Every pickleball player remembers the time they learned about the “kitchen”. But what is the kitchen in pickleball and, most importantly, what are the pickleball kitchen rules?
Whether you’re new to pickleball or an experienced tournament champion, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about the pickleball kitchen.
Keep reading to make sure you know all the pickleball kitchen rules!
What you need to know about the pickleball non-volley zone
The court used for pickleball is the same on both sides for singles and double play.
The dimensions of a pickleball court are same size as a doubles badminton court, with two service areas, sidelines, and centerlines.
What is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen is one of many pickleball slang terms, but the kitchen in pickleball is more formally known as the non-volley zone.
The area called the kitchen is the center of the court, the front of each side, closest to the net. The kitchen area of the court is seven feet from both sides of the net and from sideline to sideline.
There are rules for the kitchen or the non-volley zone that will earn you or your team faults if you break them. This is one of the rules that trip up new players a lot and can still catch some old hands.
The rules for the rest of the court are different from the rules for the kitchen, or the non-volley zone. You may not volley from the kitchen area as that will earn you a fault.
A volley in pickleball is when a player hits the ball before it has bounced on the ground.
The opposite of a volley is a groundstroke, which is when a player hits the ball after it has touched down.
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Why is it called kitchen in pickleball?
The area referred to as the kitchen may have come from shuffleboard. The area in a game of shuffleboard called the kitchen is where you don’t want to land your puck in. It’s also called the 10-off area.
You are deducted points in shuffleboard if you land there, and just like in pickleball, you don’t want to stand in the kitchen and hit the ball, as you will be faulted. Most players get very close to the line of the kitchen to maximize the court.
For those just learning about pickleball, there can be a lot of confusing terms and strange names for things. Follow this link to learn more terms and get a few great tips.
What is the reason for the no volley zone in pickleball?
The main reason for the non-volley zone in pickleball is to keep players from smashing the ball over the net. It gives them an unfair advantage over their opponents, as they will need to step backward or chase the ball very quickly.
The pickleball kitchen rules you need to know
- The first rule you should understand is about standing in the kitchen. You absolutely cannot stand in the kitchen or be in contact with the line of the kitchen while volleying the ball.
- If you wander into the kitchen or even have your toe on the line of the kitchen zone, that will be considered a fault. This includes anything else you are wearing or carrying. You and your clothing may not cross the line.
- When it comes to calling faults, almost anyone can. If you have someone officiating over the game, then they will call the faults. But if not, a player can call a fault if they see an opponent’s foot on the non-volley line.
- Without a referee, any player can call a foot fault for either side. If the opponent accepts the fault, fine. If they don’t, the benefit of the doubt goes to the team who called the fault.
- When it comes to spiking the ball, you may not hit the ball in any way while you are in the kitchen or even standing on the lion of the boundary of the kitchen. Even the sleeve of your shirt may not come in contact with the ball if you are in the kitchen.
- Keeping out of the kitchen can be difficult for new players or even seasoned players caught up in the game. It’s important to be aware of where the lines are for the kitchen and try to not step on them when you are preparing to hit the ball.
There’s a lot to learn and some of the pickleball kitchen rules are tricky to get your head around, but get out there and stay out of the kitchen!
There are other considerations to be made, particularly with regard to the game’s rules. That’s why I’m continuously learning the fundamentals of this sport and getting better.