4.K Wrong Score Called

Recommended Modifications to Rule 4.K Wrong Score Called

2025 Pickleball Official Rulebook (Page 27)

The meaning of the current rule might be more readily understood if the verbiage were modified as follows:

4.K Wrong Score Called

4.K.1  After the Serve (“Ball In Play”) BUT BEFORE the Return of Serve:

• A player (or referee) CAN STOP PLAY if the WRONG SCORE is called.

Remedy:  Rally will be replayed with the correct score (No Fault)

• A Player CANNOT STOP PLAY if the CORRECT SCORE was called.

Remedy:  The player who stopped play has committed a FAULT and that player/team will lose the rally.

4.K.2  After the Return of Serve:

• No player CAN STOP PLAY to correct or question the score called (it does not matter if the score was correctly or incorrectly called).

Remedy: This stoppage of play is a FAULT on the player who caused the stoppage of play and that player/team will lose the rally.

4.K.3   Alternate remedy for all:  If the score is in question after the serve, the rally can continue to its’ end.  If the incorrect score was called in that just completed rally, the necessary correction can be acknowledged before the next serve, where the correct score will be called at the start of that rally.  No Fault.

4.K Wrong Score Called.  If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score.  The rally shall be replayed with the correct score called.  After the return of serve, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the score correction made before the next serve.  After the return o9f serve, a player who stops play to identify or ask for a score correction will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.  A player who stops play after the serve to identify or ask for a score correction when the score was correctly called will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

Intended to more clearly state the rule.

When the score is called.