Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)
Also known as: non-volley zone, NVZ
The kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net. You may not hit a volley (a ball out of the air). At the same time, standing in it or touching its line. This means you must let the ball bounce first.
The zone is bounded by a line seven feet from the net on each side, running the full 20-foot width of the court. Any part of the body or clothing contacting the zone or its lines while volleying is an immediate fault. Critically, momentum counts. This means a player may jump from outside the zone and volley mid-air. But if momentum carries them into the zone after contact, it is still a fault, even if the shot was otherwise clean.
The restriction prevents serve-and-volley dominance and forces a different game from tennis or padel. Because neither team can volley from inside the zone, the battle becomes one of patience, placement, and soft hands. Controlling that line — standing just behind it, in what players call the golden position — is the central strategic objective in doubles.
A common misconception is that the area must be avoided entirely. Players may step inside it at any time to play a ball that has bounced. This means they just cannot volley. At the same time, any part of their body touches the zone. A ball that lands there and bounces may be played from inside it with any legal stroke.
When uncertain whether you can volley, let the ball bounce first. Playing a bounced ball from inside is always legal. This means the restriction only covers striking the ball out of the air. At the same time, touching the zone or its line.
Develop your golden position: one step behind the NVZ line. This gives you room to step forward for short dinks without risking a foot fault from forward momentum, and keeps your footwork options fully open for any incoming shot.
Example
A player volleys cleanly near the net, but forward momentum carries a foot over the line — a fault, despite perfect contact.
Why it matters
Understanding exactly what the restriction allows and forbids is the foundation of every strategy in the sport. Winning at that line is about soft hands and footwork, not power.
How it shows up on video
On video, look for the feet and lower legs at the moment of contact. A foot fault is often not visible mid-rally. This means review the split-second after contact to see whether momentum carried any part of the body into the zone. Slow-motion review also reveals whether players are holding their golden position behind the line or crowding it dangerously close.
Common mistakes
- Volleying with a toe on the line — the line is part of the zone, so contact is a fault even with the body behind it.
- Letting momentum carry a foot over after a punch volley. This means valid contact. But a fault if any part of the body enters during or after the stroke.
- Volleying while backing out after stepping in for a bounced ball — you must fully clear the zone first.
- Assuming the rule covers only deliberate volleys — any contact with the zone while striking an air ball is a fault, whatever the intent.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage can flag frames where your feet are inside or near the zone during exchanges. This shows how close you play to the line and whether momentum carries you over.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reach over the line to hit a ball?
Yes — reaching across with the paddle is legal, provided no part of you or the paddle touches the net or the zone. The ball does not have to cross the line for you to reach it.
If a ball bounces inside, can I then volley from there?
No. If you step in to play a bounced ball, you must fully exit before volleying again. You may step back out and immediately volley from outside, but any foot in the zone during the volley is a fault.
Does the zone exist on both sides of the net?
Yes — each side of the court has its own 7-foot NVZ extending from the net. The rule applies on both sides on its own.
Related terms
- DinkA dink is a soft, controlled shot hit from near the kitchen line that arcs just over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen. This forces them to hit upward and preventing an aggressive return.
- Third-Shot DropThe third-shot drop is a soft, arcing shot hit from the baseline that lands in the opponent's kitchen. This means forcing them to hit upward and giving the serving team time to advance safely to the kitchen line.
- ResetA reset is a soft, absorbing shot that takes pace off a hard-driven ball and returns it into the opponent's kitchen, neutralizing an attack and restoring a neutral dinking rally.
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