INSTRUCTION By Dick Osman
What Is Momentum — And When Does It End ?
p = mv mass velocity momentum
Momentum is an important concept found in the rules of pickleball that is unique to the sport and may not be easily understood . We find momentum in the Non-Volley Zone ( NVZ ) Rules in Section 9 of the Official Rulebook . In a nutshell , it is a fault if the momentum from the act of volleying causes the volleying player to contact the NVZ , even if the ball is already dead . A momentum fault is the only fault in pickleball that can be committed after the ball is dead . But what is momentum in the act of volleying ? And , more importantly , when does that momentum end ?
If you took physics in high school or college , you may remember the formula : Momentum = Mass x Velocity . We want to be technically accurate but not technically obscure in this article , so let ’ s just think of momentum as a property of a body in motion that causes it to remain in motion . Specifically , in pickleball , we are concerned about the momentum created by players in motion as they strike a volley .
Here is an illustration of the principle of momentum from outside of pickleball : You are in your car , sitting at a red light . The light turns green , you step on the accelerator , the engine delivers power to the wheels , and the tires push against the pavement . As the car accelerates it gains momentum , the
NON-VOLLEY ZONE MOMENTUM RULES
9 . B . 1 . The act of volleying the ball includes the swing , the follow-through , and the momentum from the action .
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 …
9 . C . 1 . It is a fault even if the ball is declared dead before the player contacts the nonvolley zone .