Pickleball Provisional Scoring

Provisional scoring in pickleball refers to a temporary or experimental method of scoring that's being tested as an alternative to the traditional system. It’s not officially adopted but may be used in certain tournaments, leagues, or formats to see if it improves gameplay, pace, or fairness.

Possible reasons for provisional scoring:

• To speed up matches or standardize timeframes.

• To simplify scoring, especially for beginners.

• To test alternatives to side-out scoring, like rally scoring (where a point is scored on every rally, not just by the serving team).

Common types of provisional scoring being tested:

• Rally Scoring: Both teams can score on every rally, not just the serving team. Used in MLP (Major League Pickleball).

• Timed Matches: Games end based on time rather than score.

• Hybrid Formats: Combos of rally and traditional scoring.

So, when you hear “provisional scoring,” think: trial run, not official yet, but being explored to possibly improve the game.