Pickleball scoring system is on a huge debate right now and the main issue is whether or not to use rally scoring. Rally scoring means that a point is scored every time the ball is put into play, regardless of who served the ball. The other scoring system is traditional scoring, where a point is only scored when the serving team wins the rally.
There are pros and cons to both scoring systems. Rally scoring is used in most other sports, so some people feel that it would be more fair to use rally scoring in pickleball. Rally scoring also speeds up the game, which some people feel is a good thing.
In this article, we talk about what are the pros and cons of rally scoring in pickleball and if it does have a place in pickleball.
Rally Scoring in Pickleball
In the current scoring system in pickleball, just the server team can score points. The receiver team can only force a side-out if the both players have serve. And usually, games are played to 11 points.
However, with rally scoring, both teams can score points on every serve, no matter who is serving, and the score can go up to 21 points. So, if the score is 20-19 and the serving team scores the next point, they win the game. However, if the receiving team scores the next point, it’s now 20-20, and the serving team has to score two more points to win.
Rally scoring is a great way to keep the game moving and to make it more fair. With rally scoring, both teams have an equal chance to score points and to win the game.
But there are arguments against rally scoring in pickleball. Some people say that rally scoring makes the game less competitive and more chaotic. Others argue that rally scoring takes away the advantage of the serving team.
Rally scoring in pickleball: Pros and Cons
Now that you know a little bit about rally scoring, let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Pros
- Rally scoring makes the game more fair, because both teams have an equal chance to score points.
- Rally scoring keeps the game moving and makes it more exciting.
- Rally scoring takes away the advantage of the serving team, which some people say is unfair.
Cons
- Rally scoring may make the game less competitive, because both teams can score points on every serve.
- Also for that reason, people believe that rally scoring may make the game more chaotic.
- Rally scoring may take away the advantage of the serving team, which some people say is unfair.
Can rally scoring be implemented in pickleball?
The debate over rally scoring in pickleball is ongoing. Some people think that rally scoring is a great way to keep the game fair and exciting, while others think that it takes away the competitive edge. There is no right or wrong answer, and, in this moment, it’s up to each pickleball player to decide whether they want to use rally scoring or not.
At the moment of writing, in 2022, rally scoring is not recognised in the “official” pickleball rulebook. So, for now, it’s not possible to implement rally scoring in official tournaments and matches.
But, Major League Pickleball have used rally scoring in their matches, so it is possible to implement rally scoring in pickleball. Players loved it and said that it made the game more fair and exciting.
Conclusion
Rally scoring in pickleball is a controversial topic. Some people argue that it makes the game more fair and exciting, while others think that it takes away the competitive edge. There is no right or wrong answer, and, in this moment, it’s up to each pickleball player to decide whether they want to use rally scoring or not.
Rally scoring is not yet recognised in the “official” pickleball rulebook, but it is possible to implement rally scoring in pickleball. Major League Pickleball have used rally scoring in their matches, and players loved it.
