What Are The Rules Of The Kitchen In Pickleball?
If you’re new to pickleball and curious about the game you might have heard about the kitchen. The kitchen is one of the unique aspects of pickleball distinguishing it from tennis and badminton.
So what are the rules of the kitchen?
The kitchen rule prohibits players from volleying (hitting the ball out of the air) while standing in the kitchen or touching its lines. Players also can't let their momentum carry them, or anything they are wearing or carrying, into the kitchen or onto its lines after a volley. Players are allowed to be in the kitchen at other times, such as to hit a ball that has bounced.
This is a simplified answer but we will cover everything you need to know about the intricacies of the kitchen in this article. So if you want to learn about the kitchen, buckle up and let's get picklin.
What is the Kitchen?
So first off here’s the basic run down:
The kitchen is the non-volley zone in pickleball. It extends seven feet from both sides of the net and from sideline to sideline. Players may enter the non-volley zone at any time, but they can't volley while in it or touching its lines. They can hit a ball that has bounced from inside the kitchen
Why does the Kitchen Rule Exist?
Simply stated, the kitchen rule prevents individuals from standing at the net and bashing everything below. Think about the idea of allowing players to stand at the net while playing. The game would be unplayable. That's why the early players, including founders Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, added the kitchen rule
The Rules of the Kitchen
Okay, let's get to the rules!
As I previously said, the basic kitchen rule is as follows: While volleying a ball, you may not stand in or otherwise make contact with the kitchen zone or kitchen line. A volley is a racquet sports term for striking the ball in mid-air before it lands. This includes the beginning of the volley stroke. Keep that term in mind as you read; it is crucial.
According to the official rulebook (rule numbers are from the version in effect when this article was written, so check the current USA Pickleball rulebook):
"9.B. A fault will be declared if, in the act of volleying the ball, a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying touches the non-volley zone or touches any non-volley line. For example, a fault will be declared if, in the act of volleying the ball, one of the player’s feet touches a non-volley line."
That’s the basics of the rules, but wait there’s more you need to keep in mind
The rules also state that anything you're wearing or carrying can't touch the kitchen as a result of your volley. This includes your hat falling off into the kitchen or your sunglasses sliding off your face, and anything that contacts the kitchen via the momentum of your volley.
“9.C. A fault will be declared if, in the act of volleying the ball, the player’s momentum causes the player or anything the player is wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone or touch any non-volley line. It is a fault if the player’s momentum causes the player to touch anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including the player’s partner. It is a fault even if the ball is declared dead before the player touches the non-volley zone.”
So if you slip and fall into the kitchen after volleying the ball that counts as a fault.
Remember that you can legally volley a ball while the paddle is in midair over the kitchen line if you do it from outside the kitchen. Do not be confused, the air above the kitchen is not considered part of the kitchen.
However there is one exception
“9.D. A fault will be declared if the player violates the intent of the non-volley zone rule. All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone. A maneuver such as standing within the non-volley zone, jumping up to hit a volley, and then landing outside the non-volley zone is prohibited. If a player has touched the non-volley zone for any reason, that player cannot volley the return until both feet have made contact with the playing surface completely outside the non-volley zone.”
This basically means that players can not be standing in the kitchen jump and volley the ball then land outside the kitchen. If you are in the kitchen and jump out you can not volley the ball until you actually land outside of the kitchen.
Touching the Kitchen
A common misconception is that the kitchen is completely off-limits. In fact, you can stand in the kitchen at any time, but you can't volley while you are in it or touching its lines, since that is a fault.
However if the ball already bounced you can return it from the kitchen.
Standing in the Kitchen
Again, the kitchen isn't fully off-limits; you just can't volley while standing inside. If you happen to be standing in the kitchen while the ball is still on the other side, you're fine, but if you volley a return, it's a fault.
It’s not recommended to just randomly be standing in the kitchen because it leaves you as a sitting duck.
So what should you do?
Toeing the line
In general, you want to be as close to the kitchen as possible without really being on the line, but this will vary from game to game. This is truer than ever when a steady dinking surge is underway. The term "toeing the line" describes this positioning.
What to do in the kitchen?
It's your call! As long as you aren't volleying, it's okay to be in the kitchen.
Players frequently make a beeline for the kitchen to return a short dink. As long as the ball has bounced first, that's ok by the rules. You need to exercise caution since staying in the kitchen makes you an easy target, and any volley you hit from inside the kitchen is immediately a fault. That means you have to let the ball bounce before hitting it. Get out of there as quickly as possible if you have to go into the kitchen.
You might feel like the kitchen is a no-go zone, but don't be afraid to step in and return a ball from there once it bounces, or you'll be seriously limiting your game. Just remember not to hang out in the kitchen.