Pickleball Terms Explained: A Beginner’s Guide

What is Pickleball? Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports. The popularity of this sport grew fast because it is a unique blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, while it has an element of enjoyment with physical exercise and tactical aspects combined together. Other than the fast-paced rallies and smart shot placements, pickleball stands out by having its own vocabulary, which every player should be familiar with. Learning these terms can help you to communicate more effectively, improve your strategies, and make this game even more enjoyable.

This guide will help you get to know the basic pickleball terms. From the moment you step on the court, terms like “dink,” “smash,” and “kitchen” become part of your everyday conversation. So, grab your paddle, step onto the court, and let’s explore the world of pickleball’s language.

Before you get to know the Pickleball terms, have you ever wondered how Pickleball got its name? We have an article about it.

Understanding the Court Terms

Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

The kitchen is a 7-foot area next to the net on both sides, where players are not allowed to volley the ball. This rule is intended to encourage strategic play by forcing players to use softer shots near the net, rather than overpowering volleys.

Baseline and Sidelines

Baselines are lines that mark the back of the court, and players must stand behind the baselines while serving.

Sidelines mark the lateral boundaries of where the ball must land.

Centerline

When performing serves, players use the centerline to divide the service courts. Serves must land on the diagonally opposite service court, requiring precise knowledge about your position in this area.

Basic Pickleball Terms

Serve

The first shot that starts each point. To serve in pickleball, you serve with an underhand motion from behind the baseline, and your serve must cross diagonally to pass over the kitchen (non-volley zone). A strong serve will immediately put pressure on your opponent and set the tone for the rally.

Volley

A volley is when you hit the ball in the air before it hits the ground. This shot is pretty effective when you are positioned at the net, must be done with good reflexes and strategic positioning. However, remember that volleying is prohibited while standing in the kitchen!

Rally

A rally consists of a sequence of back-and-forth shots between teams that starts with a serve and lasts until a fault occurs.

Fault

Any rule violation that forces a lost serve or point counts as a fault. Common faults are hitting the ball out of line, volleying in the kitchen, or serving incorrectly. Players need to identify as well as evade these faults to protect their gameplay momentum and implement strategic moves.

Scoring rules simplified

New players often experience confusion with pickleball scoring until they learn its fundamentals, after which it becomes automatic. Here are some key points:

Side-Out Scoring:

Points are scored only by the current serving team. When the receiving team wins a rally, they obtain the server position.

Score Announcements: 

In doubles, three numbers are announced which are your team’s score, your opponent’s score, and the server number (1 or 2).

In singles, only two numbers are announced.

Winning the Game: Games are often played to 11 points, with the requirement that you must win by two points. There are certain tournaments that are played to 15 or 21 points.

Shot Types

Dink Shot

The term dink refers to a soft and controlled shot made inside the non-volley zone kitchen that glides gently over the net and falls into the opponent's kitchen. The tactical dink serves as a shot to create weak returns for the following play. Mastering the dink is key to gaining control of the game.

Drop Shot & Third-Shot Drop

A soft shot hit softly from the back or midcourt that falls short of the opponent's position, often used to catch them off guard.

When executed as the third shot in a rally (after the serve and return), it’s known as a third-shot drop. It is designed to cancel out the opponent's attacking play and switch defense to offense positions.

Drive

A fast and low forehand shot with power. It is typically aimed deep into the opponent’s court, used to push opponents back, force them to make mistakes, and apply offensive pressure. Power and accuracy make this shot especially effective.

Lob

A high-arching shot designed to get the ball over another player's head, often forcing them to retreat to the baseline. Lobs are especially effective when opponents cluster around the net and may lead directly to a smash or a return to defense. Properly aimed lobs can be a valuable tactical tool in singles and doubles.

Let

A let is a serve that hits the net but still lands in the correct court so that the serve is replayed. A let is not considered a fault, and the server is allowed to redo the serve without penalty. But in the 2021 USA Pickleball Rulebook, the let serve was removed.

Advanced Terms: Elevating Your Game

Around the Post (ATP)

This advanced legal shot in pickleball happens when a player hits the ball around the net post instead of hitting it over the net. The shot is legal as long as the ball lands inside your opponent's court boundary. The shot is usually played when you are pulled wide off the court and have an open angle, which allows you to take advantage of the court geometry. Because there is no height restriction on an ATP, you can hit it low and deep, making it a high-risk, high-reward shot that can surprise opponents.

Erne & Bert

Erne:

An erne is an advanced shot in pickleball where a player jumps from off the court to make a volley near the net, often stepping or leaping from outside the kitchen. Performing an erne needs perfect coordination between timing and agility as well as precise spatial awareness. If performed successfully, it can catch the opponent off guard and dramatically shift the momentum of a rally.

Bert:

A bert is like an erne that performs on your partner's side of the court. To perform a bert, the player crosses to their teammate’s court. This shot is harder to play since more ground is covered, and it requires even more cooperation and coordination between partners.

Poach

In doubles, poaching is an aggressive and strategic move in which a player crosses over to the opponent's side of the court of their partner to hit a shot that would normally be their partner's shot. This move focused on breaking an opponent's rhythm to create a chance to score for their own team. Effective poaching requires both excellent anticipation and teamwork, and clear communication between partners so they can prevent open areas in their defensive positions.

Volley Llama

In pickleball, "Volley Llama" is a nickname used for a volley that a player performs inside the kitchen area. This action will result in losing a point to the opposing team (which is a fault). 

Carry

A "carry" happens when a player hits the ball in such a way that it sticks to or is dragged along with the paddle instead of bouncing off the paddle surface. It is an illegal shot in pickleball and is considered a fault. This usually occurs when a player performs a scooping or lifting motion, which prolongs contact between the ball and the paddle.

It's necessary to know the difference between a carry and a double hit. A double hit is the striking of the ball twice in a single direction with a continuous stroke. It is legal if it happened unintentionally. A carry, on the other hand, requires extended contact during the stroke, which is always a fault. 

Stacking

Stacking is a strategy in doubles where both players are on the same side of the court before the serve or the return. This positioning allows teammates to get into place immediately into their preferred court spaces immediately after the serve so that each player is always in their optimal side. By doing this, players enhance team strength and offset weaknesses through improved court positioning and disruptive opponent rhythm.

Dead Ball: A dead ball refers to a ball that is out of play, effectively ending the current rally.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as faults, hinders, touching permanent objects, or breaking the rules.

Put Away: A "put away" is a forceful shot that intends to end the rally by making it impossible for the opposing side to return. It's typically attempted when a player is in a good position, typically at or near the net, and is receiving a high, returnable ball.

Hands Battle: A hands battle is a quick exchange of volleys between players positioned in the kitchen. These fast-paced engagements demand excellent reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and paddle control and often determine which team will gain the offensive advantage in a rally.

Falafel: A playful, endearing term for a powerless or weak shot that doesn't send enough force. If one "falafels" a shot, the ball doesn't travel far enough, often not clearing the net or reaching a non-threatening point in the opposing court. This is frequently referred to as striking with a "dead paddle," meaning that the paddle had little intensity behind the shot. 

Golden Pickle: A "Golden Pickle" is an informal, celebratory term for a game that is utterly dominating in which one team wins without the other team serving or scoring anything. This means the winning team takes all 11 points directly (or wins the set game score) from the beginning, shutting out their opponents.

Though there are some that call "Golden Pickle" for a winning point when the game point is tied, the most common use of the term is that of a shutout victory.

Elevate Your Game with PickleballGoats

Learning the vocabulary of pickleball not only makes you understand the game better but also allows you to fully appreciate the game's unique culture. 

Whether you're perfecting your dink, cutting loose with a saucy smash, or learning more advanced skills like the ATP or erne, the heart of the game is all about enjoying yourself.

Here at PickleballGoats, we're all about embracing the playfulness of pickleball with gear that's just as much for laughter and grins as it is for the game because pickleball is meant to be played with a smile!

Explore our collection of paddles, laughably crafted clothing, and accessories designed to reflect your love for pickleball.

Walk into the court with confidence, wear your playful spirit on your sleeve, and have PickleballGoats as your partner in every thrilling match. Dink differently, laugh often, and enjoy every second of the game!