{"article":{"id":"nvz-kitchen-fault-rules","categoryId":"rules-regulations","categoryName":"Rules, Scoring & Regulations","index":1,"question":"What defines a Non-Volley Zone (NVZ / Kitchen) fault under official rules?","answer":"An NVZ fault occurs whenever a player or any piece of their equipment contacts the 7-foot non-volley zone while executing a volley, including momentum carrying them into the zone after contacting the ball.","answerDetail":"According to USA Pickleball Rule 9.B, the Non-Volley Zone extends 7 feet from the net on both sides and encompasses the entire 20-foot width of the court. The line itself is considered part of the kitchen; therefore, touching any portion of the 2-inch kitchen line during or immediately following a volley constitutes an immediate fault. Crucially, Rule 9.C dictates that a player's momentum does not terminate until they regain complete, stable physical balance outside the zone. If a player strikes an airborne ball outside the kitchen but their momentum causes a toe, sunglasses, hat, or paddle to contact the line or surface inside the zone, a fault is assessed. Groundstrokes (balls that have bounced once inside the kitchen) may be legally played from within the zone at any time, provided the player does not volley.","intentTags":["nvz","kitchen","volleys","faults","rules"],"searchKeywords":["kitchen rule","non-volley zone fault","momentum fault","kitchen line","usa pickleball rulebook"],"facilityTags":["all-courts","regulation-court"],"serviceTags":["refereed-matches","open-play"],"environmentTags":["indoor","outdoor"],"structured":{"ruleNumber":"9.B & 9.C","zoneDimension":"7ft x 20ft","lineInclusion":"Line is IN the kitchen"},"lastVerified":"2026-09-20","canonicalUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/knowledge/nvz-kitchen-fault-rules"},"discovery":{"canonicalUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/knowledge/nvz-kitchen-fault-rules","hubUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/knowledge","categoryArticlesUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/api/knowledge?category=rules-regulations"}}