Pickleball Terms: 60+ Words and Slang Every Player Should Know

Step onto a pickleball court for the first time and you might feel like everyone is speaking a different language. "Stay out of the kitchen!" "Nice dink!" "Watch the erne!" "That was a banger." Pickleball has a vocabulary all its own, and learning it is half the fun. This glossary explains more than 60 pickleball terms and slang words every player should know, grouped by topic and explained in plain English, so you can follow the game and join the conversation at open play.

Court terms

Baseline

The line at the back of the court. You serve from behind it.

Sideline

The lines on each side of the court that mark the boundaries.

Centerline

The line dividing the service courts on each side.

Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

The area extending 7 feet from the net on both sides. You may not hit a volley (a ball out of the air) while standing in it or touching its line. It is the most famous term in the sport.

Kitchen line

The line marking the edge of the non-volley zone, where most of the action happens in doubles.

Transition zone

The middle area of the court between the baseline and the kitchen line, sometimes jokingly called "no man's land."

Even and odd courts

The right and left service courts. In singles, the server serves from the right when their score is even and the left when it is odd.

Scoring and serving terms

Serve

The shot that starts a rally, hit diagonally into the opponent's service court. Traditional volley serves are hit underhand.

Drop serve

A serve where the ball is dropped and hit after it bounces.

Side out

When the serving side loses the serve and it passes to the other team.

Zero-zero-two (0-0-2)

The score called at the start of a doubles game: serving team's score, receiving team's score and the server number. The first server of a game starts as server two.

First server / second server

In doubles, both partners serve before a side out, except at the start of the game.

Let

Traditionally, a serve that touches the net and lands in. Rules on lets have changed in recent years, so check the current rulebook your league uses.

Fault

Any rule violation that ends the rally, such as hitting the ball out or into the net.

Two-bounce rule

The ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley: once after the serve and once after the return.

Shot terms

Dink

A soft shot hit from near the kitchen line that lands in the opponent's kitchen. The heart of strategic pickleball.

Third shot drop

A soft shot hit by the serving team on the third shot of a rally, designed to land in the kitchen so they can move forward to the net.

Drive

A hard, flat shot hit low over the net.

Volley

Hitting the ball before it bounces.

Lob

A high shot over the opponents' heads, usually aimed at the back of the court.

Overhead / smash

A hard downward shot hit from above your head, often in response to a lob.

Reset

A soft shot that slows the rally down and gets it back to a neutral dinking exchange.

Speed-up

Suddenly hitting a fast shot during a soft exchange to catch opponents off guard.

Erne

An advanced shot where a player jumps or moves around the kitchen to volley the ball near the sideline without touching the non-volley zone.

ATP (Around the Post)

A shot hit around the outside of the net post rather than over the net. It is legal and always gets a cheer.

Poach

When a doubles player crosses over to hit a ball that would normally be their partner's.

Punch volley

A short, firm volley with a compact swing.

Roll volley

A volley with topspin that dips the ball down at the opponent's feet.

Strategy terms

Stacking

A doubles strategy where partners arrange their positions so each player stays on their preferred side of the court.

Hands battle

A fast exchange of volleys at the kitchen line.

Bang and block

One player drives hard (bangs) while the opponent absorbs it with a soft block.

Middle

Hitting down the center between two opponents to cause confusion. "When in doubt, hit it down the middle."

Shake and bake

A doubles pattern where one partner drives the third shot and the other rushes the net to attack the weak return.

Pickleball slang

Banger

A player who hits everything hard instead of playing the soft game.

Pickler

A pickleball player or devoted fan.

Dink responsibly

A playful saying that has become pickleball's unofficial motto.

Pickled

Losing a game without scoring any points. Some clubs have fun traditions for teams that get pickled.

Nasty Nelson

A serve aimed at the receiving team's player standing near the net, hitting them before the ball bounces. Legal but famously unsporting in friendly play.

Flapjack

A ball that must bounce before you hit it, often used when a shot is too low to volley.

Body bag

Hitting an opponent with the ball during a rally.

Chicken wing

A shot aimed at an opponent's paddle-side shoulder, where it is awkward to return.

Falafel

A shot that comes off the paddle with no power because it was not hit cleanly.

Open play

Drop-in sessions where players rotate in and out of games, the social heart of pickleball.

Paddle stack

The system at many courts where players line up paddles to wait for the next open court.

Gear terms

Paddle

The solid racket used to hit the ball. Paddles vary in weight, core and surface.

Indoor and outdoor balls

Outdoor balls are harder with smaller holes; indoor balls are softer with larger holes.

Court shoes

Shoes built for side-to-side movement. Running shoes are not ideal on court.

Team shirts

Matching shirts many leagues and doubles teams wear. Ours can be personalized with team and player names; see our pickleball team shirts.

Learn the words, then wear them

Many players love wearing their favorite pickleball terms. "Dink responsibly," kitchen jokes and pickle puns are popular on shirts and make great conversation starters at open play. Browse our funny pickleball shirts and custom pickleball shirts, or check our size guide before you order. Our UPF T-shirt measures 22 inches across the chest (flat) in M and 23.6 inches in L. Items are printed to order with 2–3 business days of processing plus 3–7 business days of US shipping, and orders over $50 ship free.

FAQ: pickleball terms

What is the kitchen in pickleball?

The non-volley zone, the 7-foot area on each side of the net where players may not volley the ball.

What is a dink?

A soft shot from near the kitchen line that lands in the opponent's kitchen.

What does 0-0-2 mean?

The opening score in doubles: both teams have zero points and the first server is called server two.

What is an erne?

An advanced volley hit near the sideline by moving around the outside of the kitchen.

Can I return a personalized pickleball shirt?

Yes, all items can be returned within 30 days. Support is available 8 AM–5 PM Pacific time.

Now that you speak the language, gear up in our pickleball collection and wear your game.