SECTION 9 – NON-VOLLEY-ZONE RULES

9.A. All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone during a volley.

9.B. It is a fault if the volleying player or anything that has contact with the volleying player while in the act of volleying touches the non-volley zone. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone.

9.B.1. The act of volleying the ball includes the swing, the follow-through, and the momentum from the action.

9.B.2. If the paddle touches the non-volley zone during the volley motion, before or after contacting the ball, it is a fault.

9.C. During the act of volleying, it is a fault if the volleying player’s momentum causes the player to contact anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including the player’s partner. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone.

9.C.1. It is a fault even if the ball becomes dead before the player contacts the non-volley zone.

9.D. 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 a fault. If the rear wheels of a wheelchair have touched the non-volley zone for any reason, the player using a wheelchair cannot volley a return until both rear wheels have made contact with the playing surface outside the non-volley zone.

9.E. A player may enter the non-volley zone at any time except when that player is volleying the ball.

9.F. A player may enter the non-volley zone before or after returning any ball that bounces.

9.G. 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.

9.H. There is no violation if a player returns the ball while their partner is standing in the non-volley zone.

8 thoughts on “SECTION 9 – NON-VOLLEY-ZONE RULES

  • There are a surprising amount of content that get the kitchen rules wrong claiming that the ball must actually have bounced before entering tge NVZ. Lets search these out and try to get them corrected.

    • “All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone.”

      This should be revised to:

      All volleys must be initiated with the volleying player outside of the non-volley zone.

      Because to me, a volley can occur with the ball is still within the NVZ and the player outside the NVZ. The revision would help clear parts of the NVZ confusion.

  • while in the volleying zone your partner knocks your paddle out of your hand and it lands in the no volley zone, fault or not?

    • i would say if you made contact volleying the ball it is a fault because part of you went in the NVZ. But if the contact was all his, you (or your paddle) are legal to be in the NVZ and you only need to get back out before your next volley.

  • I would say if you did not make contact with the ball the ball you are legal. If you did make volley contact, it should be a fault

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