Why is it Called the kitchen in Pickleball

Why is it Called the kitchen in Pickleball “Understand Rule of the kitchen’ ( non-volley zone)

Like any other sport, pickleball has its own rules and terms.

We will discuss here What is the kitchen in pickleball and why it is called kitchen.

 If you watch or play pickleball every player uses the term the kitchen (non-volley zone). Despite the unfamiliar word, the kitchen is in sports, but in Pickleball is an important zone and it has its own rules we will discuss further.

In simple words, the kitchen is an area in a pickleball court where volley is not permitted.

Let’s dive into the kitchen and see what is cooking. If you are a beginner or a pro player kitchen rules are not as simple as you imagine but it’s more complicated i explain it below.

What is Volley in Pickleball

Before you understand the area of the court that is called the kitchen you must distinguish ball is a volley or a non-volley.

A volley is when a player hits the ball into the air without letting it bounce first. Volley is also called an “overhead” or “smashed” shot.

Volley shots can be done in any part of the court except the non-volley zone. Volley is also played in other sports, but there are some restrictions in pickleball, where some confusion arises.

What is the Kitchen

Although nobody knows where the term kitchen comes from. In the pickleball rule mention the Non-volley zone. But some theories are that it comes from shuffleboard. In the shuffleboard, there is also a kitchen area where if players land they face a planti of 10 points. 

On both sides of the court, the kitchen is seven (7) feet deep from the net on each side and twenty (20) feet wide.

The main kitchen rule is to not stand in the kitchen otherwise if you contact while hitting the ball in the kitchen line or kitchen zone you make a fault while volleying a ball.

It’s important to understand it’s legal to volley the ball while hovering the paddle over the kitchen zone but not while standing or touching the kitchen line.

The Kitchen Rule 

Now comes to the point what is the kitchen rule official pickleball association says,

Like I mentioned earlier don’t stand in the non-volley zone while volleying the ball.

9.A. All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone during a volley. 

9.B. It is a fault if the volleying player or anything that has contact with the volleying player while in the act of volleying touches the non-volley zone. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone.

•  9.B.1. The act of volleying the ball includes the swing, the follow-through, and the momentum from the action.
• 9.B.2. If the paddle touches the non-volley zone during the volley motion, before or after contacting the ball, it is a fault.

9.C. During the act of volleying, it is a fault if the volleying player’s momentum causes the player to contact anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including the player’s partner. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone.

• 9.C.1. It is a fault even if the ball becomes dead before the player contacts the non-volley zone.

9.D. If a player has touched the non-volley zone for any reason, that player cannot volley a return until both feet have made contact with the playing surface completely outside 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 a fault. If the rear wheels of a wheelchair have touched the non-volley zone for any reason, the player using a wheelchair cannot volley a return until both rear wheels have made contact with the playing surface outside the non-volley zone.

9.E. A player may enter the non-volley zone at any time except when that player is volleying the ball. 

9.F. A player may enter the non-volley zone before or after returning any ball that bounces. 

9.G. A player may stay inside the non-volley zone to return a ball that has bounced. There is no violation if a player does not exit the non-volley zone after hitting a ball that bounces. 

9.H. There is no violation if a player returns the ball while their partner is standing in the non-volley zone.

Complicated Kitchen Rule

Rule 9C says “It is a fault if the volleying player’s momentum causes the player to contact anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including the player’s partner”

This is the complicated rule if you volley the ball while standing outside the kitchen but your momentum is lost and your paddle hand foot is touching the non-volley zone it becomes a fault oops….

Remember if you are standing outside the kitchen line you volley the ball in the air while while your paddle is over the kitchen line. The kitchen is the flate marked area on the court, not air above the kitchen. 

Keep in mind kitchen is applied when you volley the ball if the ball bounces in the kitchen area it’s okay to go inside and hit the ball.

Rule 9D also needs to be explained, In pickleball, it’s important to remember that you cannot be in the kitchen zone while jumping up to volle, and then land outside the kitchen. This is where the “initiate” rule comes into play. 

If you are in the kitchen for any reason and go for the volley first you put back your feet from the kitchen and then go for the volley.

In other words, to volley safely you must come back to the kitchen zone for the initiation of the volley.

What Makes Kitchen Important and Unique

Pickleball is a mixture of other sports like badminton, tennis, and ping ball, a kitchen (non-volley) zone does not exist in others but this rule makes pickleball quite different from other sports and needs to develop different strategies.

This is the beauty of pickleball that makes unique and smart strategies. Players just do not hover over the net and smash everything downwards. if this rule does not exist imagine it’s very difficult to play the game.

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