If you are new to pickleball, one of the first things you will probably hear is, “Stay out of the kitchen!”
But the kitchen is not actually an area you have to stay out of all the time.
The kitchen, officially called the non-volley zone, is the area directly beside the net. You are allowed to stand inside it and hit the ball after it bounces. The main rule is that you cannot volley the ball while standing in the kitchen.
Here is how the kitchen works and the rules every beginner should know.
What Is the Kitchen in Pickleball?
The kitchen is the nickname for the non-volley zone, often shortened to NVZ.
It is the area directly in front of the net on both sides of the court. The main purpose of the kitchen rule is to stop players from standing right beside the net and hitting every ball out of the air before their opponents have a chance to react.
The most important thing to remember is:
The kitchen does not mean “you cannot go in here.”
It means you cannot volley while you are inside it.
A volley is simply a shot hit before the ball bounces.
How Big Is the Kitchen?
The kitchen extends 7 feet (about 2.13 metres) from the net on each side of the court and runs across the full 20-foot width (about 6.10 metres) of the court.
That means each individual non-volley zone measures 7 feet by 20 feet (about 2.13 metres by 6.10 metres).
Together, the two kitchen areas create a 14-foot section around the net (about 4.27 metres).
Why Does Pickleball Have a Kitchen?
Without the kitchen, players could stand directly beside the net and smash balls before they bounced.
The non-volley zone keeps players a little farther away when hitting volleys, which creates more opportunities for softer shots, longer rallies, and different strategies around the net.
It is also why shots such as the dink are such an important part of pickleball.
Can You Stand in the Kitchen?
Yes.
You can stand in the kitchen and move through it whenever you want.
The rule only becomes important when you are hitting a volley, which means hitting the ball before it bounces. If the ball has already bounced, you are allowed to step into the kitchen and return it.
For example:
Ball bounces inside the kitchen?
You can step in and hit it.
Ball has not bounced yet?
You need to stay outside the kitchen if you want to hit it.
What Can You Not Do in the Kitchen?
You cannot volley the ball while:
- Standing inside the kitchen
- Touching the kitchen line
- Touching the kitchen with your paddle, clothing, or anything connected to you
- Being carried into the kitchen by your momentum after hitting a volley
These situations result in a fault.
For beginners, the easiest rule to remember is:
You can enter the kitchen. You just cannot volley from it.
Does the Kitchen Line Count as Part of the Kitchen?
Yes.
The line closest to the net is commonly called the kitchen line or non-volley-zone line, and it counts as part of the kitchen.
That means if your foot is touching the line while you hit a volley, it is a fault. The official rules state that the lines surrounding the non-volley zone are part of the zone itself.
So when you are preparing to volley near the net, stay completely behind the line.
Can a Serve Land in the Kitchen?
No.
A serve must travel beyond the kitchen and land in the correct diagonal service court. The non-volley zone is not part of the service court.
The serve must also clear the kitchen line. If the served ball lands on the kitchen line, it is a fault.
This is different from the sidelines, baseline, and centreline of the correct service court, which count as in.
What Happens If Your Momentum Carries You Into the Kitchen?
You can still commit a kitchen fault even if both feet were outside the kitchen when you hit the ball.
If you volley the ball and your momentum causes you to step into or touch the kitchen afterwards, it is a fault. This remains true even if the ball has already become dead.
For example, imagine you are standing just behind the kitchen line and reach forward to volley.
You hit the ball successfully, but then lose your balance and step across the line.
That is still a kitchen fault.
This is why balance is so important when playing close to the net.
Do You Have to Leave the Kitchen Before Volleying Again?
Yes.
If you step into the kitchen during a rally, you need to get both feet completely back outside the kitchen before hitting your next volley.
Simply lifting one foot out or jumping from inside the kitchen does not reset your position.
For beginners, just remember to step fully back behind the kitchen line before trying to volley again.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Thinking You Can Never Enter the Kitchen
This is probably the biggest misunderstanding.
You are allowed to stand in the kitchen. You just cannot volley while touching it.
Forgetting That the Line Counts
Stepping directly on the kitchen line while volleying is still a fault because the line is part of the non-volley zone.
Stepping Forward After a Volley
You may hit the volley while standing safely behind the line, but if your momentum carries you into the kitchen afterwards, it is still a fault.
Avoiding the Kitchen Even After the Ball Bounces
If your opponent hits a short dink, you may need to step into the kitchen to reach it.
That is completely legal once the ball has bounced.
Standing Too Far From the Kitchen Line
Beginners sometimes stay several steps away because they are afraid of committing a fault.
Once you understand the rule, playing close to the kitchen line can put you in a much stronger position to reach volleys and dinks.
Quick Recap
The kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone located on both sides of the net.
You are allowed to enter and stand inside the kitchen.
The main restriction is that you cannot hit a volley while touching the kitchen or its boundary line. Your momentum after a volley also cannot carry you into the kitchen.
The easiest way to remember it is:
Ball bounced? You can play it from the kitchen.
No bounce? Stay outside the kitchen.
Once you understand that, the kitchen rule becomes much simpler than it first sounds.
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