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2025 USA Pickleball rules - Section 9: Non-volley zone rules

In Section 9: Non-volley zone rules of the 2025 USA Pickleball rules, learn more about what you can and can't do in the pickleball non-volley zone (or "kitchen), when you can enter the zone, and what is the pickleball momentum rule?

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Jaclyn Brandt

01/08/2025

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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.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.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 as long as the partners, including anything the partners are wearing or carrying, do not contact each other during the act of volleying.

Download the USA Pickleball rulebook here.

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