Billy Pickles
When you first dive into the world of pickleball, one of the initial pieces of advice you’ll hear is, “Stay out of the kitchen.” But as you get deeper into the game, you quickly realize that the rules surrounding this area are a bit more nuanced. What if the ball lands in the kitchen and you can’t reach it? What happens if you hit the ball from outside the kitchen and then step in? Personally, grasping the kitchen rules was one of the trickiest parts of learning pickleball.
Understanding the Non-Volley Zone, or “The Kitchen”
The kitchen is a seven-foot area extending from both sides of the net. Within this zone, you are prohibited from hitting a volley (hitting the ball before it bounces). The kitchen spans the width of the court, so you can stand beside it, though it’s generally not advisable. The boundary lines are also considered part of the non-volley zone.
Key Kitchen Rules to Know
1. You Can Enter the Kitchen Anytime
Contrary to common belief, you can be in the kitchen whenever you like, but don’t get too cozy. If you hit a volley or get hit by the ball while in the non-volley zone, it’s a fault. This makes lingering in the kitchen less than ideal. However, stepping into the kitchen can be useful for returning a dink or drop shot. You can enter the kitchen and get into position to return the ball, as long as you don’t volley it.
Unlike the next rule, you can hit a ball that has bounced and then enter the kitchen if your momentum takes you there. Just try to exit quickly.
2. Momentum Can’t Carry You into the Kitchen After a Volley
While you can’t hit a volley in the kitchen, you also can’t let your momentum carry you into the kitchen after hitting a volley. Momentum refers to the continued motion after contacting the ball and ends when you regain balance or stop moving forward towards the non-volley zone.
This means you can’t jump from outside the kitchen, hit the ball mid-air, and land in the non-volley zone. You also can’t run forward to hit the ball and then run into the kitchen after a volley. Even if the ball is considered dead before you enter the kitchen, it’s still a fault.
More often than not, you’ll be near the edge of the kitchen and hit a volley, causing your momentum to push you forward. If you touch the non-volley zone, it’s a fault. Additionally, anything touching you can’t touch the non-volley zone, so you can’t use your paddle for balance. If you’re wearing a hat or sunglasses and they fall off while you hit a volley, they must not touch the non-volley zone, or it’s a fault.
Pro Tip: If you’re about to fall into the kitchen, your partner can save you by grabbing you, as long as they aren’t in the non-volley zone at the time.
3. Exit the Kitchen Before Hitting a Volley
If you find yourself in the kitchen for any reason, you must exit before hitting a volley. This means you can’t hit a volley while backing out of the kitchen or jump backward from inside the kitchen to hit a volley near the net. Once in the kitchen, both of your feet must be outside the kitchen before you can hit a volley.
Hopefully, these tips help clarify how to navigate the non-volley zone. For the complete rules, refer to section 9 of the official pickleball rulebook.
Thanks for the thorough explanation
Thanks for the thorough explanation
Thanks for the thorough explanation
“Contrary to popular belief, you actually can be inside the kitchen as long as you want” (except when volleying or hit by the ball).
You have another article, “When Can You Be in the Kitchen?”, that says “ A player cannot be in the Kitchen, or on the Kitchen line, during play unless the ball lands into the Kitchen first”… feeding the popular belief?
“Contrary to popular belief, you actually can be inside the kitchen as long as you want” (except when volleying or hit by the ball).
You have another article, “When Can You Be in the Kitchen?”, that says “ A player cannot be in the Kitchen, or on the Kitchen line, during play unless the ball lands into the Kitchen first”… feeding the popular belief?
“Contrary to popular belief, you actually can be inside the kitchen as long as you want” (except when volleying or hit by the ball).
You have another article, “When Can You Be in the Kitchen?”, that says “ A player cannot be in the Kitchen, or on the Kitchen line, during play unless the ball lands into the Kitchen first”… feeding the popular belief?