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Can you volley from the kitchen?
No. A volley may only be struck when both feet are outside the non-volley zone, and momentum from the volley may not carry you into it.
Last reviewed July 2026 · verified against the 2026 rulebook
The questions players argue about
All rules entries →Can you volley while standing in the kitchen?
No. A volley is only legal when neither foot touches the non-volley zone, and momentum can't carry you in afterward, even if the ball is already dead.
Can you step into the kitchen after the ball bounces?
Yes. The zone only restricts volleys. Once the ball has bounced, you may stand anywhere you like, including the kitchen.
Can the serve land in the kitchen?
No. A serve that lands in the non-volley zone or on its line is a fault. Every other line is good on the serve.
Is a ball on the line in?
Usually. During a rally a line ball is in. On the serve the kitchen line is short, so which line, and when, decides it.
Is an around-the-post (ATP) shot legal?
Yes. The ball may be returned around the outside of the net post, even below net height. It never has to cross over the net at all.
Can your paddle cross the net plane?
Only on the follow-through. Contact must happen on your side of the net. Crossing the plane before striking the ball is a fault.
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