What Is the Non-Volley Zone in Pickleball? (Kitchen)

Let’s talk a bit about the non-volley zone in pickleball. Just a few reminders first. Remember the game of pickleball is played on a court that is the size of a badminton court. However, the net is lower, and the ball is hit with a paddle, not a racket. The game can be played as singles or doubles.

The non-volley zone (or “kitchen”) is an important part of the pickleball court. We will use the term non-volley zone and kitchen interchangeably. This zone is a 7-foot section on either side of the net. The kitchen is restricted by a line that runs perpendicular to the net through the middle of the court. Players cannot hit the ball in the air within the non-volley zone. If they do, they will lose the point. The non-volley zone can also be referred to as the “no volleying zone” or the “7-foot zone.”

Why is the Non-Volley Zone Important?

The non-volley zone is important because it promotes fair play and prevents players from gaining an unfair advantage. When the ball is hit into the non-volley zone, the player who hit the ball cannot volley it. This means they have to let the ball bounce before hitting it again. This gives the other player a chance to get to the ball and prevents them from being steamrolled by someone who can keep volleying it.

How Is the Non-Volley Zone In Pickleball Used?

The non-volley zone, also commonly referred to as the “kitchen,” is an area on the pickleball court with special rules. Essentially, players are not allowed to volley the ball while standing within this zone. This rule exists because volleying from such close range can give players an unfair advantage.

So, what does this mean in practice? If a player is standing inside the non-volley zone and hits the ball before it bounces, they will automatically lose the point. This also applies to any volleying – even if the ball is only hit slightly before it bounces, the point will be awarded to the other team as long as it’s within the non-volley zone.

Other Things to Note About the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen

First, the line that denotes the boundary of the non-volley zone is considered part of the zone itself. So, you can’t have your foot on the line.

Second, while players are not allowed to volley while inside the non-volley zone, they can play other types of shots. This means that players can still put the ball into play from inside the non-volley zone. They can’t do it by volleying.

Why Is the Non-Volley Zone in Place?

The main reason for the existence of the non-volley zone is to promote fair play and make the game more challenging.

Since pickleball is played with a smaller court and a lower net, volleying would give players an unfair advantage. Allowing volleys only near the net would also make it difficult for players to defend their side of the court.

The non-volley zone forces players to hit the ball back and forth before they can volley, making the game more challenging and exciting.

How Is the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Enforced?

The non-volley zone is enforced by a line that runs perpendicular to the net and is located 7 feet from the center of the net. The non-volley zone is also known by many or most players as the “kitchen line.”

There are quite a number of rules in the game of Pickleball. Here are just a few as a reminder to you. However, if you want the complete downloadable rules from the USA PIcklball Association, you can download the complete pickleball rule book here.

Some Basic Introductory Rules of Pickleball
1. Keep the Ball In Bounds.

Well, that one is not surprising! Of course, the ball must stay in inbounds to be playable. In that respect, it is like tennis. The ball must stay within the boundaries of the court, or else it is not playable.

2. The serving player must let the ball bounce before hitting it.

This is a key rule in pickleball as it adds an extra layer of difficulty and challenge to the game. The serving player must let the ball bounce once before hitting it over the net. This rule makes it harder for the serving player to score as they have to time their shot perfectly to make sure the ball bounces and then hits the ground on their opponent’s side.

3. Serving must be done at the baseline diagonally.

Another rule makes it harder for the serving player to score. They must serve from the baseline diagonally, meaning they can not just hit the ball over the net from anywhere on their side of the court. This rule adds strategy to the game as players have to think about where they will serve the ball to make it more difficult for their opponents to return.

The serve must also land within the boundaries of the court, which includes not landing on the non-volley zone line. This rule is in place to make it fair for both sides, as it would be easy for the serving player just to hit the ball into the non-volley zone and have their opponents not be able to return it.

5. Players cannot touch the net or go into their opponent’s court.

This rule is in place to ensure that players do not have an unfair advantage by reaching over the net and touching the ball or going into their opponent’s court. This would give the player who broke this rule an unfair advantage and make the game less fair.

These are some of the main rules of pickleball that players must follow to play the game. These rules are important as they make the game more fair and challenging, making it fun to play.

Conclusion

The non-volley zone is an important part of pickleball as it promotes fair play and makes the game more challenging. The zone is enforced by a line that runs perpendicular to the net and is located 7 feet from the center of the net. The non-volley zone is also enforced by a rule stating that players cannot hit the ball twice in a row. These rules are important as they make the game more fair and exciting.