When we first learned to play pickleball, we were instructed time and again that you win more points at the Kitchen (or No Volley Zone) than at the baseline Conceptually, this makes sense since being 7 feet from the net allows you to hit better angles and more easily attack the ball by hitting it downward at our opponents’ feet. Also, if you are at the Kitchen, it is difficult for your opponent to hit the ball at your feet (which is a difficult shot to return). On the flip side, if you remain at the baseline, your opponents have these advantages to your detriment.
Naturally, we all conclude getting to the Kitchen line as fast as you can is a better strategy than remaining at the baseline. But is this right?
Impacts of Rushing to the Kitchen (Being a Kamikaze)
If your primary strategy is to rush to the Kitchen, then you open yourself up to your opponent’s returning the ball to your feet in transition or hitting the ball at an angle you cannot reach as you rush to the net. Basically, you need to earn the right to be at the Kitchen!!
Earning Your Right to the Kitchen
One of the best ways to be able to get to the kitchen quickly and effectively is for you or your partner to hit a good drop shot. But you should wait to actually see if it is going to be a good drop shot because if it is popped up, you may be walking into a trap. The other way is to drive a deep hard return to the feet of your opponents which limits their shot selection and time to respond.
Service Returners Advantage
For the team receiving the serve, getting to the Kitchen is relatively simple. You start the point with half of your team at the Kitchen. That means you only need to add 1 more person to the Kitchen. If the player returning the serve hits a deep return, he or she should move to the Kitchen straight away. Why? Because the serving team needs to let the ball bounce so they will be at the baseline awaiting the return. After this the returning team will have two people at the Kitchen for the serving team’s third shot.
Serving Team Approach
The serving team needs to be patient and await the third shot. If both team members are confident that the person hitting the third shot can do an effective drop shot or drive it to the baseline, then they should head to the Kitchen after the person hits their third shot. If you do not have a high level of confidence in the effectiveness of that third shot, playing defense from the baseline is a good strategy against players of equal or better quality than you. It is easier to defend a slam and deep return shots from the baseline then it is as you are running to the Kitchen.
Quick Summary
Don’t rush to the Kitchen if you have not earned it!! If you always run to the kitchen against good players, they will hit the ball to a place that it is hard for you to return like at your feet or slamming it to your body or other parts of the court.