What! Yes. This is a term used in Pickleball meaning, stay out of the “no-volley zone.” The no-volley zone is a 7′ space on either side of the net that you cannot enter during play unless you are retrieving a bounced ball from your opponent and it enters this zone. Only then can you enter this space. This rule prevents players from smashes from a position within this zone. It is so easy to get focused in the game that you run all the way up near the net and smash a nice high shot at your opponent, so the kitchen was created to prevent excessive smashing. The kitchen rule is strictly guarded; so much so, if you hit a volley outside the kitchen but your momentum carries you into the kitchen you have committed a fault.
The term no-volley zone takes too long to say when a fault is committed, so player’s catching a fault by another player in that restricted zone will just say, “you were in the Kitchen!” No one really knows how the term “Kitchen” came to be called for the no-volley zone in Pickleball. The term is thought to be borrowed from the game of shuffleboard as the “Kitchen” is the “10-off” area. If players end up in this area, 10 points are deducted.
Dinking in the Kitchen
A “Dink Shot” as it relates to the Kitchen is used when a soft shot narrowly arcs over the Pickleball net and lands in the Kitchen. Remember, you are only allowed in the Kitchen if it’s to retrieve a bounced shot entering this zone. In pickleball, dinking is about extending the game as long as possible so your opponent makes a mistake sooner than you do. Who knew procrastinating could be so useful! (No wonder I love this game so; procrastination is a key strategy and I’m famous in putting off anything I can). This is the point of the dinking game in pickleball; try forcing your opponents to return awkward or difficult shots.
Bring your game to the Kitchen
How you play at the Kitchen line can make the difference between winning and losing when playing pickleball. There are 3 common mistakes and 3 benefits you can avoid and gain from these tips from playing at the Kitchen line.
You should stand about 2-3 inches from the Kitchen line. You can shuffle from side-to-side but not forward and back. One common mistake made here is players think they are at the Kitchen line, when in fact they are often 2-3 feet back from it. Another mistake, player’s will move back to take a shot but then forget to move back up to the Kitchen line. And, one more mistake, sometimes player’s move up to the Kitchen line but they are maybe not totally aware of just how close they are to it and might slightly move over the line committing a fault. In contrast, one benefit to being close to the Kitchen line, it allows for your shot to be projected in a downward motion which often is the winning angle. Another benefit for close position to the Kitchen line is, the closer you are, the better your entire view to your opponents side of the court. This position allows you to scan the entire court side of your opponent and their exact position as you process your defensive shot. And most importantly, if both you and your partner are positioned properly at the Kitchen line, it creates a wall for your opponents, causing them to have less winning option angles. This could force your opponent into making a lob shot that could go awry or start a dinking match where you hope to out maneuver them.
~Mary~
Pickleball term:
People who play Pickleball are called, “Picklers.”
I’m a Pickler. I have many friends that are Picklers. Wouldn’t you like to be a Pickler too?
