Serving
A serve that touches the kitchen line is a fault
A serve must clear the kitchen. If it lands in the kitchen or on the kitchen line, it is a fault. If it touches any of the other three lines, it is in.
The serve goes into the opponents' service court diagonally across (7.E). A serve that lands in the non-volley zone (kitchen) or on the non-volley zone line (kitchen line) is a fault (7.E.2, 8.C). This is because the kitchen line is part of the kitchen (3.A.4.c).
The lines around the service court
For the lines around the service court, here is what is in and what is a fault (3.A.4.f, 8.B, 8.C).
- Touches the baseline → in (3.A.4.f, 8.B)
- Touches the sideline → in (3.A.4.f, 8.B)
- Touches the centerline → in (3.A.4.f, 8.B)
- Touches the non-volley zone line → fault (7.E.2, 8.C)
The same is true for a serve that touches the net. If it clears the kitchen and lands in the correct service court, play continues. If it lands in the kitchen or on the kitchen line, it is a fault (7.E, 7.E.2).
Source and review
- Rulebook
- USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026 edition)
- Sections
- 7.E, 7.E.2, 3.A.4.c, 3.A.4.f, 8.B, 8.C
- Applies to
- USA Pickleball
- Effective
- January 1, 2026
- 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.