Pickleball is a paddle sport that over the last 50-plus years
The non-volley zone is kind of like a “no man’s land.” The zone extends seven feet from the net on either side of it, and goes out to the sidelines. Players can’t volley a ball while standing in this zone. Doing so will be considered a fault.
Players will often try a drop shot volley, which is a shot that lands as close as possible to the net, preventing the opposing team from making a volley attempt. A successful serve is one that clears the net but also clears the non-volley zone line.
6.1. All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone.
6.2. A fault will be declared if, in the act of volleying the ball, a player or anything contacting the player touches the non-volley zone.
6.2.1. The act of volleying the ball includes the swing, the follow-through, and the momentum from the action.
6.2.2. If the paddle touches the non-volley zone during the volley motion, before or after contacting the ball, it is a fault.
6.3. It is a fault if the player’s momentum causes the player to contact anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including the player’s partner.
6.3.1. It is a fault even if the ball is declared dead before the player contacts the non-volley zone.
6.4. If a player has touched the non-volley zone for any reason, that player cannot volley a return until both feet have made contact with the playing surface completely outside the non-volley zone. A maneuver such as standing within the non-volley zone, jumping up to hit a volley, and then landing outside the non-volley zone is prohibited.
6.5. A player may enter the non-volley zone at any time except when that player is volleying the ball.
6.6. A player may enter the non-volley zone before or after returning any ball that bounces.
6.7. A player may stay inside the non-volley zone to return a ball that has bounced. There is no violation if a player does not exit the non-volley zone after hitting a ball that bounces.
6.8. There is no violation if a player returns the ball while his or her partner is standing in the non-volley zone.
6.9. For non-officiated play, non-volley-zone faults may be called by any player on either team. Benefit of the doubt goes to the player who makes the call.
