Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
A volley is any shot struck out of the air before the ball bounces. In pickleball, volleying is a normal and important part of play — except that you may not volley while standing in (or touching) the non-volley zone (the kitchen), and the two-bounce rule forbids volleying until after the serve and return have both bounced. Volleys are used aggressively at the net once a team has established position at the kitchen line, putting the ball away when an opponent pops one up. Managing when you can and cannot volley, given the kitchen rule, is fundamental to pickleball positioning.
- Hitting the ball before it bounces
- Not allowed from inside the kitchen
- Forbidden until after the two-bounce rule
- Used aggressively at the net
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Open the Pickleball Court Dimensions & Kitchen Guide →In practice
The non-volley zone (the 'kitchen,' extending 7 feet from the net) is pickleball's signature rule, designed specifically to prevent players from camping at the net and smashing every ball — a player must let the ball bounce before volleying from inside this zone, which is why the soft, strategic dinking game develops right at the net rather than constant power hitting.
FAQ
Why is the non-volley zone called the kitchen?
The nickname's exact origin is debated, but it's widely used informally across the sport to refer to the 7-foot zone on each side of the net where volleying (hitting the ball before it bounces) is not allowed.
Can you ever step into the kitchen?
Yes — players can stand in or walk through the kitchen at any time; the rule only restricts volleying (hitting a ball before it bounces) while any part of the player is touching the zone.