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Rules & scoring
Kitchen violation
also called NVZ violation, foot fault
Any contact with the non-volley zone — feet, body, or paddle — while volleying or as momentum carries the player in. Loses the rally.
Last revised
A kitchen violation happens when a player volleys the ball (hits it out of the air) and any part of their body, clothing, or paddle touches the non-volley zone — including the line — either during the swing or as momentum carries them in afterward.
The violation is strict: a foot touching the line a half-second after the ball is hit still counts. Players win or lose tournaments on this rule.