If you’ve ever seen a pickleball court, you’ve seen a kitchen zone (also known as “non-volley zones”). Each team has one of these areas. It spans the width of the court and borders the net on each side.

But what are they for, and how do you use them?

Today, we’re reviewing everything you need to know about pickleball kitchen rules. Keep scrolling to learn more!

What Is the Kitchen in Pickleball?

Unlike the two lengthy service box zones, each team’s kitchen zone spans the width of the court. Its edges run parallel to the net and baseline. Each individual kitchen zone is 7 feet (2.134 meters) deep. Thus, every pickleball court has 14 feet (4.27 meters) of kitchen.

Why Is It Called a “Kitchen” Zone in Pickleball?

Though commonly referred to as the “kitchen zone,” this 8-foot-deep area is officially called the “non-volley zone” (or NVZ). It’s even listed as such within the USA Pickleball rule book!

Its casual name has no definite origins. There are multiple theories, but we may never know how this unique area was named. Nonetheless, three possibilities stand out as the most likely scenarios:

• It doesn’t mean anything! This theory posits that pickleball’s founders had no inkling of the sport’s attraction. Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell simply picked a name and stuck with it.
• It’s a fun joke! Alternatively, Pritchard and Bell chose the name as a callback to some unknown joke. They may have been poking fun at the sport’s food-themed name. Alternatively, some pickleball historians propose that the name harkens back to the saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
• It’s a reference to shuffleboard! The final theory is that the name comes from the “kitchen” of shuffleboard. However, within the context of shuffleboard, the kitchen is a negative area, and landing within this zone costs a player 10 points.

Truthfully, it doesn’t matter where the term came from. The rules are the same — kitchen rules or non-volley zone rules — as is the functionality of this 8-foot area.

Basic Pickleball Kitchen Rules

So, with that in mind, let’s move to the big question: What does the kitchen do?

The formal name — the “non-volley zone” — tells you (almost) everything you need to know. It’s a 7-foot-deep area on each side of the net that bans volleys. And — for reference — a volley shot is defined as any time a player hits the ball before it bounces.

Players Cannot Volley Within the NVZ Lines

Again, we’ll emphasize the most critical aspect of the NVZ lines: Players cannot volley a ball within the non-volley zone. More precisely, page 36 of the USA Pickleball rule book states, “All volleys must be initiated outside of the kitchen.” (§ 9-A)

This does not mean that you cannot hit the ball in the non-volley zone!

You can! The caveat is that you must ensure the ball bounces before hitting it. Another way to frame this is that you must ensure the ball lands within the kitchen before returning it.

Re-Entering the Non-Volley Zone

Similarly, a player cannot hit a volley after entering the non-volley zone. Once again, the trusty USA Pickleball rule book says it best, “A player cannot return a volley until both feet have made contact with the playing surface completely outside of the non-volley zone.” (§ 9-D)

If you’re still a bit confused, consider this scenario: You jump to hit a volley shot. While your initial volley was made outside of the kitchen, your feet land within the non-volley zone. This is a fault. Moreover, you cannot return a volley shot until you’ve exited the kitchen area. Thus, summarily, if a player’s momentum carries them into the kitchen area, it’s a fault. In fact, all of your shot’s follow-through must be outside of the kitchen to qualify as a perfectly legal volley.

Note, too, that there are specific rules for wheelchair pickleball. In this pickleball variation, kitchen rules state that the small front wheels of a wheelchair can be over the non-volley line. However, the two rear wheels must be fully within or outside of the kitchen.

Players Can Move Freely Within the Non-Volley Zone

Nonetheless, it’s far from a forbidden area. Players may move freely through the non-volley zone during rallies. The only time you absolutely cannot be in front of that non-volley line is when you’re hitting a volley shot. (§ 9-E and 9-F)

Why You Should Love Kitchen Rules

We’ve officially answered the question.

“What is the kitchen in pickleball?” It’s that 14-foot span bisecting the net.

On the surface, it seems like an obstacle. Beginners may find pickleball kitchen rules difficult to follow or remember. However, these regulations exist to ensure everyone has a fair chance of winning! Demanding a ball bounce within the NVZ gives each team plenty of time to hit the ball and return tricky shots. It also makes the act of volleying more valuable.

More importantly, advanced pickleball players use the kitchen area to their advantage.

You can, too!

Vary Your Hits

A beginner can hit the ball consistently.

Experienced pickleball players know how to vary their shots. Whether playing a singles or doubles game, using the kitchen area as a buffer zone is a remarkable strategy. Try hitting the ball lightly, landing a short dink or two within the non-volley zone. Then, mix it up! Toss in a third-shot drop to send your opponents scrambling!

Another good strategy is to alternate your power. Use light hits to pull your opponents forward, forcing them into the non-volley zone. Then, start hitting the ball deep! Watch your opponents scramble across the pickleball court lines to hit the ball before it’s dead. Similarly, you can get into a rhythm of hitting the ball deep. Just as your opponents settle on a volley-heavy strategy, you can score a point with a clever dink.

Control the Game

The minuscule distance between each team within the non-volley zone is one of the most powerful forces on a pickleball court. It creates a fast, furious game with little breathing room. Moreover — unlike volley-driven strategies — using the short dink to your advantage can extend your game.

In other words, you can take down more experienced opponents with reliable dinking and consistent returns. It’s certainly a “long haul” strategy, but it’s a perfectly legal way to finesse a win from the jaws of defeat.

The Summary: What to Know About the Non-Volley Line

You’re ready to tackle the court!

You’ve made it to the end of the post and learned all you can about the kitchen in pickleball. However, we have one last surprise!

Here’s a quick guide to the non-volley zone and what you must know:

• Free Movement: You may enter and exit the kitchen at any time. However, you must fully exit the area before hitting a volley shot.
• No Volleys: You cannot hit a volley within the non-volley zone. Similarly, your follow-through cannot carry you into the area after you’ve hit a volley.
• Watch for the Bounce: You can return the ball within the NVZ; just be sure the ball bounces first.
• Watch the Line: If any part of a player touches the non-volley line, that player must fully exit the area before volleying.

Master these basic kitchen rules, and you’ll dominate the pickleball court in no time!

And — now that you’ve conquered these pickleball kitchen rules — you can refine your skills even more. Check out the rest of the Pickle Goddesses blog to learn even more about America’s fastest-growing sport! You can even spread the love by sharing this article with someone who needs some guidance on the pickleball non-volley zone.