Purpose of the Pickleball Court Features
Lets break the basic features of the court as to it’s purpose in the game – this is helpful to know before you start playing pickleball. Click here to view my post about the Pickleball Net. The parts of the court consist of lines and boxes. It may seem confusing until you start playing, but I will do my best to describe them. I have added some minimal rules for each feature.
For reference I have included a picture from the USPA.
- The baseline: One of the requirements of a serve is that the server must be behind the baseline. The serve must go diagonally and land in the service box on the other side of the net. It can land on the baseline of the service box on the other side, but not past it. The server can not touch this line on a serve.
- The sidelines: If a ball lands on a sideline it is considered in. When serving, the server’s outside sideline is considered an imaginary boundary that extends past the baseline. The server must stand inside this boundary when serving.
- The centre line: This line separates the two service boxes and runs perpendicular from the kitchen line to the baseline. The ball can touch the centre line on a serve and still be valid. On the server’s side the centre line also extends for the server to remain inside the imaginary line.
- The kitchen line: This is the line inside the court that is 7 feet from the net on either side and defines the kitchen or non-volley zone. If a serve hits this line it is considered a fault.
- The service box: There are two service boxes on each side. They are separated by the centre and bordered by the outside lines, baseline and kitchen line. The server must stand outside the service box on their side and serve the ball diagonally into the service box on the other side of the net.
- The kitchen box or non-volley zone: This is a 7 foot section on either side of the net. The reason it is called the nvz is that the rules prohibit players from entering the zone and hitting a ball out of the air (volley) that has come from the other side. If the ball bounces in the nvz you can enter the zone and return it. If, however you hit a ball out of the air and any part of your body or paddle is touching or enters the zone with your momentum, it is a fault. It is also a fault if you hit a volley outside the zone but previously had a foot on the kitchen line or in the zone and didn’t re-establish it prior to hitting the ball. Mind boggled yet. Don’t worry even the pros still get this wrong. Serves that land in the kitchen or on the kitchen line are also a fault.
Check out these other posts about the Pickleball Court:
Basic Features of the Pickleball Court and how to set up a temporary court
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