Rules
The Pickleball Kitchen
The kitchen, officially the non-volley zone, is the most important and most misunderstood part of the pickleball court. Mastering the kitchen rules and strategy is the single fastest way to improve your game.
What is the kitchen?
The kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone (NVZ) on each side of the net. It extends the full 20-foot width of the court. The kitchen line is the boundary, and the line itself is considered part of the kitchen for volleying purposes.
7 feet
Kitchen depth from net
20 feet
Kitchen width (full court)
34 inches
Net height at center
What you can and can't do in the kitchen
The official rules, plainly stated.
Stand anywhere in the kitchen at any time
Being in the kitchen is not a fault by itself. Only volleying from the kitchen is prohibited.
Enter the kitchen to hit a bounced ball
If the ball bounces in the kitchen, you may step in and play it. No restriction on stance or position while the ball is bouncing.
Reach over the net into the kitchen
You may reach over the net to play a ball, but you cannot touch the net, post, or net cord, and your paddle cannot touch the kitchen before the ball.
Volley while in the kitchen or touching the line
You cannot hit the ball out of the air while any part of your body or paddle is in or touching the kitchen line. This is the core kitchen rule.
Let momentum carry you into the kitchen after a volley
If you volley outside the kitchen and your momentum takes you into it, it's a fault, even if the volley was legal and the ball is already gone.
Volley again before fully exiting the kitchen
After entering the kitchen for a bounced ball, both feet must be fully outside the kitchen and its line before you can volley again.
The momentum rule (most common source of confusion)
If you volley the ball outside the kitchen and your momentum carries you into the kitchen, even after you've already made contact, it is a fault. This surprises many players because the swing itself was legal. You must maintain your balance outside the kitchen on every volley. This rule prevents "crashing" volleys at the net.
Kitchen strategy
Why the kitchen line is where games are won and lost.
The team at the kitchen line wins
The most important strategic principle in pickleball is getting to the kitchen line and staying there. The kitchen-dominant team controls the pace, angles, and pressure of every rally. If your team is stuck at the baseline, you're playing defense.
The dink game lives at the kitchen
Dinking, hitting soft, low shots into the opponent's kitchen, is the primary offensive tool at the kitchen line. A good dink forces your opponent to hit upward, preventing attacks. Consistent dinking at the kitchen wins rallies at every level above 3.5.
Poaching is possible
In doubles, the non-returning player can poach, stepping across to intercept a ball aimed at their partner's side. This requires partner communication and timing, but a well-executed poach is a rally-ending weapon at the kitchen.
Attack when the ball is above net height
You can only attack effectively when the ball is high enough to hit downward, above net height. At the kitchen line, wait for a pop-up (a ball that rises above net level) before attacking. Attacking a low ball creates an upward shot your opponent can volley away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen is the informal name for the non-volley zone (NVZ) in pickleball. It is a 7-foot zone on each side of the net where players cannot volley the ball. The kitchen extends the full width of the court (20 feet). The kitchen line itself is considered part of the kitchen for volleying purposes.
Can you stand in the kitchen in pickleball?
Yes, you can stand in the kitchen anytime, but you cannot volley while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line. You are allowed to enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced inside it. After playing the ball, you must exit the kitchen before volleying again.
What is a kitchen fault in pickleball?
A kitchen fault occurs when a player volleys while standing in the non-volley zone or touching the kitchen line. It also occurs if a player's momentum carries them into the kitchen after a volley, even if the ball is already dead. Kitchen faults result in a point for the non-faulting team if they were serving, or a side-out if they were receiving.
Can you enter the kitchen after a ball bounces?
Yes. If the ball bounces in the kitchen, you may step in and hit it. There is no restriction on entering the kitchen to play a bounced ball. However, you must fully exit the kitchen (both feet outside the kitchen and its line) before volleying again.
What is the momentum rule in pickleball?
The momentum rule states that if you volley the ball and your follow-through or momentum carries you into the kitchen, it is a fault, even if you volleyed from outside the kitchen and even if the point appears to be over. You must maintain your balance outside the kitchen line after every volley.
Master the kitchen through play
Next steps
Put this into action
Use what you just read to find a game, get on court, and show up prepared.