around the post
On Good Terms
Whether you ’ re a new or seasoned player , listen up . Here ’ s a short list of common pickleball terms and their definitions to keep you “ in the know .” Ace – A serve that is in ( and legal ) and has not been hit or touched by the receiver .
Around the Post , a . k . a . ATP – A shot that travels outside ( around ) the net post usually landing in the opponent ’ s backcourt near the line . These shots are most often set up by a wide dink .
Banger – A style of play where the player hits hard , driving shots . The shots are hard and fast — attacking pretty much every ball . This player is a “ banger ,” which is the opposite of a “ dinker .”
Beer Bracket – If you are out of a tournament before any medal rounds , then you are in the beer bracket . This has nothing to do with the famous craft beer brackets but is all about kicking off your tennis shoes to put on your flip-flops , grabbing your favorite beer , and cheering your friends on .
Crosscourt – The opponent ’ s court diagonally opposite yours .
Dink – A soft shot typically made near the kitchen line , so that it drops into the opponents ’ non-volley zone , and the opponents are not able to volley it back .
Dinker – A style of play where the player uses soft dinking shots , always wanting to slow the game down and staying in a defensive position . This is the opposite of a “ banger .”
Double Bounce Rule – You must let the ball bounce once on both the serve and the return . If you don ’ t , it will be a fault .
Doubles – A pickleball game played with four players ( two on each team ). Teams can be men , women or mixed doubles .
Drive – A low , hard shot intended to reach the opponents ’ backcourt .
Drop Shot – A soft shot that clears the pickleball net and then falls short of the opposing players into the kitchen .
“ Erne ” – This shot is a volley hit right at the net with a player positioned outside the court lines . An Erne shot is when a player steps outside the court on either the right or left sideline and comes forward to be next to but outside the kitchen . The ball is typically struck out of the air and very close to the net . This is a surprise shot
By Jennifer Lucore & Alex Hamner
that typically will be initiated out of a dinking rally . It ’ s an advanced shot that requires precise timing and quick movement . Fault – A rule violation . This ends the rally . Foot Fault – Can be called at two locations on the court : stepping on or into the non-volley zone while volleying a ball , or , while serving , failure to keep both feet behind the baseline with at least one foot in contact with the surface when the paddle contacts the ball .
Game – A series of points played until one team has accumulated 11 points ( winning by 2 points ). Some pickleball tournaments play games to 15 or 21 points ( win by 2 ).
Groundstroke – A forehand or backhand shot that is executed after the ball bounces once on the court . It is usually hit from the back of the court .
Half-Volley – A type of hit where the player hits the ball immediately after it has bounced in an almost scoop-like fashion .
Kitchen – A nickname for the non-volley zone . Nonvolley zone is the technical name , but kitchen is used more often … probably because it flows off the tongue easier . Interestingly , in writing the book “ History of Pickleball – More Than 50 Years of Fun !” Jennifer did quite a bit of digging to try to figure out where the term kitchen originated , but no such luck . Most think it derived from the saying “ If you can ’ t stand the heat , stay out of the kitchen ,” but that is an assumption .
Let Serve – A serve that touches the top of the net and lands in the proper service court . Not a fault — game on !!
Lob – A shot that sends the ball high overhead and deep , hopefully forcing the opponent back to the baseline .
Match – End of a series of game ( s ) that determine a winner . A tournament will have a series of pickleball matches .
Non-Volley Zone – A 7-foot area adjacent to the net within which you may not volley the ball . A player can be in this zone , but to hit the ball , it must have first bounced . The non-volley zone includes all lines around it . See “ Kitchen .”
Overhead – A hard shot made when you hit the ball above your head .
Poach – In doubles , to cross over into your partner ’ s portion of the court to play a ball .