T
he success of the Erne begins with early
preparation and setting up the point as a
5-shot play. Although the Erne shot can be
hit from many locations, the best success
for the shot begins with a head-to-head, down-the-
line, dinking exchange. Here is the best way to set up
the shot.
In Illustration 1, Players A and B are dinking down
the line from each other. When the opportunity is
available, Player A dinks the ball toward the center of
the kitchen/court, causing Player B to shift out of his
neutral court position. This movement is one of three
essential steps that are required to execute the shot.
The second illustration demonstrates the error made
by Player B that ultimately allows for the Erne shot
to be executed. In this illustration, Player B is pulled
toward the center of the court and dinks the ball wide
and short. This allows Player A to slide over and hit a
dink from inside the kitchen. The placement is critical—
dink down the line, just past the kitchen line.
Illustration 3 shows the lateral movement that Player
B has to make to cover the wide dink shot. While he
is looking down at the ball, Player A continues his
momentum by briskly moving through the kitchen
toward the net post. He then re-establishes both feet
outside of the kitchen, and then punches the volley
away for a winner. The younger, more agile player
might take the part of walking through the kitchen out
of the equation and simply leap over the entire kitchen
to hit the volley.
There are a few special rules on the Erne:
1. While it’s legal to move through the kitchen, both
feet must be firmly re-established outside of the
kitchen before striking the volley.
2. If you, your hat, or anything on you falls into the
kitchen after the shot, prior to re-establishing
balance, you lose the point.
3. On the Erne shot, you cannot reach over the net
to strike the ball; however, you can hit the ball on
your side of the court and follow through across
the plane of the net.
4. The same sequence of shots also works in
reverse from the “even” or “Deuce” side of the
kitchen.
Hitting the “Erne” Shot
Next time you’re in a down-the-line dinking
exchange, remember the Erne shot and give your
opponents one more thing to worry about! •
As easy as 1,2,3
1
2
3
B
B
B
A
A
A
Player A dinks toward the center of
the court on Player B - moving
them out of a neutral court posi-
tion.
If Player B dinks short to the side-
line, Player A, can walk through the
kitchen and follow the shot with a
deep forehand dink own the line.
With Player B recovering from
being out of position, Player A can
move through the kitchen, re-es-
tablish both feet out of bounds and
put away the next shot from on top
of the net.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 |
MAGAZINE
21