Should You Choose To Serve First in a Pickleball Tournament?


If you have played pickleball tournaments, you know that, at the beginning of the match, you usually get a choice of serve or side.

If you aren't familiar with the process, usually the score sheet you are given has a number "1" or "2" on the back side.

One team, without knowing which number is on the score sheet, then chooses either "1" or "2."

If their choice is correct with the number preprinted on the back of the score sheet, they get to choose either to serve first or to choose which side of the court to start on. 

The other team gets the remaining option of side or serve.

Also, in tournaments, the teams usually switch sides of the court halfway through the match.

So, in a game to "11" the switch usually occurs when one team reaches a score of "6." In a match to "15" the switch usually occurs at "8."

So, which should you choose?  Serve or side?

Well, believe it or not, some math geniuses have calculated the probabilities for us. 

Here are their conclusions:

  1.  If you win the choice and one side of the court is clearly an advantage and the other side is clearly a disadvantage, always choose side first.  It may be because of wind, sun, shadows, glare, etc. 

  2. And if you choose side first because of the issues in point 1 above, always choose to start on the side with the disadvantage. That way you will be on the "good" side for the last half of the game.

  3.  Assuming there is no clear side advantage or disadvantage, you should choose to serve first.

  4.  If you choose to serve first, you should always have the stronger server of the two team members serve first. 


Did that data tell you anything you didn't already know?

The data is interesting to analyze.  

If you are interested in seeing more details of this study, email me at the following address, and I will send you the link.

                          Ben@pickleball-living.com

And remember this information when you must choose side or serve at your next tournament.

Good luck!


Ben Holt
​CEO, Pickleball Living