Pickleball Terms Explained: The Dictionary of Pickleball Shots, Strategies & Slang
If you’ve ever stepped onto a pickleball court, you’ve probably heard some unusual terms.
“Watch the Erne!”
“Nice dink.”
“That was a Nasty Nelson!”
Pickleball has developed its own vocabulary as the sport has grown. Some terms describe specific shots, while others refer to strategies, rules, or areas of the court.
Here’s a pickleball terms guide to the most common words and phrases you’ll hear on the court.
Beginner Pickleball Terms
These are the most common pickleball terms new players hear when learning the game.
Kitchen
The informal name for the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ), the seven-foot area on each side of the net where players are not allowed to volley the ball.
Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)
The official name for the kitchen. Players must let the ball bounce before hitting it if they are standing in this area.
Dink
A soft shot hit just over the net that lands in the opponent’s kitchen. Dinking is one of the most important strategies in pickleball.
Drive
A fast-paced, powerful shot hit with low over the net toward the opponent’s baseline.
Third Shot Drop
A soft shot used by the serving team to land the ball in the opponent’s kitchen and move forward to the net.
Volley
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces.
Groundstroke
A shot hit after the ball bounces.
Lob
A high shot that sends the ball over an opponent’s head.
Baseline
The back boundary line of the pickleball court.
Sideline
The side boundary lines of the court.
Centerline
The line that divides the service boxes.
Intermediate Pickleball Terms
Once players get comfortable with the basics, these pickleball strategies and terms start to appear more often.
Reset
A soft shot used to slow down a fast rally and regain control of the point.
Block
A defensive shot that absorbs the pace of a fast drive and returns the ball softly.
Speed-Up
An aggressive shot used to accelerate a slow dink rally.
Hands Battle
A fast volley exchange between players at the kitchen line.
Dead Dink
A soft dink that lands low with little bounce, making it difficult for the opponent to attack.
Chicken Wing
A shot directed at a player’s body or elbow, forcing an awkward return.
Roll Volley
A volley hit with topspin to create extra downward motion.
Advanced Pickleball Terms
These are some of the more advanced pickleball terms and tactics seen in competitive play.
Erne
An aggressive shot where a player jumps outside the sideline near the kitchen and volleys the ball close to the net.
Bert
A variation of the Erne where a player crosses behind their partner to execute the shot on the opposite side of the court.
ATP — Around the Post
A shot hit around the net post instead of over the net.
NATP — Nasty Around the Post
An extreme or particularly sharp version of an ATP.
Shake and Bake
A coordinated doubles strategy where one partner hits a hard drive and the other anticipates a weak return to attack.
Scorpion
A defensive overhead shot played behind the body.
Tweener
A shot hit between a player’s legs, often used when chasing down a lob.
Famous Pickleball Terms
Nasty Nelson
A serve that hits the opposing player before they have a chance to return it. The term is named after pickleball player Tim Nelson, who became known for using this tactic successfully.
Why Pickleball Terms Matter
Pickleball has developed its own language as the sport has grown rapidly around the world.
Understanding pickleball terms helps players:
Communicate better on the court
Learn strategies faster
Follow professional matches
Improve their overall game
And as pickleball continues to evolve, new terms and strategies will likely emerge.
So the next time someone says:
“Nice Erne.”
or
“Watch the kitchen.”
You’ll know exactly what they mean.
Pickleball Terms Index (A–Z)
ATP — Around the Post
Baseline — Back boundary line
Bert — Cross-court Erne variation
Block — Defensive shot absorbing pace
Centerline — Line dividing service courts
Chicken Wing — Shot aimed at opponent’s body
Dead Dink — Low bouncing dink
Dink — Soft shot into the kitchen
Drive — Hard shot with pace
Erne — Volley taken outside the kitchen sideline
Groundstroke — Shot hit after a bounce
Hands Battle — Fast volley exchange
Kitchen — Informal name for the NVZ
Lob — High shot over opponent
Nasty Nelson — Serve that hits the opponent
NATP — Nasty Around the Post
Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) — Area where volleys are illegal
Reset — Shot that neutralizes pace
Roll Volley — Topspin volley
Scorpion — Overhead shot behind the body
Shake and Bake — Doubles attack strategy
Sideline — Court boundary line
Speed-Up — Shot accelerating rally
Third Shot Drop — Soft shot to reach the kitchen line
Tweener — Shot between the legs
Volley — Shot hit before the ball bounces
