What Is the Kitchen in Pickleball? [Explained Simply]

Pickleball has a few unique terms that can confuse new players—and “the kitchen” is one of the most talked about. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with food. Instead, it refers to a specific part of the court with a very important role in how the game is played.

Understanding what the kitchen is—and what you can and can’t do in it—will help improve your strategy and prevent unnecessary faults during play.

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What Is the Kitchen?

In pickleball, the kitchen is the non-volley zone. It’s a rectangular area on each side of the net that extends 7 feet from the net toward the baseline and spans the width of the court.

This space exists to prevent players from standing too close to the net and smashing volleys down at their opponents. It keeps the game more balanced and encourages a mix of shot types—including dinks, drops, and lobs—instead of just aggressive net play.

You’ll often hear players use the term “kitchen” instead of “non-volley zone,” but they mean the same thing.

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What Are the Kitchen Rules?

The primary rule of the kitchen is simple: you cannot volley the ball while standing in it. A volley is any shot where the ball is hit out of the air before it bounces.

So, if your foot is touching the kitchen—or even the line that marks its boundary—you cannot hit a volley. Doing so results in a fault, and the point goes to the other team.

What’s equally important is that the kitchen rule also applies after a volley. If momentum carries you into the kitchen after hitting a volley—even if your foot lands a split-second later—it still counts as a violation.

You can, however, enter the kitchen to return a ball that has bounced in the zone. After the ball bounces, you're free to step in, hit your shot, and step back out.

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Why Does the Kitchen Matter?

The kitchen creates a layer of strategy that makes pickleball more than just a game of quick reflexes. It encourages patience, footwork, and touch, especially when players engage in dinking rallies just behind the non-volley line.

It also prevents overly aggressive play at the net. Without the kitchen rule, players could simply hover at the net and end points with constant slams—something that would take much of the nuance and skill out of the game.

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Common Mistakes Around the Kitchen

Many faults happen when players accidentally step into the kitchen without realizing it, particularly during fast exchanges near the net. Others forget that even touching the line is considered a violation during a volley.

A few tips to avoid kitchen faults:

• Stay aware of your foot placement, especially during fast volleys
• Let the ball bounce before stepping into the zone
• Don’t assume the volley is legal just because your paddle didn’t enter the kitchen—your feet matter most

These small details can be the difference between winning a point and handing it over.

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Final Thoughts

The kitchen in pickleball isn’t just a quirky name—it’s a central part of what makes the game fun, strategic, and accessible. While the rules around it may feel strict at first, they add a thoughtful layer to court positioning and shot selection.

Once you get the hang of it, playing around the kitchen becomes second nature—and an essential part of developing your skills.