Pickleball Kitchen Rules: A Guide to the No-Volley Zone

The main rule around the kitchen is that you cannot volley a ball—meaning you can’t hit the ball out of the air—while you are standing in this zone or touching the line. This means no stepping into the kitchen for a quick slam off your opponent's shot unless the ball has bounced first.

So why is this rule so important? 

It’s designed to prevent easy volleys at the net, forcing players to rely on more finesse and touch when they’re close to the net. This keeps the game fast-paced but also fair, as the kitchen line gives everyone a chance to defend.

Common Questions About the Kitchen

Can you serve in the kitchen in pickleball? 

No, the serve cannot land in the kitchen. When serving, the ball must clear the kitchen and land within the opponent's service area. If the ball hits the kitchen or the kitchen line on the serve, it's a fault. So, the kitchen is off-limits during serves, but you'll have to watch for the ball bouncing near it when you're returning serves.

How big is the kitchen in pickleball? 

The kitchen is 7 feet long on either side of the net. This means that every time you’re near the net, you need to be cautious about stepping into this zone while hitting volleys. The area may seem small, but it’s large enough to dictate a significant portion of your strategy in the game.

Kitchen Line Rules

The rules of the kitchen prevent players from staying too close to the net for easy volleys. These rules are:

• No volleys: You cannot hit the ball in the air (volley) while standing inside the kitchen or touching the kitchen line.

• You have to wait for the bounce: If you're inside the kitchen or stepping into it, you must let the ball bounce before hitting it. You can step into the kitchen before the ball bounces in the kitchen in order to hit it, but you cannot hit it until it bounces.

• No serving into the kitchen: If your serve lands inside the kitchen or on one of the kitchen lines, it is considered a fault.

• No lingering: You can enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced, but you should exit once the play allows.

• All lines count as in the kitchen: The kitchen includes the kitchen line; stepping on the line counts as being inside the kitchen.

The kitchen line being a part of the kitchen is one of the trickier aspects of kitchen play because your momentum might carry you forward. Always be mindful of your foot placement, especially when you’re reaching for a ball near the net.

How to Use the Kitchen to Your Advantage

So now that you know the basics of what you can’t do in the kitchen, let’s talk about how you can use it to your advantage. While you can’t volley in the kitchen, you can still step into it to play balls that have bounced. 

The key here is to move in and out of the kitchen fluidly—step in to hit a dink or drop shot, then quickly reset your position outside of the kitchen for the next rally. This constant movement allows you to control the tempo of the game and pressure your opponents.

Controlling the kitchen is all about finesse and spin. When you’re playing close to the net, it’s your chance to dink—hit  the ball over the net with just enough speed to get it over the net and into the kitchen, forcing them into a low, difficult return. 

Mastering the dink shot is essential for kitchen play, and it’s something we work on extensively in the Paddlespeed Program. The more comfortable you get with controlling the ball in this tight space, the better your game will be.

Footwork and Balance in the Kitchen

In the kitchen, footwork is key. Quick, light steps allow you to move in and out of the zone without losing balance. Maintaining a low stance will give you better control over your shots and help you avoid kitchen faults. Be careful not to overextend when you're going for a volley—this is a common cause of kitchen faults as players often step onto the line in an effort to reach the ball.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your weight centered, use short steps, and avoid lunging. By staying balanced, you can react to any shot that comes your way, whether it’s a dink or a drive.

Correct Ready Position

The first step to dominating the kitchen is having the right ready position. Watch this drill from the Paddlespeed Program on how to have the correct ready position for dinking and volleying. 

Strategies for Kitchen Success

Understanding the kitchen rules is just the start. Now, let’s look at how to play smarter in this space.

1. Develop Consistent Footwork

Good footwork is the foundation of solid kitchen play. You want to stay light on your feet and ready to move in and out of the kitchen quickly. 

One of the best ways to stay in control is by positioning yourself just behind the kitchen line so that you’re ready to step in when needed but can quickly back up to volley. Don’t crowd the kitchen line, but also don’t give up too much space.

Practice drills that involve side-to-side shuffling and quick pivots around the kitchen line. By keeping your body balanced and on your toes, you’ll find it easier to move fluidly in and out of the no-volley zone. 

Staying a step or two behind the kitchen line also gives you time to react to your opponent’s shots without committing to a position too early.

2. Master the Dink Game

The kitchen is the prime location for dinking—those controlled shots that clear the net and drop into the opponent’s kitchen. 

Good dinks are essential in neutralizing opponents, as they force them to move their feet and hit from a defensive position.  

By mastering the dink, you’ll be able to control the pace of the game and dictate the type of shots your opponent can hit.

When practicing dinks, focus on accuracy and control. Your goal is to make the ball land deep in the kitchen while keeping the ball low. l 

Low, well-placed dinks make it harder for your opponent to return the ball with power, often leading to mistakes or high, pop-up shots that you can attack. The best players know how to dink consistently and use it to open up offensive opportunities.

3. Stay Aware of Your Positioning

Being aware of your position on the court is crucial, especially near the kitchen. Whether you’re dinking or preparing to volley, always know where the kitchen line is in relation to your feet. 

If you’re too close, you might accidentally step into the no-volley zone during a volley. This is especially important during fast-paced rallies when split-second decisions matter.

A great way to improve your positioning awareness is to practice dinking and volleying with a partner, focusing on staying just behind the kitchen line. As you play, remind yourself to keep your feet outside the line during volleys and step in only when going for a dink. 

This constant awareness will soon become second nature, helping you avoid costly kitchen violations.

4. Create Offensive Opportunities

The kitchen may seem like a place for only soft, controlled shots, but it is actually the place to open up offensive opportunities. 

If your opponent makes a mistake, such as popping the ball up too high, be ready to strike. A well-timed volley or speedup can quickly end the rally in your favor.In the Paddlespeed Program, we teach you how to create offense in your dinks using slice and topspin to keep your opponent of balance.  

Controlling the Kitchen

Mastering the kitchen in pickleball requires a mix of discipline, agility, and finesse. The kitchen might seem restrictive at first, but once you understand the rules and how to use them to your advantage, it becomes a tool you can leverage to win points. 

The more comfortable you are in this zone, the more you’ll find yourself controlling rallies and forcing your opponents to make mistakes.

So, next time you're on the court, focus on your kitchen footwork, practice those dink shots, and remember to always stay just outside that kitchen line when you're going for those powerful volleys!

Dominate the Kitchen with Paddlespeed

If you want to take your dinking skills to the next level, the Paddlespeed Program is designed just for you. Through video lessons and drills, I’ll teach you how to generate more paddle speed, improve your power and spin, and gain full control over your game. 

From mastering the kitchen to perfecting your serves, you’ll learn it all using proven science-based techniques.