Pickleball Glossary

Ace

Shots & Techniques

A serve that is not touched by the receiving team and results in a point.

Approach Shot

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit while moving forward toward the net.

ATP

Shots & Techniques

Around The Post - a legal shot that goes around the net post and lands in the opponent's court.

The back boundary line of the court, parallel to the net.

Backhand

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit on the opposite side of your dominant hand.

A player who hits the ball hard consistently rather than using finesse shots.

The line that divides the court into left and right service courts.

Crosscourt

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit diagonally across the court.

Dink

Shots & Techniques

A soft shot hit with an upward arc, intended to land in the opponent's kitchen.

Down-the-line

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit parallel to the sideline.

Drive

Shots & Techniques

A hard, fast shot hit with topspin or flat trajectory.

Drop Shot

Shots & Techniques

A soft shot that barely clears the net and lands in the kitchen, typically hit from the baseline.

Rule requiring the ball to bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.

A ball that is no longer in play.

Erne

Shots & Techniques

An aggressive shot where a player hits the ball while their feet are outside the court, around the net post.

Forehand

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit on the same side as your dominant hand.

A rules violation that results in loss of serve or point.

A fault called when a player steps on or over a line during serve or violates the non-volley zone.

When a team needs one more point to win the game.

Winning a game 11-0 (shutout).

Interference that affects play, resulting in a replay.

Common name for the non-volley zone - the 7-foot area on both sides of the net where volleys are prohibited.

Lob

Shots & Techniques

A high, arcing shot hit over opponents at the net.

A serve that hits the net but lands in the proper service court - the serve is replayed.

Determining whether a ball landed in or out of bounds.

When a team needs one more point to win the entire match.

The 7-foot area on both sides of the net where players cannot hit the ball in the air (volley). Also called "the kitchen."

Nasty Nelson

Shots & Techniques

Hitting the ball at an opponent deliberately, typically during the serve or return.

Overhead

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit above your head, similar to a tennis serve motion.

Open Face

Shots & Techniques

Paddle position where the face is angled upward.

Passing Shot

Shots & Techniques

A shot hit past an opponent at the net.

Poach

Shots & Techniques

When a player crosses over to hit a ball that would normally be hit by their partner.

Paddle

Equipment

The equipment used to hit the ball, made of various materials like composite, graphite, or wood.

Losing a game without scoring any points (losing 11-0).

Put Away

Shots & Techniques

A winning shot that ends the rally.

Return

Shots & Techniques

The shot that returns the serve.

The continuous play after the serve until a fault occurs.

Reset

Shots & Techniques

A defensive shot that slows down fast-paced play, usually a drop shot.

The area on each side of the centerline where serves must land. There are four service courts total.

The left and right boundary lines of the court.

Serve

Shots & Techniques

The underhand shot that starts each point.

Smash

Shots & Techniques

A hard, downward overhead shot.

When the serving team loses their serve and the other team gets to serve.

A strategy where partners position themselves on the same side of the court.

In doubles, indicates whether it's the first server (1) or second server (2) of the team.

Singles play using only half the court width.

Speed Up

Shots & Techniques

Hitting the ball harder to increase the pace of play.

Third Shot Drop

Shots & Techniques

A soft shot hit by the serving team after the return, intended to land in the opponent's kitchen.

The area between the baseline and the kitchen line where players move forward.

A mistake made by a player that wasn't caused by opponent pressure.

Volley

Shots & Techniques

Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces.

Wiffle Ball

Equipment

The perforated plastic ball used in pickleball, with 26-40 holes.