USAP singles cheat sheet

Pickleball

Abbreviated for fast reads. USA Pickleball (USAP) is the national governing body; when in doubt, follow the official rulebook.

No volleys in the kitchen Two-bounce rule Volley serve: below navel

Match format

Scoring: side-out — only the server can score a point.
Games: usually first to 11, win by 2. Some events use 15 or 21, win by 2.
Match: typically best 2 of 3 games (event decides).
Change ends: after each game. In the deciding game, change when the first player reaches 6 (game to 11), 8 (to 15), or 11 (to 21).

Call: server’s score first, then receiver’s — two numbers only.
Server position: your score is even → serve from the right; odd → serve from the left.
Side out: if you lose the rally while serving, your opponent serves — their score now determines their left/right serve.

Both serves: diagonal into the correct service court. At contact, at least one foot is on the ground behind the baseline and between sideline extensions.
Clear the kitchen: the ball must not touch the non-volley zone (NVZ) or the NVZ line on the fly — that’s a fault. A serve that clips the net and lands in is live (no let).
Volley serve: paddle moves in an upward arc; contact below the navel; highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.
Drop serve: let the ball fall from any natural height (no toss or propulsion); hit after the bounce. The volley-serve motion restrictions do not apply to the drop serve.

Return of serve: the served ball must bounce on the receiver’s side before they hit it.
Third shot: the return of serve must bounce on the server’s side before the server (or anyone) may volley it.
After that: either player may volley or play off the bounce.

No volleys in the NVZ: you may not volley while touching the NVZ or its line, or while momentum from the volley carries you into the NVZ or onto the line.
Standing in the NVZ: allowed whenever you are not volleying.
Bounce first: if the ball bounces in the NVZ, you may step in and hit it (groundstroke) — that is not a volley.

Out / net: ball lands out, in the net, or fails to clear the net.
Two-bounce / volley: volley before the two required bounces are complete, or NVZ volley fault.
Illegal serve: foot fault, wrong court, NVZ on the fly, or illegal volley-serve motion (drop serve exempt from motion rules).
Double hit: not one continuous, single-direction stroke toward the ball.
Carrying / catching: ball must not touch your body or clothing except your paddle / paddle hand below the wrist.

In or out: any part of the ball touching the line (except as noted for the serve) is in.
Serve only: the NVZ line is part of the kitchen — a serve that lands on that line is a fault.
Calling: call your own lines on your side promptly; if you can’t tell, give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent.

Standard timeouts: two per game (games to 11 or 15), three per game to 21 — each up to 1 minute (singles: you are the “team”). Call with voice and/or paddle/hand before the serve.
Medical timeout: request from the referee when available; follow official duration / charge rules.
Between games: typically up to 2 minutes.
Coaching: only between games or during a timeout — not during live play.
Fair play: no deliberate delay, distraction, or celebration aimed at throwing off your opponent.