Printable Pickleball Scoring Cheat Sheet (Free PDF)
One page with what new players ask about most. It covers how to call the score, who serves next, which side to stand on, the two-bounce rule and the kitchen. Print it at full size for the club board, or use the cut-out pocket cards at the bottom.
Pickleball scoring cheat sheet
Call the score: three numbers
5-3-1
- 5: the serving side's score
- 3: the receiving side's score
- 1: first or second server
Call all of it before you serve. Singles: two numbers (server, receiver).
Start at 0-0-2
The side that serves first gets one server on its first turn, so it starts as server 2. Lose that rally and the serve goes straight over.
Scoring
Only the serving side scores. Games to 11, win by 2.
Who serves next
| Serving side wins the rally | +1 point. Partners switch sides. Same server. |
|---|---|
| Server 1 loses the rally | Partner serves (server 2), from where they stand. |
| Server 2 loses the rally | Side out. Other side serves, from its player on the right. |
Where to stand
Your side's starting server is on the right when your score is even (0, 2, 4…) and on the left when it's odd, serving or receiving.
Singles: serve from the right on an even score, the left on an odd one.
Serve diagonally: right to right, left to left.
Let it bounce twice
The serve bounces before it's returned. The return bounces before the serving side hits it. Then volley away.
The kitchen
No volleys while touching the 7-foot zone or its line, and no stepping in from a volley's momentum. Stand in it any time to play a ball that bounced.
A serve on the kitchen line is short.
✂ Cut out and keep in your bag
Pickleball score call
Your score – their score – server 1 or 2. Start at 0-0-2.
Win a rally serving: point, switch sides, same server. Lose: partner serves, then side out.
Starting server on the right on an even score.
Serve and return must bounce. No volleys in the kitchen.
Pickleball score call
Your score – their score – server 1 or 2. Start at 0-0-2.
Win a rally serving: point, switch sides, same server. Lose: partner serves, then side out.
Starting server on the right on an even score.
Serve and return must bounce. No volleys in the kitchen.
What’s on it
- The score call, with an example: “5-3-1” means your side 5, their side 3, first server.
- 0-0-2: why the game starts with server 2.
- Who serves next after a won rally, a lost rally and a side out.
- Where to stand: the even-score check.
- The two-bounce rule and the kitchen, in two lines each.
- Two pocket cards at the bottom to cut out and keep in a paddle bag.
Print it on letter paper. It follows the 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook; we’ll update it when the 2027 rulebook is out (due in mid-December 2026).
Sources
- USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, USA Pickleball (2026 edition)