The official pickleball rules state that the return of serve must land within the kitchen but many players choose to let the ball bounce outside of the kitchen.
There are a few reasons for this.
First it can be difficult to control where the ball lands when you’re returning serve.
If you’re not careful the ball can easily land outside of the kitchen.
Second some players feel that it’s unfair to force the return of serve to land within the kitchen.
They argue that the kitchen is already an advantage for the serving player so there’s no need to make it even more difficult for the returner.
Finally some players simply prefer the aesthetics of letting the ball bounce outside of the kitchen.
They feel that it looks more natural and makes the game more enjoyable to watch.
So what’s the verdict?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question.
It’s up to each player to decide where they want the return of serve to land.
If you’re having trouble controlling the ball or if you feel that the kitchen is too much of an advantage for the serving player you might want to try letting the ball bounce outside of the kitchen.
On the other hand if you’re a player who enjoys the aesthetics of the game or if you feel that the kitchen is an unfair advantage you might want to keep the ball within the kitchen.
Ultimately it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your game.
Try out both options and see what works best for you.