What Is a Side Out in Pickleball?

A side out is the moment the serve passes to the other team. Since only the serving side can score in standard play, the side out is the receiving team's whole objective: win it, and your offense finally begins.

Updated June 12, 2026

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How a side out happens in doubles

In doubles, both players on a team serve before the serve changes sides (Rule 5.B of the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook). The first server serves, alternating between right and left serving areas after each point won, until the team loses a rally (Rule 5.B.5). The serve then passes — not to the opponents, but to the partner, the second server, who serves under the same terms (Rule 5.B.6). When the team loses a rally on the second server's watch, that is the side out: the opponents take over, starting with their own first server.

The one exception is the start of each game, when the opening team gets only one server before the first side out — which is why that player is called "server two" from the first rally.

After the side out

The receiving team's serve begins with whichever player is correctly standing on the right/even side of their court for their score (Rule 5.B.3): even score, the starting server is on the right; odd score, on the left. That player becomes first server for the turn. No points changed hands during the side out itself — it transfers opportunity, not score.

Singles: simpler, same idea

In singles there is no second server, so the mechanics collapse to one step: the server serves until they lose a rally, and the side out follows immediately. The strategy, though, is identical to doubles — in standard scoring the receiver can never score directly (Rule 4.A), so every rally the receiver wins is an investment: it buys the serve, and the serve is where points live.

Common questions

What is a side out in pickleball?

A side out is when the serve passes from one team to the other. In doubles it occurs after both partners have served and the team loses a rally on the second server; in singles, after the server loses a rally. Source: 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, Section 5.B.

Does anyone score on a side out?

No. A side out transfers the serve, not points. In standard scoring, only the serving side can score (Rule 4.A), which is why earning the side out is the receiving team's main goal.

Who serves first after a side out in doubles?

The player standing on the right/even side of the court for the team's current score. With an even score, that is the team's starting server; with an odd score, the partner.

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"In doubles, both players on a team serve before a side out is declared." · "In doubles, the starting server's position is on the right side when the team's score is zero or even." · "In standard scoring, the receiving team can score by winning a rally."

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