Correct ✓
Nice call!
You got it: this is a fault.
Almost!
Here’s the rule
The correct ruling is a fault. This is an easy one to miss because the ball was already dead.
Official ruling
It’s a fault
Here’s why.
The scenario: You volley while standing outside the non-volley zone. Your opponent cannot return the ball, and it bounces twice. Your momentum then carries you into the non-volley zone before you regain your balance.
Why it’s a fault
Stepping into the non-volley zone because of the volleying action’s momentum is a fault—even when the ball becomes dead first.
2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, Rules 9.C and 9.C.1.
Read the Official Rulebook