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Pickleball Glossary
Learn the language of Pickleball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
183 terms
- Achilles and Calf Strains in PickleballBeginnerThe Achilles tendon links the calf muscles to the heel and powers every push-off. Sudden pushes, like lunging for a drop or springing back for a lob, can overload it. Stop if you feel a sharp pain or a pop at the back of the ankle, and see a qualified medical professional.
- Approach to Kitchen LineIntermediateThe approach to the kitchen line is the movement pattern used to advance from the baseline to the non-volley zone after a third-shot drop or drive — usually using split steps to arrive balanced and ready.
- Around-the-Post (ATP)AdvancedAn around-the-post, universally shortened to ATP, is a legal shot played around the outside of the net post rather than over the net, at any height at all. It arises when a sharply angled ball pulls a player outside the sideline. This leaves the outside route as the only way back into the opponent's court.
- Around-the-Post Angle JudgmentAdvancedAround-the-post angle judgment is spotting when a wide ball can legally go around the net post. The shot travels outside the sideline, below net height.
- Attackable BallIntermediateAn attackable ball is any shot that sits above the net tape when the opponent contacts it. That lets them drive it or speed it up downward.
- Backhand DinkBeginnerA backhand dink is a soft, controlled shot hit on your non-dominant side with a compact swing and little or no backswing. It arcs just over the net into the kitchen.
- Backhand DriveIntermediateA backhand drive is a firm, low groundstroke hit from your non-dominant side, usually from the baseline. Turn your shoulders early, keep the backswing compact, and swing low to high through contact in front of your front hip. Both one-handed and two-handed backhands work.
- Ball Hits a PlayerBeginnerIf a ball in play touches you or anything you wear or carry, you lose the rally. The exceptions are your paddle and your paddle hand below the wrist while it holds the paddle. This applies even if you are standing out of bounds and the ball would have landed out.
- Ball Hits the Net PostIntermediateIt depends on when it hits. A shot that hits the net post before it lands is a fault against the hitter. A ball that first bounces in the opponents' court and then strikes the pole wins the rally for the hitter.
- Ball Speed LegalityAdvancedOnly officially approved balls are legal in sanctioned tournaments. Like paddles, they must pass standard tests, which for balls cover size, weight, bounce and compression. Any approved ball may be used indoors or outdoors.
- Baseline PlayBeginnerBaseline play refers to deliberately staying near the back of the court. This uses drives and drops rather than advancing to the kitchen, often as a defensive or reset strategy.
- Beginner Rule Confusion: Stepping in the Kitchen After a VolleyBeginnerThe tricky part is timing. A volley's momentum carrying a player into the kitchen is a fault. Stepping in once the swing ends and balance returns is legal.
- Beginner Rule Confusion: When You Can VolleyBeginnerVolleys are illegal on the serve and the return of serve until each has bounced once. This is the two-bounce rule. After that, a volley is legal from anywhere outside the non-volley zone for the rest of the rally.
- Being a Good Doubles PartnerBeginnerA good doubles partner stays positive, talks on every ball and keeps blame off the court. After a miss, a quick "next one" helps more than a lecture. Give tips only when asked, agree on a simple plan before you start, and save longer talks for between games or after the match.
- BertProA bert is a doubles variant of the erne. A player crosses in front of their partner and jumps around the far kitchen post to hit outside the non-volley zone.
- Blocking a Speed-UpIntermediateBlocking a speed-up is a defensive volley technique. It absorbs an attacking shot's pace with a firm, still paddle face instead of swinging back.
- Body Shot AttackIntermediateA body shot attack is a speed-up or drive aimed at the opponent's torso or dominant hip. It forces an awkward, compact swing with little room to attack back.
- Calling the ScoreBeginnerIn doubles, call three numbers before you serve: your team's score, the opponents' score, then your server number, 1 or 2. Each game starts at 0-0-2. In singles, and in rally scoring, call two numbers: the server's score, then the receiver's.
- Carry (Illegal Hit)IntermediateA carry is an illegal hit where the ball is scooped, slung, or held on the paddle face for an extended moment. It is not struck with a single, clean, distinct contact.
- Catching a Ball Going Out (Pickleball)BeginnerNo. If you catch or touch a ball before it lands, you lose the rally, even if it was clearly going out. Let it land first. Only a ball that has landed outside the court is out.
- Chicken Wing (Pickleball)IntermediateA chicken wing is the awkward backhand you hit when a ball comes at your paddle-side shoulder or hip and you lift your elbow high to reach it. It is weak and hard to control, so opponents aim there on speed-ups. Fix it by holding the paddle more neutral at the kitchen line, then turning or sliding so you can take that ball with a forehand.
- Choosing a Pickleball PaddleBeginnerFor a first paddle, many coaches suggest a midweight paddle with a standard shape and a thicker, control-oriented core. It should feel comfortable in your hand without squeezing. If you plan to play tournaments, check that it is on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list.
- Common Beginner Mistake: Overhitting DinksBeginnerNew players often swing at dinks with too much paddle speed. The ball pops up above net height, handing the opponent an easy attacking shot instead of staying low and soft.
- Common Beginner Mistake: Poor Court CoverageBeginnerNew doubles teams often leave gaps in court coverage. Both players chase the same ball, stand too close together, or fail to shift as a unit. They have not yet learned to move together as a formation.
- Common Beginner Mistake: Standing in the KitchenBeginnerMany beginners rest inside the kitchen (non-volley zone) between shots. Instead, step in only to play a bounced ball, then retreat to the line right away.
- Common Beginner Mistake: Volleying Too EarlyBeginnerNew players often try to volley the serve or return of serve before it bounces. That is a fault under the two-bounce rule.
- Common Pickleball InjuriesBeginnerPickleball injuries range from overuse problems like elbow and shoulder pain to sprains, calf strains and fractures from falls. General prevention includes a warm-up, court shoes, sound technique and building playing time gradually. Stop if something hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that persists.
- Compact BackswingBeginnerA compact backswing is a short, controlled preparation where the paddle is drawn back only as far as needed — usually to hip level — before the forward swing. This reduces reaction time and improving consistency.
- Contact PointBeginnerContact point is where the ball meets the paddle, on the face and relative to the body. It is the biggest controllable factor in consistent shots.
- Counter AttackAdvancedA counter attack is a controlled offensive response to an opponent's speed-up or flick, redirecting their pace back at them before they can reset.
- Counter Speed-UpAdvancedA counter speed-up returns pace immediately on an opponent's speed-up. Instead of blocking, the player redirects the attack with equal or greater speed.
- Court PositioningBeginnerCourt positioning is the ongoing management of where you stand relative to the net, your partner, and the ball — the foundation of all tactical decision-making in pickleball.
- Cross-Court DinkIntermediateA cross-court dink is a soft shot played diagonally over the lowest part of the net. This gives the hitter the largest margin for error and the best angle for pulling an opponent sideways.
- Crossover StepIntermediateA crossover step is a running movement where one foot crosses in front of the other to cover wide balls quickly, sacrificing momentary net-facing to reach balls the shuffle step cannot.
- Dead Dink (No-Bounce Slow Roll)AdvancedA dead dink is hit with so little forward momentum that it dies almost immediately on the bounce. It barely clears the net, leaving the opponent no rhythm or pace.
- Deep ServeBeginnerA deep serve lands near the opponent's baseline. It keeps the returner farther from the kitchen line and gives the serving team more time to advance.
- DinkBeginnerA dink is a soft, controlled shot hit from near the kitchen line. It arcs just over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen, forcing them to hit upward and preventing an aggressive return.
- Dink Rally PatienceIntermediateDink rally patience is the discipline to keep the ball low and controlled through a long dink exchange. You wait for a real opening instead of forcing an early attack.
- Dink Target (Feet vs Body)IntermediateDink targeting is choosing between an opponent's feet and body. A dink at the feet forces an awkward low contact, while one at the body crowds the paddle and limits a clean swing.
- Dinking AngleIntermediateDinking angle is the direction and sharpness of a dink relative to the net. It decides how much side-to-side ground an opponent must cover to reach it.
- Double Hit FaultIntermediateA double hit fault occurs when a player makes two clearly separate hitting motions at the ball in the same point of contact. An unintentional double touch within one continuous stroke is generally treated differently and is not automatically a fault.
- Doubles Strategy (Pickleball)BeginnerWin more doubles points by getting both of you to the kitchen line together, then staying patient. Serve and return deep, and use a third-shot drop, or a drive off a short, high return, to move up. Dink crosscourt until someone lifts a ball. Aim at the middle and the weaker side, and call every middle ball.
- Down-the-Line DinkIntermediateA down-the-line dink is a soft shot hit straight ahead rather than diagonally. It goes to the opponent directly across the net, not the cross-court player.
- Down-the-Middle AttackIntermediateA down-the-middle attack is a hard, fast shot aimed between two opponents in doubles, targeting the lowest part of the net and forcing a "yours-or-mine" decision under pressure.
- DreamBreaker (Major League Pickleball)IntermediateA DreamBreaker is the singles tiebreaker that Major League Pickleball plays when a team match is tied after its four doubles games. It uses rally scoring to 21 points, and the players on each team take turns, switching every four points.
- DriveBeginnerA drive is a hard, flat or low-trajectory shot hit from mid-court or the baseline. It aims to push opponents back or force a weak return.
- Drive ServeIntermediateA drive serve is a hard, flat or low-trajectory serve intended to prevent the returner from taking an aggressive position and returning with pace.
- Drop ServeBeginnerA drop serve is a serve where you drop the ball, let it bounce, then hit it. You must release it from one hand or let it roll off the paddle face. Don't toss it up, push it down or spin it. After the drop it may bounce any number of times, anywhere, and the volley-serve swing rules do not apply.
- Drop ShotIntermediateA drop shot is a softly hit ball that barely clears the net and dies in the opponent's kitchen, drawing them forward and opening the court behind them.
- DUPRBeginnerDUPR is a pickleball rating on a scale from 2.000 to 8.000, built from match results. Before each match it sets an expected result from everyone's ratings. Beat that expectation and your rating can rise, and fall short and it can drop.
- Entering Your First Pickleball TournamentBeginnerPick a local event with a division that matches your level, register before the deadline and line up a partner if you are playing doubles. Read the event's format first. Games may be played to 11, 15 or 21 points, and every format is won by two.
- ErneAdvancedAn Erne is an aggressive volley hit from beside the net post. The player jumps or runs around the outside of the kitchen and contacts the ball legally outside the non-volley zone for an unexpected, sharp-angled winner.
- Erne SetupAdvancedThe erne setup is the positioning and read a player makes before jumping around or through the kitchen. The aim is to volley a ball outside the sideline without stepping through the kitchen itself.
- Eye Protection for PickleballBeginnerPickleball rules do not require eye protection, but the American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages it. Polycarbonate safety goggles with front and side coverage are the ideal choice. Sunglasses or regular glasses are better than nothing.
- Fake ATPProA fake ATP is a deceptive shot where the player winds up as if going around the post, drawing the opponent wide, then redirects the ball crosscourt or down the line.
- Fault (General)BeginnerA fault is any rule violation that immediately ends a rally, including serve errors, non-volley zone violations, out-of-bounds shots, and illegal contact. The side that commits it loses the rally. A fault by the receiving side scores a point for the servers, and a fault by the serving side loses the serve.
- Fifth Shot PatternAdvancedThe fifth shot pattern refers to the serving team's planned response on the fifth shot of the rally — usually a drop or drive based on what the fourth-shot return produces.
- Flick AttackAdvancedA flick attack is a sudden, wrist-driven acceleration on a mid-height dink that catches the opponent off guard with a sharp speed-up to the shoulder or hip.
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerFollow-through is the continuation of the paddle motion after contact. It determines ball direction, spin, and pace, and signals whether the swing was committed or interrupted early.
- Foot Fault (Pickleball)BeginnerA foot fault is a serving fault judged at the moment the serve is hit. It occurs if a foot touches the court, including the baseline, or touches the ground outside the server's own serving area. It also occurs if both feet are off the ground.
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