Side out
Traditional doubles (Lite + Pro). Only the serving side scores. Score reads Us – Them – Server#. Games start at 0–0–2.
Scoring modes
Lite is side-out only. Pro adds two rally variants from MENU → Scoring mode.
Rally fixed
Pro. Either side scores each rally. Serving side changes only on side-out. Server does not switch courts after a point.
Rally moving
Pro. Either side scores each rally. While holding serve, the server switches EVEN / ODD court after each point won.
Lite vs Pro
Same buttons. Pro unlocks clock, custom play-to, and rally modes.
| Feature | Lite | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Side-out scoring | Yes | Yes |
| Game timer | — | Yes (pause screen and game summary) |
| Play to 11 / 15 / 21 | 11 only | Yes |
| Win by 1 or 2 | By 2 | Yes |
| Rally fixed / moving | — | Yes |
| Match wins / swap | — | Yes |
| Personal side-out court guide | — | Yes |
Pro MENU → Game settings for play-to and win-by. Changing settings starts a fresh game.
Games & match
Default: play to 11, win by 2. Pro can change that in settings.
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Set up this game
Press START. In Pro side-out mode, choose No stacking or Stack. Stacking asks for your starting court, preferred playing side, and whether to stack on serves only or on serves and returns. Then choose Us serve or Them serve. The opening server is #2 in side-out doubles. -
Start the activity
Choosing the first serving team begins recording a Garmin Pickleball activity. A recording error leaves the match ready and prevents scoring. -
Play rallies
Press START or DOWN after each rally. The watch vibrates on a point or serve change. On Pro, the game clock starts with the activity. -
Game over
When a side hits the target and leads by the win-by margin, you get a GAME overlay. START asks for the next game's stack choice and opening server, then resets and starts the Pro timer immediately. DOWN cannot advance a finished game; UP can undo the winning rally until the next-game choice is made. -
New game / New match
Lite MENU → New game. Pro also has New match and Swap sides. During an activity, New match opens the pause flow so you can save or discard first. Swap sides only changes where US and THEM appear on the watch; it never exchanges their points or wins. -
Pause and finish
BACK pauses from either Pro page or Lite. Resume continues the activity; Save writes a Pickleball FIT file with game laps and score fields; Discard asks again before deleting it. If the app closes unexpectedly, it saves a partial activity and keeps the score paused. Resuming that score begins a new activity. MENU → Sounds controls lifecycle tones independently of Pro stack tones.
Mistap? Hit UP immediately — undo restores the previous score and serve state. Closing the app preserves your game and up to 32 current-game undo snapshots. They are cleared for the next game. Separately, MENU → Rally log keeps the latest 96 actions across games, with score, serve, and stack cue details for debugging. Pro pauses its clock while closed, then resumes it with the activity.
Reading the screen
Glanceable on court. Here’s what each line means.
| On screen | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clock / games | Pro shows elapsed time. Games won appear after the first game. |
| US / THEM | Your side vs opponents. Big numbers are game points. |
| Background and team marker | During play the background is dark green when US serves and dark red when THEM serves. The serving team's dot and underline match. |
| US/THEM SERVE #1 / #2 | Side-out only — which team and server have the current service turn. This stays visible below the Pro stack cue. |
| SERVE / RETURN / stack spot | Pro side-out score page: your next action or partner stack spot. |
| Two page dots | Swipe up or down for your stack spot, or use MENU → Stack spot. Buttons still score on either page; BACK pauses. |
| GAME overlay | That game is finished; START asks for the next game's stack choice and first server. |
Court guide
Pro can show your personal position in traditional side-out doubles.
- Choose per game
At the start of every Pro side-out game, choose No stacking or Stack. If stacking, choose whether you start on the right or left at 0-0. You can change the setup later under MENU → Court guide. - Choose Play left or Play right
This is the side you want to play after the serve or return. Both left and right stacking are supported. Your own serve or return still starts from the required back court. - Choose when to stack
Serving only stacks on your team's serve; on receiving turns it shows the normal return court and does not prompt a switch. Serve + return also guides the return stack. MENU → Court guide → Audio cues optionally sounds when a stack spot changes: one high/low note for a right/left serve stack, or two rising/falling notes for a right/left return stack. Audio is off by default; the tones are not speech. - Read your next stack spot
The score page keeps the cue short: “SERVE RIGHT”, “RETURN LEFT”, or a partner spot. When your preferred side is open, the partner stands LEFT/RIGHT BACK while your team serves, or LEFT/RIGHT FRONT while receiving. When the server or returner occupies your preferred side, LEFT/RIGHT OF SERVER or RETURNER means wait outside that sideline beside them, then move to your playing side. Swipe up or down for the full pre-rally position, role, and serving turn. The spot updates after each rally, including a first-server loss with no point or a side-out. MENU → Stack spot opens the same page; BACK pauses. Partner front/back and outside positions are tactical guidance, not a rule.
If an older saved game shows SET COURT, choose the current right or left serving court under MENU → Who serves. The app will not guess. Court guide is hidden in custom rally modes and at game over. USA Pickleball explains the side-out positioning rule.
Court tips
Keep scoring boring so the points stay interesting.
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Call, then tap
Say the score aloud, then press START or DOWN so the table stays in sync. -
Start in side-out for rec play
Most open play uses traditional scoring. Switch to Rally only when your group agrees. -
Wrist that isn’t your paddle hand
Leaves START/DOWN reachable between points without juggling the paddle.