A pickleball scorekeeper that thinks like a referee

Pickle Point Pal is a free pickleball scorekeeping app for whoever ends up keeping score at the net. You set the format and run the coin toss, then tap one key per rally. It tracks the full three-number score call, server 1 and server 2 through every side-out, the mid-game side switch, standard and medical timeouts on a clock that survives a screen lock, and technical warnings and fouls. It works for singles and doubles, side-out or rally scoring, a single game or best of five.

There's no account to make and nothing to install, and it doesn't run ads. It works in your browser and keeps going offline once the page has loaded, so a dead signal at the court won't cost you the match. Every tap can be undone, and a running match log keeps a record you can point to if a score is ever questioned.

How pickleball scoring works

In side-out scoring, the traditional format, only the serving team can score a point. A doubles score is called as three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and whether the current server is that team's first or second server. Both players on a team get a turn to serve before the serve passes to the other side, with an exception for the first service turn of the game. Rally scoring gives a point to the winner of every rally no matter who served, which makes games quicker and the count easier to follow. Pickle Point Pal keeps the call straight in either format so you can watch the court instead of doing the arithmetic.

Questions

Is Pickle Point Pal free?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no account and no ads, and there's nothing to install. Add it to your home screen and it works offline at the court.

Does it handle both side-out and rally scoring?

Both. Pick side-out (the standard sanctioned format) or rally scoring at setup, along with games to 11, 15, or 21, a single game or best of 3 or 5, win by 1 or 2, and the rally freeze rule. It also handles the mid-game side switch.

Does it keep track of which player is serving?

Yes, that's most of what it does. It follows server 1 and server 2 through every side-out, keeps the serving team on the correct court, and shows a court diagram of who serves from where, mirrored to whichever side of the net you're on.

Can I undo a point I tapped by mistake?

Yes. Every tap can be undone and redone. The whole match is stored as a list of events, so you can step the score back to any earlier point and forward again. There's also a running match log you can show if a score is ever disputed.

What happens if my phone locks or the page reloads mid-match?

The match saves itself after every point. Reopen the page and it offers to pick up from where you left off, including a running timeout clock, or to start over.

Is this an official USA Pickleball tool?

No. Two rec players made it, and it isn't affiliated with USA Pickleball or Pickleball Canada. The default settings follow common rec and MLP-style play. If you're reffing a sanctioned event, check the toggles against the current rulebook first.

Pickle Point Pal is one of the free pickleball tools from Juice Bros Pickleball, a podcast for everyday players. If you're new to the show, the episodes are a good place to start.