Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
The kitchen, officially the non-volley zone, is the 7-foot (2.1m) area extending from the net on each side. Players may not volley the ball (hit it out of the air) while any part of them is touching the kitchen or its line — doing so is a fault. You can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has already bounced, but you must exit before volleying again. This single rule shapes all of pickleball’s tactics: it prevents players from standing at the net smashing everything, forcing the patient, skilful ‘dinking’ game of soft shots that defines the sport at higher levels.
- 7ft non-volley zone from the net
- Cannot volley while touching it
- Can enter to play a bounced ball
- Forces the tactical dinking game
Try the tool
Put this into practice with our free calculator.
Open the Pickleball Court Dimensions & Kitchen Guide →In practice
The 'kitchen' (pickleball's non-volley zone, extending 7 feet from the net on each side) is the sport's defining tactical feature — since players can't volley the ball while standing inside it, the resulting soft, strategic 'dinking' battles that develop right at the net are central to competitive pickleball strategy, distinguishing it from power-dominant racquet sports where constant net-smashing would otherwise be possible.
FAQ
Why is pickleball's non-volley zone called the kitchen?
The nickname's precise origin is debated, but it's the widely used informal name across the sport for the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net.
What's not allowed while standing in the kitchen?
Volleying (hitting the ball before it bounces) is not allowed while any part of a player is touching the kitchen zone; players may stand in or move through it freely otherwise, including to hit a ball that has already bounced.