46 pickleball terms defined, including the kitchen, dink, erne, falafel and third shot drop, each explained in a single line.
Pickleball terminology is younger than most sporting vocabularies and it shows: half of it is plain description, the other half is jokes that stuck. Below are the words related to pickleball that decide points, the pickleball jargon shouted across the net, and the words associated with pickleball equipment and scoring. The pickleball glossary at the end of the page is the fast way to look up a term somebody used on court while you were still deciding whether they meant it.
Must-Know Pickleball Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Ace
- Backhand
- Baseline
- Dink
- Double bounce
- Drive
- Erne
- Fault
- Forehand
- Groundstroke
- Kitchen
- Lob
- No-volley zone
- Overhead
- Poach
- Rally
- Serve
- Sideline
- Smash
- Spin
- Stroke
- Unforced error
- Volley
- Warning
- Zone
- Crosscourt
- Dead ball
- Drop shot
- Foot fault
- Non-volley line
Pickleball Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Ace | A serve the receiver never touches, winning the point outright. |
| Around the post | A shot passing outside the net post rather than over the net, legal at any height. Usually shortened to ATP. |
| Backhand | A stroke played across the body with the back of the hand leading. |
| Banger | A player who drives nearly every ball hard instead of playing the soft game. |
| Baseline | The back line of the court. Serves are struck from behind it. |
| Bert | An Erne played across the partner's side of the court rather than your own. |
| Crosscourt | A shot hit diagonally, from one side of the court to the opposite corner. |
| Dead ball | The ball once the rally has stopped, after a fault or between points. |
| Dink | A soft shot dropped just over the net into the opponent's non-volley zone, meant to deny any pace to attack. |
| Double bounce rule | The serve and the return must each bounce before being struck. Also called the two-bounce rule. |
| Drive | A flat, fast shot hit low over the net to put the opponent under pressure. |
| Drop shot | A soft shot landing just past the net, played to pull a deep opponent forward. |
| Erne | A volley taken beside the non-volley zone, reached by stepping or jumping around it, so the player never stands in the kitchen. |
| Falafel | A shot hit so softly that it falls short of the net. Named for the sound rather than the food. |
| Fault | Any rule violation that ends the rally, from a serve out of bounds to a foot in the kitchen on a volley. |
| Flapjack | A ball that has to bounce once before it can be played, because of the two-bounce rule. |
| Foot fault | Touching the non-volley zone while volleying, or the wrong part of the court while serving. |
| Forehand | A stroke played with the palm side of the hand leading, on the paddle side of the body. |
| Golden pickle | Winning a game 11 to 0 on the first service turn, with the opponents never scoring. |
| Groundstroke | A shot played after the ball has bounced, usually from the back of the court. |
| Kitchen | The everyday name for the non-volley zone, the seven-foot strip on each side of the net. |
| Kitchen line | The line marking the back edge of the non-volley zone. Where most of a doubles rally is played. |
| Let | A serve that clips the net and lands in. Under current rules it is played rather than replayed. |
| Lob | A high shot sent over the opponents' heads to push them back off the kitchen line. |
| No-volley zone | The seven-foot area on each side of the net where the ball may not be hit out of the air. |
| Non-volley line | The line seven feet from the net that marks the front edge of the court's no-volley area. |
| Overhead | A shot struck from above the head, hit downward with force. |
| Paddle | The solid bat used to strike the ball. It has no strings, which is what separates it from a racquet. |
| Pickled | Losing a game without scoring a single point. |
| Poach | Crossing into a partner's side of the court to take a ball they would otherwise play. |
| Rally | The exchange of shots from the serve until a fault ends the point. |
| Reset | A soft shot played out of a defensive position to take the pace off the rally and get back to the kitchen line. |
| Serve | The underhand shot that starts each point, hit diagonally into the opposite service court. |
| Shake and bake | A doubles pattern in which one partner drives and the other charges the net to put away the reply. |
| Side out | The loss of serve, which passes the serve to the other team. |
| Sideline | The line running the length of the court, marking the side boundary. |
| Smash | A hard overhead played downward to finish the point. |
| Spin | Rotation put on the ball to change its flight and its bounce: topspin, backspin or sidespin. |
| Stacking | Lining up both partners on the same side before the serve so each one keeps a preferred court position. |
| Stroke | Any swing of the paddle at the ball, from serve to dink. |
| Third shot drop | The soft shot played by the serving team after the return, to get to the kitchen line safely. |
| Two-bounce rule | The requirement that both the serve and the return bounce before anyone volleys. |
| Unforced error | A point lost through your own mistake rather than the opponent's good play. |
| Volley | A ball struck out of the air before it bounces, only legal outside the non-volley zone. |
| Warning | A referee's formal caution for a minor infraction, given before any penalty applies. |
| Zone | A defensive plan in which each player covers an area of the court rather than a specific opponent. |
#1 Ace
In pickleball, an ace is a serve that the opponent fails to return, earning the server a point. This term highlights both a strong serve and a moment of advantage in the game.
#2 Backhand
A backhand is a stroke where the player swings the paddle across the body with the back of the hand facing towards the net. Typically used when the ball is on the opposite side of the paddle hand, it is a fundamental skill in pickleball.
#3 Baseline
The baseline refers to the back line on a pickleball court that runs parallel to the net. Players serve from behind the baseline, and it defines the boundary for legal serves and in-play shots.
#4 Dink
A dink is a soft, controlled shot that barely clears the net and lands in the opponent’s non-volley zone, or ‘kitchen’. This strategic shot is used to make it difficult for the opponent to return with power.
#5 Double bounce
The double bounce rule in pickleball requires that each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. That means the serve and the return of serve cannot be volleyed but must bounce once before being struck.
#6 Drive
A drive in pickleball is a forceful, flat shot that travels fast and low over the net. Drives are often used to pressure opponents and create offensive opportunities.
#7 Erne
An Erne is a shot in pickleball where a player jumps from outside the non-volley zone (also known as the kitchen) to hit a ball in the air before it crosses the plane of the net. This advanced technique allows players to hit volleys aggressively close to the net without committing a foot fault in the non-volley zone.
#8 Fault
A fault in pickleball occurs when a rule is violated during a serve, rally, or play, resulting in the loss of a point or the serve. Common faults include hitting the ball out of bounds, failing to clear the net, or stepping into the non-volley zone while volleying.
#9 Forehand
A type of stroke in pickleball where the ball is hit with the palm side of the hand leading, typically on the same side of the body as the paddle-holding arm. It’s a fundamental shot used for powerful drives or precise placements.
#10 Groundstroke
A groundstroke is executed after the ball has bounced once on the court, usually hit from the back part of the court. This shot is a cornerstone of the baseline game, either as a defensive return or an offensive setup.
#11 Kitchen
Informal term for the no-volley zone; the area within seven feet on either side of the net where players cannot volley the ball. It’s a critical area for strategic play, especially when executing or defending against dinks.
#12 Lob
A high-arcing shot intended to go over an opponent’s head and land in the back of the court. Lobs can be defensive, to gain time to reposition, or offensive, to exploit a gap in the opponent’s court positioning.
#13 No-volley zone
Also known as the kitchen, this is a zone extending seven feet from the net on both sides where players cannot hit the ball out of the air. Mastery of play around this area is essential in pickleball.
#14 Overhead
An overhead is a powerful shot typically performed when the ball is hit high above the player’s head. It’s similar to a smash in tennis, used to drive the ball downward into the opponent’s court with great force, making it difficult to return.
#15 Poach
Poaching in pickleball refers to a player crossing over into their partner’s area to make a play on the ball. This aggressive move is often used in doubles play to take advantage of a strong forehand or to surprise opponents with a quick intercept.
#16 Rally
A rally in pickleball is the sequence of hitting the ball back and forth between opponents, starting with the serve and continuing until a fault is made or the point is won. Rallies can involve a variety of shots and strategic plays.
#17 Serve
The action used to start each point in pickleball, where the player hits the ball diagonally across the court to the opponent’s service zone. Successful serves must clear the non-volley zone and land within the bounds of the receiver’s court.
#18 Sideline
The lines that run parallel to the length of the pickleball court and define the lateral boundaries of the playing area. A ball that lands outside the sidelines is considered out of bounds.
#19 Smash
A powerful, aggressive overhead shot intended to finish the point, hit downward into the opponent’s court with high speed. Smashes are often difficult to return due to their velocity and downward trajectory.
#20 Spin
The rotation imparted on the ball by a player’s paddle to affect its trajectory and bounce, making it more challenging for opponents to return. Spin can be topspin, backspin, or sidespin, each affecting the ball’s movement differently.
#21 Stroke
A fundamental element of pickleball gameplay, it’s the act of swinging the paddle to hit the ball. Different types of strokes include the serve, volley, groundstroke, and dink.
#22 Unforced Error
A mistake made by a player during a rally that was not caused by the opponent’s good play, typically results in the loss of a point. Common unforced errors include hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net.
#23 Volley
A volley in pickleball is a shot made by hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces on the court. Volleys are typically executed near the net in the non-volley zone, but players must be careful not to step on or over the non-volley line while hitting a volley.
#24 Warning
A notification given by the referee for a minor infraction or to inform a player of their behavior that could lead to a penalty. It serves as a caution without immediate repercussion but reminds players to follow the rules.
#25 Zone
Refers to a defensive strategy where players cover a specific area or ‘zone’ of the court rather than guarding individual opponents. It focuses on protecting strategic spaces to prevent scoring opportunities.
#26 Crosscourt
A shot that travels diagonally across the court, from one side to the opposite sideline. It’s a strategic play that can catch opponents off-guard and create challenging angles.
#27 Dead ball
A term indicating that play has stopped and the ball is not in play. This pause can occur after a fault, between serves, or when a rule has been breached, signaling a break in the action.
#28 Drop shot
A softly hit ball that barely travels over the net, landing close to it in the opponent’s court. It’s a finesse shot designed to catch opponents out of position, especially if they’re playing deep.
#29 Foot fault
An infraction that occurs when a player’s foot enters the non-volley zone during a serve or steps on the baseline before hitting the ball. Foot faults result in the loss of serve or a point for the opponent.
#30 Non-volley line
The non-volley line in pickleball, often referred to as the “kitchen” line, is a boundary line located 7 feet from the net on both sides of the court. Players are prohibited from volleying the ball if they are standing within this zone, which is designed to prevent players from dominating play at the net.
FAQ
What are phrases used in playing pickleball?
The ones you hear every game are calls and shot names: “kitchen” for the non-volley zone, “dink” for the soft shot into it, “side out” when the serve changes hands, and “out” or “in” called on a ball near the line. Scores are called in three numbers: server’s score, receiver’s score, server number.
What is pickleball slang?
Pickleball slang is the informal half of the vocabulary: kitchen, dink, banger, Erne, falafel, flapjack, pickled. Most of it names a shot or a habit that the official rulebook describes in much drier language.
Why is the non-volley zone called the kitchen?
The kitchen is the nickname for the seven-foot strip on each side of the net where volleying is not allowed. Where the nickname came from is not documented, and the rulebook itself only uses the term non-volley zone.
What do you call a soft shot that just clears the net in pickleball?
A dink. It is played with almost no pace so it drops into the opponent’s non-volley zone, where it cannot be volleyed and cannot easily be attacked.
What is it called when a player jumps around the kitchen to hit a volley?
An Erne. The player moves outside the non-volley zone, by stepping around it or jumping across the corner, and volleys the ball close to the net without ever standing in the kitchen.
They fall into court terms (kitchen, non-volley line, baseline, sideline), shots (dink, drive, lob, third shot drop, Erne, smash) and scoring terms (side out, fault, ace, pickled). The pickleball glossary above defines each one.
What are some Pickleball terms for beginners?
“Ace,” “Dink,” and “Volley” are some Pickleball terms beginners should start with. These cover service success, soft net shots, and direct in-air returns, important for new players to learn.
What are some funny Pickleball terms?
“Kitchen,” “Erne,” and “Poach” are some funny Pickleball terms. The “Kitchen” is the quirky nickname for the no-volley zone, while “Erne” and “Poach” add playful elements related to court maneuvers.
What is a famous Pickleball phrase?
“Dink responsibly” is a famous Pickleball phrase, encouraging players to use soft net shots strategically to outmaneuver opponents and prevent easy slam returns, emphasizing skill over power.
