Match resultsPickleball
FMTScoring Format
Pickleball uses two scoring systems — traditional side-out and rally — and matches are played to 11, 15, or 21 in best-of-1/3/5 series.
Formula
game ends at target_score with margin ≥ 2; match ends when one side wins ⌈series/2⌉ gamesExample
A best-of-3 to 11 traditional match: first to win 2 games of 11 (each game win-by-2) takes the match.
Why it matters
Stats only make sense within a format. A 21-point rally game produces very different points-for totals than an 11-point traditional game — ArcStat normalizes by tracking target-score and format alongside the score.
In depth
Traditional (side-out) scoring: only the serving team can score. This is the historical format and the one most rec leagues still run. Games are typically to 11, win by 2.
Rally scoring: every rally scores a point regardless of who served. Adopted as a 2026 USA Pickleball provisional opt-in to keep matches on schedule. Rally games are typically to 15 or 21.
A "match" is a best-of series — best-of-1 (one game), best-of-3 (typical), or best-of-5 (championship rounds). ArcStat configures all three per-season via `pickleball_season_config`.
Where you’ll see it
Available in ArcStat Free tier (every pickleball league). Compare plans.
Related terms
Keep going
No spreadsheet needed
FMT for every player, automatically.
ArcStat computes it for you — ArcStat Free tier (every pickleball league).