When Can You Be in The Kitchen?
Knowing when you can be in the kitchen area and how to play at the net is critical for avoiding faults due to being out of bounds. The official rules of pickleball are published annually by the USAPA for all pickleball players, and this rulebook includes pickleball kitchen rules that must be followed.
What is the Kitchen in Pickleball?
Technically, this area is referred to as the non-volley zone (NVZ), but most people refer to it as the kitchen. The kitchen is a 7ft x 20ft zone with painted lines surrounding it on both sides of the net. Pickleball court lines are 2 inches thick, and the kitchen line is included as part of the kitchen.
Volley vs. Groundstroke
There are two key terms that must be explained when discussing kitchen rules. The term "volley" should be distinguished from the term "groundstroke" to determine whether a kitchen rule has been violated.
When a player volleys, he strikes the ball out of the air before it bounces.
A groundstroke entails hitting the ball after the ball has bounced.
Pickleball rules state that the kitchen zone is an area where players can’t stand and hit a volley without it first bouncing. Once the ball makes contact with the court surface in the kitchen or on the non-volley line, a player may step into this area and hit the ball.
It is worth noting that the swing, follow-through, and the player’s bodily momentum are all considered part of the volley. For example, if a player is behind the kitchen line and hits a volley, but the momentum propels the player’s body forward, and the player enters the kitchen in the act of the volley, it is considered a fault.
Are Players Allowed to Stand Inside the Kitchen?
Yes - the rules of the kitchen do not prohibit players from standing inside the kitchen. However, no volleys are allowed if a player is standing within any part of the kitchen until the ball bounces. This means that every part of your body must not touch the pickleball non-volley zone (including the painted lines) until this has occurred, or you risk a fault.
However, it’s important to note that the space above the kitchen is not included as part of the non-volley zone - the ground itself is the kitchen. As such, it’s legal to have a pickleball paddle over the kitchen line in the act of volleying, providing the rest of your body is behind the non-volley zone line. New players often are afraid to make contact and hit a volley shot near this area because they aren’t aware of all the non-volley zone rules.
Why Do the Kitchen Rules Exist?
The main reason the kitchen rules exist is to prevent overly aggressive play at the net. Pickleball was meant to be a sport for everyone and wouldn’t be much fun if someone guards the net and smashes the ball as hard as they can at their opponents.
When Can You Hit a Dink in the Kitchen?
A dink is a special type of soft drop shot that is generally hit over the net to fall on the opponent’s side of the court into their kitchen. It is hit with a volley motion but without as much force. A dink may be hit as long as the ball bounces in the kitchen.
Can You Hit a Pickleball Serve into the Kitchen?
No - pickleball serves must not be hit into the kitchen or on the demarcation lines that surround it.
Summary
A player's body, or any part of it that comes into contact with the kitchen or kitchen line will be at fault
A player cannot be in the kitchen, or on the kitchen line, during play unless the ball lands in the kitchen first
A player cannot touch the kitchen line with their swing, follow-through, or momentum
