PB Lingo: Important Pickleball Definitions
Read on to learn some of our favorite pickleball lingo that will give you an added edge on the court.
Ever feel like these pickleball terms are flying out of people’s mouths, and you have no idea what they are talking about? Trust us, it happens to everyone. This blog post highlights all the pickleball lingo so you can pick it up (and even speak it yourself) in no time.
Ace
The serving team hits a serve, and the returning player does not touch the ball.
Approach Shot
A player from the baseline hits the ball and runs into the court toward the net.
Backhand
The shot hit on the opposite side of the body as the player's dominant hand. Can either be one-handed or double-handed.
Baseline
Line located at the back of the court that separates in-and out-of-bounds.
Bert
An advanced-level shot when a player jumps over the kitchen from one side of the court to the next. Similar to the Erne, except that a player must hit the ball and cross from the left side of the court to the right (or vice versa).
Centerline
The line located in the center of the court that splits the court in half and extends until the Kitchen line.
Core
The material within the pickleball paddle. The three main core types are Polymer, Nomex, and Aluminum.
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Cross-court
A shot crosses the net and lands diagonally from where it was hit.
Dink/Dink Shot/Drop shot
A shot that is delicately hit and lands short in the court, typically within the kitchen.
Double bounce
When a ball bounces twice before a player hits the ball. If the ball bounces twice before a player can hit the ball, that player loses the point.
Double-Bounce Rule
A rule where after the server hits a serve, both the returner and the server must let the ball bounce before hitting the ball. Only after this initial sequence are players allowed to hit the ball out of the air.
Doubles
Match played with a total of four players (2 players on each team). Can be men's, women's, or mixed doubles.
Down-the-line
A shot that crosses the net and lands parallel to where it was hit.
Drive
A forehand or backhand shot that is hit with power and stays low over the net. Typically, this shot lands deep in the court.
Erne
An advanced-level shot where a player hits the ball in the air and jumps over the kitchen.
Shape
The face configuration of the pickleball paddle. There are three main face shapes: wide, classic, and long.
Fault
When a player hits a ball out-of-bounds and loses the point.
First Server
The first player of a team to serve the ball. Referred to as "1" in the third number in pickleball scoring.
Foot fault
When a player steps on the baseline before or during the service motion. This act is a "fault," and the serving team loses the point.
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Forehand
The shot hit on the same side of the body as the player's dominant hand.
Game
A collection of points played until one team reaches 11 points, winning by 2 points.
Groundstroke
Forehand or backhand shots hit from behind the baseline.
Kitchen/Non-Volley Zone
Area located 7-feet from both sides of the net. Players are not allowed to step within this area when trying to hit a ball out of the air.
Let
A serve that hits the net and lands inside the service boundaries. If a let occurs, the point is replayed, and the server hits another serve.
Lob
A shot that is hit high in the air and is intended to go over the head of the opponent. Can be both a defensive or offensive shot with the idea of bringing your opponents back to the baseline.
Match
When a team wins two out of three games.
Overhead
The shot that is hit when an opponent hits a lob. The player contacts the ball over their head and hits straight down into the court.
Passing shot
A driving shot where the player from the baseline hits the ball hard and fast enough that it is untouched by the player at the net.
Pickled
Winning a game without dropping a point. No mercy whatsoever.
Pickler
A pickleball addict. #livelovepickleball
Point
The most basic part of pickleball scoring. Points are won when the serving team hits a winner or the opposing team hits the ball out.
Rally
When players hit balls back and forth from the baseline to each other.
Second Server
The second player of a team to serve the ball. Referred to as "2" in the third number in pickleball scoring.
Serve
The beginning of every point. The server must start behind the baseline and hit the ball on the diagonally opposite side of the court past the kitchen line.
Singles
Match played with a total of two players. Can be men's or women's.
Slice
Hitting a ball with backspin so the ball stays low over the net.
Third Shot Drop
A delicate shot that is hit with the purpose of landing inside the kitchen, allowing the player hitting the ball to secure a commanding position at the net and prevent the opponents from attacking the ball. This is typically the third shot in the rally hit by a player on the serving team.
Volley
Hitting a ball out of the air before it bounces on the ground. Volleys can be hit at any time after the Double Bounce Rule is complete.
Volley Llama
Term referring to when a player steps in the kitchen when hitting a volley. This act causes the player who hit the shot inside the kitchen to lose the point.
Updated December 6, 2023
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