Dear Eric, Sore About Score

How do I politely deal with the player in our group who forgets the score before literally every point? Whenever it’s his serve, he has to ask everyone the score. Then on the next point, he asks it again. Even when he’s not serving, he’ll say “wait, what’s the score?” He’s lovely, but it’s making everyone insane.

Signed,

6-3-1  or Maybe 3-6-2

Dear 6-3-1,

Every pickleball group has one. The player for whom the score exists only briefly, like a Snapchat message or a seasonal cocktail menu.

The important thing is this: score forgetters are almost never trying to be annoying. Usually they’re juggling conversation, partner positioning, line calls, whose serve it is, whether that was “out by daylight,” and the low-level panic of trying not to get lobbed again.

Also, pickleball scoring is objectively ridiculous to newcomers and only marginally less ridiculous after three years.

Your mission is not to eliminate the behavior. You cannot. This is like trying to stop seagulls from stealing fries.

Instead, reduce the friction.

Have the server call the score loudly and consistently every point. Then when it’s his turn, just call the score in advance. Don’t wait for him to try to remember. 

Nothing makes score confusion worse than visible irritation. The more tense people get, the more brains short-circuit.

And keeping it real, most of us forget the score once in a while, especially after a long rally, mild dehydration, and exactly one distracting story about someone’s new grand-kid.

When that day comes, may your group show you the same grace.

Even if you ask twice in one game.