Anyone who plays pickleball knows that the sport is played on a court that is identical to a badminton court... except for one small, crucial difference. While the short service line or "no volley zone" line in badminton is 6 feet 6 inches (198cm) from the net, the no volley zone line in pickleball is 7 feet (213cm). Why is the kitchen zone longer in pickleball than in badminton? There is a simple, unexpected answer: It just feels really good.
The answer comes from Dennis Dacey, USAPA Rules Chairman, who explains that "during the first two years of the sport's development, the No Volley oneZ was designed and the line was tried out in various 6-inch increments. At the time, the consensus among those involved was that the 7-foot line worked best. This had nothing to do with the badminton line then or now." Dacey goes on to explain, "You wouldn't think it, but 6 inches makes a huge difference when playing the game with advanced players. The extra 6 inches makes it easier to hit good drop shots and makes for a more even playing field with tall and short players. While pickleball has adopted the court size from badminton, pickleball is faster and is played with a ball that bounces and moves very differently than a shuttlecock. So it makes sense that a no volley zone that works perfectly in badminton isn't necessarily ideal for pickleball.
Want to learn more about the history of pickleball? Watch an interview with Barney McCallum, one of the inventors of the sport, here . The video titled 'Pickleball Barney McCallum Interview' can be found at the bottom of the page.
