Pickleball Glossary
Learn the language of Pickleball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
12 terms
- Around-the-Post (ATP)AdvancedAn around-the-post is a legal shot hit around the outside of the net post — below net height — when a wide-angled ball pulls you off the court. There’s no rule the ball must travel over the net.
- DinkBeginnerA dink is a soft, controlled shot hit from near the kitchen line that arcs just over the net and lands in the opponent’s kitchen, forcing them to hit up.
- ErneAdvancedAn Erne is an aggressive shot where a player jumps or runs around the outside of the kitchen to volley a ball near the net, legally taking it out of the air beside the non-volley zone.
- Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)BeginnerThe kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net. You may not hit a volley (a ball out of the air) while standing in it — you must let the ball bounce first.
- PoachIntermediateA poach is crossing in front of your partner to volley a ball that was heading to them — an aggressive doubles move to take a put-away or surprise the opponents.
- ResetIntermediateA reset is a soft, absorbing shot that takes pace off a hard-driven ball and drops it into the kitchen, neutralizing an attack and restoring a neutral rally.
- ServeBeginnerThe pickleball serve is an underhand stroke, made below the waist, hit diagonally into the opposite service box. It starts the point but — under the two-bounce rule — can’t be followed to the net.
- Speed-UpIntermediateA speed-up is suddenly attacking a dink or slow ball by driving it hard at the opponents, changing the pace to force a reflex error during a soft kitchen exchange.
- StackingAdvancedStacking is a doubles positioning strategy where partners line up on the same side before the serve or return, then switch, to keep each player on their stronger (usually forehand-middle) side.
- Third-Shot DropIntermediateThe third-shot drop is a soft shot hit from the baseline that lands in the opponent’s kitchen, giving the serving team time to advance to the net.
- Two-Bounce RuleBeginnerThe two-bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side before either team may volley: the serve must bounce, and the return must bounce, before anyone hits it out of the air.
- VolleyBeginnerA volley is any shot hit out of the air before the ball bounces. In pickleball it must be struck while standing outside the kitchen.
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