the serving team. This is one of the distinctive features of the game and adds strategic depth to both serving and receiving. If the serving team commits a fault, they lose their serve, but no points are awarded to the receiving team.
Rally scoring in pickleball game—whether singles or doubles—throws a twist into the game. While the core principles remain the same, the mechanics of scoring, calling the score and managing serve rotation differ.
Pickleball has traditionally used a unique scoring system where only the serving team could score points. However, the introduction of rally scoring, popularized by Major League Pickleball (MLP), has created an alternative that’s gaining traction. This post will explore the differences between traditional and rally scoring and provide clarity on how rally scoring is implemented.
If you want to know everything about how to play using rally scoring, we at Better Pickleball have a free download for you, “Guide to Rally Scoring” here.
Traditional Scoring: The Original System
In traditional pickleball scoring:
- Points can only be earned by the serving team.
- The return team can win a rally but can only gain a sideout to become the serving team.
- Both players on the serving team get an opportunity to serve before a sideout is earned by the opposing team.
- Scoring format: The score is announced as three numbers: the serving team’s score, the return team’s score, and the server number (1 or 2).
- Players on the serving team rotate positions (left to right) only if they score a point during their serve.
Rally Scoring: A Modern Twist
Rally scoring simplifies the traditional scoring process and introduces a faster-paced game:
- Points are scored on every rally, regardless of which team serves.
- The serving team continues to serve as long as they win rallies.
- If the return team wins the rally, they earn a point and become the serving team.
- Scoring format: Rally scoring uses only two numbers: the serving team’s score and the return team’s score (e.g., 7-6 instead of 7-6-1).
- Players stay on their designated side of the court throughout the game.
- Games are typically played to 21 points (instead of 11 in traditional scoring) to accommodate the faster scoring pace.
Key Differences Between Traditional Scoring and Rally Scoring In Pickleball
- Who Scores:
- Traditional: Only the serving team scores.
- Rally: Both teams can score on any rally.
- Game Duration:
- Traditional games are played to 11 points.
- Rally games are usually played to 21 points to balance the faster scoring system.
- Server Designation:
- Traditional scoring requires tracking which player is the first or second server on a team.
- Rally scoring eliminates this complication, as there is only one serve per team per sideout.
- Player Positioning:
- Traditional scoring involves rotation between left and right sides based on server points.
- Rally scoring maintains player positions on their respective sides for the entire game.
Keeping Track of the Server in Rally Scoring
Rally scoring simplifies server tracking:
- The player serving corresponds to the team’s score:
- If the score is odd, the player on the left-hand side serves.
- If the score is even, the player on the right-hand side serves.
- This consistency makes rally scoring easier to remember and implement, especially for beginners.
Unique Feature of Rally Scoring
“Freezing” at Game Point
A hallmark of MLP’s rally scoring system is the concept of “freezing” at game point:
- When a team reaches 20 points (in a game to 21), they become “frozen.”
- A frozen team can only score their final point while serving.
- The opposing team remains unfrozen and can continue scoring rally-style until they also reach game point.
- This creates intense and strategic end-game scenarios.
Example of Rally Scoring in Action
- Score: Team A 19, Team B 19.
- Team B serves and loses the rally. Team A, as the return team, earns a point and becomes the serving team. The score is now 20-19 in favor of Team A.
- Since Team A is at game point, they are frozen. They must win their next rally while serving to secure the game.
- If Team B wins the next rally, they earn a point (20-20) and the serve, as they are not frozen. The game continues until one team wins by 2 points.
Proponents of pickleball rally scoring claim these positives:
- Games played using rally scoring would end more quickly, allowing for faster rotations on crowded courts.
- Increased television marketability due to more predictable match times.
- Scoring would be easier for new players and television viewers to understand.
- Unlike traditional scoring, rally scoring forces you to be more focused on every shot and makes consistency even more of a premium.
- To be potentially considered for the Olympics, it’s likely scoring would need to change.
Detractors of rally scoring point out these drawbacks:
- It changes the fundamental nature of the game. The two bounce rule gives a slight advantage to the receiving team, making it more difficult to score.
- Games using rally scoring are harder to track whether a player is a correct server or receiver than compared to traditional scoring.
- People who watch televised events are already pickleball players and understand the scoring.
- If courts are crowded, shorten the game by decreasing the number of points needed to win a game or utilizing a timer.
- It shrinks the possibility of a comeback win, making the game less fun.
Conclusion
Whether you are using traditional scoring or rally scoring in pickleball, exact knowledge of the rules aids in player’s success. What do you think? Leave us a comment below about your experience with rally scoring.
If you are ready to dive into the strategic implications of rally scoring, click here.
