Ace
A serve that the receiver fails to return, scoring an immediate point for the server.
Reference
Pickleball glossary
Every term you’ll hear at the courts. Use this to follow what the regulars are saying — or to sound less new.
ATP (Around the Post)
A shot that travels around the side of the net post (legal because the net post is outside the court). Lethal when a ball is pulled wide.
See also: Erne
Bagel
Slang for an 11-0 win.
Banger
A player who relies on hard, fast shots. Often used dismissively by dinkers.
Carry
When the ball is held on the paddle face during a stroke. A fault in casual play, harder to call in tournaments.
Cross-court
A shot diagonally across the net into the opposite service court. Often the safest shot.
Dead ball
A ball no longer in play, after a fault or point ends.
Dink
A soft shot landing in the opponent's kitchen, designed to force a pop-up. The center of high-level pickleball strategy.
See also: Kitchen, Third shot drop
Double bounce rule
Rule that the ball must bounce once on each side before either team can hit a volley. Forces the team that just served to play through one bounce.
Drive
A hard, low groundstroke. Contrast with a dink or drop shot.
Drop shot
A soft shot that lands just over the net, often used to transition from baseline to kitchen line.
See also: Third shot drop
Erne
An aggressive volley taken from outside the kitchen line, near the sideline. Player jumps or runs around the kitchen to hit it.
See also: ATP (Around the Post)
Falafel
A weak shot from the back of the court, usually a defensive lob that goes short.
Fault
A rule violation that ends the rally — like a ball out of bounds, a kitchen volley, or two bounces on one side.
Half volley
A shot taken just after the ball bounces — at the moment it leaves the ground. Hard to do consistently.
Kitchen
The 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net. You cannot volley while standing in or touching the kitchen line.
See also: NVZ, Dink
Lob
A high-arc shot meant to clear opponents at the net and land deep.
Nasty Nelson
A serve aimed at hitting the non-receiving opponent. Legal but considered poor sportsmanship in casual play.
NVZ
Non-Volley Zone — the official term for the kitchen.
See also: Kitchen
Open play
Drop-in pickleball where players rotate. Most public courts run open play during posted hours.
See also: Drop-in
Paddle
The pickleball racket. Made from composite, fiberglass, or graphite. Generally 7-9 oz.
Permanent rotation
An informal pattern at busy courts where winners stay and losers rotate off.
Pickle
A common cheer when serving — "pickle!" — used to indicate the second server in doubles.
Pickleball
The whiffle-style ball (not the sport). Heavier balls are used outdoors; lighter ones indoors.
Poach
When the player at the net crosses to intercept a ball that would have gone to their partner.
Punch volley
A short, controlled volley with a firm wrist — used to end a kitchen exchange.
Rally
An exchange of shots between players from one serve to a fault.
Reset
A defensive shot that takes pace off and lands in the kitchen, neutralizing a fast attack.
Serve
Underhand stroke that starts each rally. Must be hit below the waist with the paddle moving upward.
Shake-and-bake
A doubles play where one partner drives hard, drawing a weak return, and the other partner crashes the kitchen line to put it away.
Side out
Loss of serve. The opposing team gains the right to serve.
Skinny singles
Half-court singles played on one diagonal half. Useful for solo practice or 1v1 drilling.
Stacking
A doubles strategy where partners line up on the same side at the start of a point, then swap after the serve.
Third shot drop
The serving team's third shot, dropped softly into the opponent's kitchen. Considered the most important shot in pickleball.
See also: Dink, Drop shot
Topspin
Forward rotation on the ball — makes shots dip into the court and bounce forward fast.
Volley
Hitting the ball before it bounces. Must be done outside the kitchen.
Find a court to test these out
Knowing the kitchen rule means nothing without somewhere to play.