What is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen is the 7-foot area on each side of the pickleball net where players are not allowed to hit volleys. The ball may bounce in the kitchen, but volleys from within it result in a fault.
In pickleball, the kitchen is the non-volley zone that extends 7 feet from the net on both sides of the court. This area is bounded by the kitchen line, which runs parallel to the net. Players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in the kitchen or while any part of their body extends into it. If a player volleys from the kitchen, it is ruled a fault and the opposing team wins the point.
The kitchen rule exists to prevent players from camping at the net and dominating play with constant aggressive volleys. It forces players to use strategy, positioning, and patience rather than relying on net control alone. The ball is allowed to bounce in the kitchen without penalty, but a player must exit the kitchen (step back behind the kitchen line) before attempting a volley.
The kitchen creates a neutral zone that shapes how rallies develop. Players must move to the baseline or the area behind the kitchen line to execute volleys, which gives both teams time to recover and transition into the point. This rule is fundamental to pickleball's flow and accessibility. When seeking courts in the Klang Valley, understanding kitchen boundaries helps players learn proper court positioning and footwork.