The fast learning curve, ease of play, and, most importantly, enjoyment of the game are the highlights of pickleball. This is mostly because of a few standard mechanics and easy-to-follow guidelines. However, there is one obvious exception that must be handled, and that is without a doubt anything related to the kitchen.
If there’s one thing that baffles players at all skill levels since 1965, it’s the kitchen’s rules, aside from the name. This essay will address the myths concerning pickleball kitchen rules.
We’ll go over the fundamentals of pickleball kitchen rules, walk through the actual rules straight from the source, and then answer the most common queries that spread misinformation. It’s time to get out your magnifying glass and examine the fine print of the kitchen rule.
Before we get into the rule and what it entails, let’s define the Kitchen on a pickleball court.
What is the Kitchen?
The kitchen is the “non-volley” area of the court. The primary goal of having a kitchen in this game is to keep players from getting too close to the net and hitting or serving the ball downwards for an “easy win.”
The kitchen area is located 7 feet from the net on either side of the court. If the ball falls on the kitchen area during a serve, the serve is invalidated, and the opponent scores a point.
In other words, players are not permitted to volley the ball within the kitchen zone if any part of their bodies is in contact with the kitchen’s surface. The kitchen is a 2D area rather than a 3D one; this is significant since you can volley over the kitchen as long as your feet (or any object/article of clothing you own) are behind the kitchen’s surface.
In the event that a player is technically inside the kitchen, they have two options: they can volley the ball after it crosses the kitchen’s boundary or they can make sure it bounces off the ground before entering the kitchen.
What Is A Volley In Pickleball?
A volley is a shot taken by a player before the ball bounces on their side of the court. A volley is typically regarded as an aggressive shot since it frequently compels the other team to defend deep in their own court.
There are two types of volleys in pickleball: forehand and backhand. In order to maximize power and control, forehand volleys are usually hit with the paddle facing open. Closed paddle faces are frequently used for backhand volleys, which improves ball placement for the player.
Now that you have a fundamental understanding of the kitchen area and what it is, let’s go over everything you need to know about rules.
What are the Kitchen Rules?
The first and most crucial pickleball kitchen rule is that no player is allowed to stand in that area and attempt a volley with the ball.
It’s strictly forbidden to volley the ball there.
When you Volley, you return the ball to the player before it hits the ground.
The “non-volley” zone is not just restricted to the ball, though, which makes the kitchen rule special. This area cannot contain or land on anything connected to the player.
The receiver receives a point even if you are only in the final 0.5 inches of the kitchen.
If your wristband, hat, paddle, or keys fall into the kitchen, the point goes back to your opponent.
That is how vital and crucial this section of the court is. Let’s learn the kitchen’s official rules.
Pickleball Kitchen Rules to Know
As a pickleball player, it’s crucial to develop excellent habits and learn kitchen rules early on. The non-volley area is covered extensively in both the IFP Rulebook for foreign players and the USA Pickleball Rulebook for American players.
Although players refer to the area as the “kitchen,” the rulebooks make no mention of it. To find these rules, use the word “non volley” and keep in mind that a volley merely implies hitting the ball before it touches the ground.
You Can’t Volley in the Kitchen
While this rule may appear to be obvious, it is frequently misunderstood by others. A widespread misconception is that you can’t step into the kitchen until the ball bounces. But this is simply not true!
You can go into the kitchen at any time, but you are not allowed to hit the ball until it bounces. It is a mistake to volley the ball with even a toe on the line.
However, this regulation doesn’t end when your paddle makes contact with the ball. It is not permitted for you to step in the kitchen while in motion, swinging, or following through. It’s a fault if your opponent makes the following shot and you continue to have momentum from that shot into the kitchen.
Because of the phrasing of the rules, expert players frequently employ an Erne shot to strike a volley within the kitchen while remaining inside the restrictions!
Entering the Kitchen
We have discussed when it is inappropriate to enter the kitchen. But when is it permitted to land in the kitchen?
The answer is simple: whenever the volley is not being hit.
If you want to strike a groundstroke, you can do so from the kitchen. Only volleying is prohibited from the kitchen zone. If you do not volley, you are free to come in and stay in the kitchen as long as you like.
The Kitchen Line is a Part of the Kitchen
You are not allowed to volley a ball while touching any of the lines that encircle the kitchen, including the sidelines and the kitchen line, as they are regarded as a part of the actual kitchen.
When Volleying Your Body or Equipment Can’t Touch the Kitchen
Throughout the entire volley motion, no part of your body or any equipment may come into contact with the kitchen. This includes when you volley a low ball and your paddle hits the kitchen area.
Fortunately, the kitchen only refers to the place on the ground, not the space above it! If nothing hits the ground inside the boundaries of the kitchen line, you are free to move your body or paddle across it.
But, there are a few requirements for this that you should be aware of:
When volleying, you cannot touch anything in the kitchen
You will be at fault if you strike a volley and run into your doubles partner who has their foot on the kitchen line.
When hitting a volley, no clothing item may fall inside the cooking zone
In addition to your body and paddle, if any piece of clothing or other pickleball equipment you are wearing, such as sunglasses or a hat, falls into the kitchen zone while hitting a volley, it is a fault.
Both Feet Must Be on the Ground Outside the Kitchen
Before hitting a volley, make sure both feet are outside of the kitchen. These feet outside of the kitchen rule applies to players who are in the kitchen to make a shot and then have to swiftly return outside in order to avoid being hit by another shot, even though that may seem apparent.
In the event that you have to strike a volley, you have to plant both feet firmly on the ground outside the kitchen!
Partner Rules in The Kitchen
If you get too close to the kitchen while volleying, your partner might pull you back and prevent you from entering. This allows your partner to rapidly bring you back if the momentum of striking the pickleball racquet causes you to cross the no-volley line.
However, if one of your items, such as sunglasses or a hat, falls into the kitchen, it will be deemed a fault.
Serving and the kitchen
The sideline, end line, center line, and kitchen line make up the service box. If the ball is served and lands on the center, side, or end lines, it is deemed “in,” or good. However, the kitchen line is seen as “out”.
This means that a serve must entirely clear the kitchen line to be declared genuine, even if it only grazes the net. However, it is not only where the ball lands that determines whether a service is acceptable; you must also ensure that you do not pre-spin the ball before serving.
What Can You Do in the Kitchen?
It’s your kitchen, so do anything you want and carry you into the kitchen any time! If the ball bounces first, you are free to make any kind of shot from inside the kitchen.
You can hit a groundstroke, dink, or lob while standing in the kitchen, however, this is definitely not a wise tactic. You are free to walk around the kitchen and stay for as long as you want, as long as you do not volley the ball.
If you don’t touch each other when making a shot, you can play pickleball in pairs where one partner can be in the kitchen while the other volleys.
Just remember that as long as you don’t volley in the kitchen, you won’t be breaking any pickleball kitchen regulations.
Strategies for Playing in the Non-Volley Zone
To play efficiently in the Kitchen, players must know the rules of the kitchen and devise specific strategies. When you are waiting for a shot from your opponent, for instance, it is better to stay at the edge of the Non-Volley Area. This approach gives the player the option to play from the Kitchen if the situation arises.
Mastering the Non-Volley Zone
Even experienced players may find it difficult to play in the kitchen. It takes time and experience to understand how to play well while following the rule of not volleying the ball when in the Non-Volley area. You can master the Non-Volley Zone by using the following advice.
Work on Your Footwork
Playing in the Non-Volley Zone requires quick footwork and efficient movement. You must develop rapid and effective movement skills in the kitchen while making sure to avoid entering it when necessary. Improve your speed and agility when moving in this region by doing footwork drills like jogging around cones or practicing cross-overs.
Focus on Ball Placement
To win points when playing in the Non-Volley Zone, accurate ball placement is essential. Learn to strike soft strokes and arrange them correctly to make it harder for your opponent to make a return shot. Improve your third-shot drop and dink shots from this region to make them more successful in the Kitchen.
Practice Patience
While participating in the Non-Volley Zone, patience is a virtue. When you’re in the Kitchen, it’s simple to lose your cool and take a shot that goes against the instructions. Therefore, you must maintain composure, evaluate the circumstances, and bide your time until the ideal moment to take a shot. To win points from the Kitchen, keep in mind that control and patience are essential.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve never played the game of pickleball, the pickleball kitchen rules may appear convoluted, but they’re actually rather simple in practice and rapidly become second nature, just like pickleball’s service rules
When in doubt, remember the rules of pickleball: keep out of the kitchen until the ball has bounced! Why not put your newly acquired kitchen skills to good use?
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you not do in the kitchen in pickleball?
In pickleball, there are two things you cannot do in the kitchen. First off, you are not allowed to volley while standing in the kitchen. This includes when your body, paddle, or any other piece of equipment that moves quickly comes into contact with the kitchen during a volley shot. A serve cannot fall into the kitchen, to start with.
Can you hit the kitchen line with a pickleball serve?
No, the Kitchen line cannot be struck by a pickleball serve. The kitchen is always seen as including the kitchen line.
Can you enter the kitchen before the ball bounces?
Yes, you are welcome to enter the kitchen whenever you choose. However, you are not allowed to volley the ball in the kitchen.
Can you enter into the kitchen after hitting the ball?
If you are volleying, the momentum of your forward motion will not propel you into the Kitchen. You can enter the Kitchen if you’re returning a shot after it has bounced.
