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Pickleball Glossary
Learn the language of Pickleball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
23 terms
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hands BattleAdvancedA hands battle is a rapid-fire exchange of speed-ups and counters at the kitchen line. Reaction speed, paddle readiness, and placement under pressure win it.
- Roll ShotAdvancedA roll shot is a groundstroke or mid-court shot hit with heavy topspin. It dips sharply at an advancing opponent's feet, preventing a clean reset.
- Roll VolleyAdvancedA roll volley is a volley hit with topspin at the kitchen line. It dips sharply at the opponent's feet, making it difficult to reset.
- Shake and BakeAdvancedShake and bake is a doubles strategy where one partner drives the third shot hard while the other charges the kitchen line, ready to poach and put away any weak block the opponents return.
- Speed-Up DinkAdvancedA speed-up dink is a sudden jump in pace on a ball that has risen above net height during a dink rally. It turns a soft exchange into a firm attack with minimal backswing.
- Splitting the Transition ZoneAdvancedSplitting the transition zone is a small, balanced hop or pause partway from baseline to kitchen. It is timed just before the opponent's shot.
- StackingAdvancedStacking is a doubles strategy where both players line up on the same side before the serve or return. Once the ball is in play, they slide to their preferred sides, overriding the score-dictated positions so each player plays from their preferred side.
- Swing Weight, Twist Weight and Lead Tape (Pickleball)AdvancedSwing weight is how heavy a paddle feels when you swing it. Twist weight is how well it resists twisting on off-center hits. Weight at the top raises swing weight for more power but slower hands, and weight at the sides raises twist weight for stability.
- Swinging Volley (Pickleball Drive Volley)AdvancedA swinging volley is a full drive swing at a ball you take out of the air, instead of a short punch. Players use it on high, slow balls in the transition zone or near the kitchen line. It adds pace and topspin but has less margin, so save it for balls above net height.
- Thermoformed Paddle (Unibody, Break-In and Delamination)AdvancedA thermoformed paddle is molded under heat and pressure so the faces, core and edge bond into one sealed shell. Many feel more powerful and stable than older glued, edge-guarded paddles. Any paddle can break down with use, playing hotter or deader, and some delaminate.
- Third Shot LobAdvancedA third shot lob is a high, arcing third shot by the serving team, instead of the more common drop or drive. It is aimed over the returning team as they move up to the kitchen line.
- Topspin DinkAdvancedA topspin dink adds forward spin to a kitchen-line dink so it dips quickly after crossing the net and kicks up on the bounce. This makes it harder to reset cleanly.
- Tweener (Between-the-Legs Shot)AdvancedA tweener is a shot you hit between your legs, usually after a lob has gone over you. Run straight back along the ball's path, let it bounce and get just past it. Then swing the paddle down and back through your knees toward the net behind you.
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