Pickle Trivia
Why is it called the "kitchen"?
About 1 min readAccounts differUpdated: October 10, 2026
Nobody knows for sure why the non-volley zone in front of the net is called the "kitchen." The best-known theory is that it comes from the game of shuffleboard.
"Kitchen" is actually not the official name in the rulebook. Officially, it is the non-volley zone (3.A.4.c).
Where is the kitchen?
It is the area on each side of the net, up to 7 feet (2.13 m) from the net (3.A.4.c). You cannot hit a volley (hitting the ball before it bounces) here (11.A). For details, see No volleying in the kitchen.
Why "kitchen"?
The exact origin is not known (DUPR). The theory you will most often hear is this one.
- The shuffleboard theory: A shuffleboard court (a game where you slide discs to score points) also has a penalty area called the "kitchen." The name is said to have been borrowed from there (DUPR)
- Both games have "an area with special rules when you enter it," which may be why the name caught on (Pickleball.com)
How reliable is it?
- The shuffleboard theory is the most widely accepted (DUPR)
- However, the name was never officially recorded (DUPR)
- Think of it as "there is such a theory"
Related rules and terms
Sources
Last reviewed: October 10, 2026
How to read the sources: numbers like (8.F.4) are rulebook sections, and links are outside sources. An "Author's note" is the author's personal experience, not an official rule.