Pickleball Terms and Definitions

Court Terms

• Baseline – The back boundary line of the court.
• Centerline – The line dividing the service courts into left and right sides.
• Forecourt – The front area of the court near the NVZ.
• Kitchen – Nickname for the non-volley zone, where players can’t volley the ball.
• Midcourt – The area halfway between the baseline and NVZ; often a trouble zone.
• No-Man’s Land – The midcourt danger zone between baseline and kitchen.
• Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) – The 7-foot area on either side of the net where volleys are prohibited.
• Neutral Zone – A tactical space where neither team has full control of the rally.
• Service Court – The area within which the serve must land split into left and right sections.
• Sideline – The lateral boundary line that defines the edge of the court.
• Transition Zone – The area between the baseline and kitchen where many volleys occur.

Shot Selection

• ATP (Around the Post) – A shot that travels around the net post and still lands inbounds.
• Backhand – A stroke hit with the back of the paddle hand facing the ball.
• Block Volley – A defensive move where the paddle absorbs speed without swinging.
• Body Shot – A direct shot aimed at the torso, tough to defend.
• Dink – A soft shot that arcs over the net and lands in the non-volley zone.
• Down-the-Line – A shot hit straight along the sideline toward the opponent’s side.
• Drive – A powerful, flat shot hit with speed and low trajectory.
• Drop Shot – A shot that just clears the net and falls quickly, often in the NVZ.
• Drop Spin – A descending spin shot that dies quickly after bouncing.
• Drop Volley – A soft volley designed to fall gently into the kitchen.
• Erne – A daring shot executed while jumping outside the NVZ near the net to hit a volley.
• Finesse Shot – A soft, precise placement shot that disrupts aggressive play.
• Flick – A quick wrist-based motion to add speed or spin unexpectedly.
• Forehand – A shot executed with the palm facing the ball.
• Inside-Out Shot – A shot hit across the body in the opposite direction of your paddle’s natural path.
• Lob – A high, arching shot meant to go over the opponent’s head.
• Poach – When one player crosses into their partner’s area to intercept a shot.
• Punch Block – A quick jab to control a speeding shot during a volley duel.
• Punch Dink – A short, firm dink with slight forward motion.
• Punch Volley – A compact, controlled volley using a short punch motion.
• Reset – A defensive soft shot to slow down a fast rally and regain control.
• Return of Serve – The shot made by the receiving team after a serve.
• Roll Volley – A topspin volley that curves forward as it drops.
• Serve – The shot used to start each point, hit diagonally across the court.
• Slap Shot – A sharp, fast wrist flick to catch the opponent off guard.
• Smash/Overhead – A hard overhead shot used to finish a point aggressively.
• Soft Reset – A slower ball placed to neutralize the rally tempo.
• Spin Serve – A serve that adds rotation to make the ball curve or bounce unpredictably.
• Third Shot Drop – A soft shot designed to land in the kitchen, allowing the serving team to advance.
• Twist Serve – A spin-heavy serve that bends unpredictably.
• Volley – Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces.

Pickleball Scoring Terms

• Crosscourt – Hitting the ball diagonally to the opponent’s side.
• Dead Ball – A ball that is out of play due to a fault or end of rally.
• Double Bounce Rule – Each team must let the ball bounce once before volleying begins.
• Fault – Any rules violation, like hitting the ball into the net or stepping into the kitchen while volleying.
• Foot Fault – Stepping on or into the NVZ during a volley, or crossing the baseline while serving.
• Let Serve – A serve that clips the net and lands inbounds; previously replayed, but now considered live under current rules.
• Live Ball – A ball in motion and eligible for play during a rally.
• Match Point – The potential final point needed to win a match.
• Out Ball – A shot that lands outside the boundary lines.
• Rally Scoring – A nontraditional format where either team can score on any rally.
• Side-Out – Occurs when the serving team loses the rally and the serve passes to the other team.
• Tiebreaker – Extra round played when teams are tied; usually first to a set number of points.
• Traditional Scoring – Points awarded only to the serving team.
• Two-Bounce Rule – Another term for the double bounce rule; reinforces timing of volleys.

Pickleball Tactics

• Baiting – A tactic where you tempt your opponent into a risky shot.
• Cherry-Picking – Hovering near the NVZ to poach or finish easy points.
• Closing the Net – Advancing toward the NVZ to pressure opponents.
• Court Coverage – Strategic movement ensuring both players protect high-risk zones.
• Eye Formation – A strategic doubles position where one player stands at the net center.
• Jamming – A tactic where you hit directly at your opponent’s body, limiting their paddle movement.
• Poaching – Crossing into a partner’s side to intercept and put pressure on.
• Quick Transition – Fast movement from baseline into net-play position.
• Screen Play – Intentionally or unintentionally using one’s body to block the opponent’s view of the ball.
• Screening – When a player unintentionally blocks the opponent’s view of the ball.
• Shadowing – A doubles strategy where one partner mirrors the other’s movement.
• Shake ‘n Bake – A setup-drive combo where one player drops and the other poaches.
• Stacking – A strategy where teammates position themselves to optimize strengths (often used in doubles).
• Tactical Timeout – A break used to regroup or disrupt opponent momentum.
• Targeting – Hitting toward specific opponents or zones to exploit weaknesses.

Pickleball General Terms

• Backpedal – Moving backward quickly to adjust to lobs or deep shots.
• Backspin – Reverse rotation that slows the ball and causes it to bounce low.
• Ball On Court – A stoppage call due to an errant ball entering a live court.
• Ball Tracking – Watching ball rotation and flight for better anticipation.
• Banger – A player who prefers fast-paced, power shots over finesse plays.
• Championship Court – The main court used for finals or featured matches in tournaments.
• Court Awareness – Knowing where you and your opponents are positioned at all times.
• Dead Dink – A low-energy dink that lands deceptively short.
• Deep Return – A return aimed close to the baseline to push the opponent back.
• Defensive Paddle Position – Paddle up and angled, ready to block or reset during pressure.
• Doubles – A format with two players on each team; the most common way pickleball is played.
• Doubles Partner Rotation – The movement between serving positions and sides after a point.
• DUPR – Players rating between 2.000 (beginner) and 8.000 (professional) for measuring a player’s skill level in pickleball.
• Flat Shot – A hit with little to no spin, traveling straight and fast.
• Flipping – Rotating paddle orientation to switch from forehand to backhand mid-rally.
• Foot Drag – Sliding the trailing foot for balance and legal NVZ extension.
• Game to 11 – A standard scoring format where the first team to 11 points wins by 2.
• Grip Change – Adjusting hand placement for different shots or strategies.
• Grip Pressure – How tightly a player holds the paddle; affects control and touch.
• Hand Speed – Quickness with which a player maneuvers the paddle in fast exchanges.
• High Percentage Shot – A smart, reliable shot with minimal risk of error.
• Hybrid Paddle – Paddle design that combines multiple core or surface materials for balance.
• Mis-hit – An off-center paddle contact resulting in an unpredictable shot.
• Mixed Doubles – A doubles match format with one male and one female player per team.
• Momentum – Forward movement after a shot that can lead to kitchen violations if not controlled.
• Momentum Carry – A fault where a player’s motion takes them into the NVZ after volleying.
• Momentum Shift – A change in match energy after a key rally or point.
• Net Cord – When the ball grazes the top of the net and still lands in play.
• Open Play – Casual public matches where players rotate in freely without pre-set teams.
• Overgrip – A wrap placed over the paddle grip for added texture and sweat resistance.
• Paddle – The equipment used to strike the ball; different from a tennis racket.
• Paddle Angle – The tilt or orientation of the paddle during contact, influencing shot trajectory.
• Paddle Grip – The way a player holds the paddle, affecting control and power.
• Paddle Face – The surface of the paddle that contacts the ball.
• Paddle Head Speed – How fast the paddle is moving through the air when hitting the ball.
• Paddle Width – A spec affecting control surface area and forgiveness.
• Paddle Tap – A sportsmanlike gesture at the end of a match to show respect.
• Pickleball – The specialized ball used for play, usually made of plastic with holes.
• Pickleball Ambassador – A community leader who promotes and teaches the sport.
• Pickler – An affectionate nickname for a pickleball enthusiast.
• Pop-Up – An accidental high bounce that’s easy for opponents to smash.
• Power Game – A high-speed, aggressive style using drives and smashes.
• Quick Hands – Fast reflexes used during rapid volley exchanges near the net.
• Rally – The continuous back-and-forth play until a point is won or lost.
• Ready Position – Athletic stance with knees bent, paddle up, and feet shoulder-width.
• Ready Stance – Balanced posture prepared for quick reaction.
• Recovery Step – Footwork used to regain position after stretching for a shot.
• Redirection – Changing the ball’s direction quickly without obvious telegraphing.
• Resetting the Point – Restoring control of a rally through placement and pacing.
• Rotation – The act of switching partners or courts after a match to ensure variety and inclusion.
• Round Robin – A tournament format where everyone plays against different opponents.
• Shot Selection – Choosing the most effective shot based on court dynamics.
• Shot Setup – A play designed to open the court and create a winning shot opportunity.
• Singles – A game format with one player per side.
• Skinny Singles – A training format where players use only half the court width.
• Split Step – A small hop or foot movement before receiving a shot to prepare for reaction.
• Soft Game – A tactical style emphasizing gentle placement and dinks.
• Sweet Spot – The part of the paddle that delivers maximum power and accuracy.
• Topspin – Forward rotation on the ball causing it to dip faster.
• Tournament Play – Structured matches governed by official rules, brackets, and scorekeeping.
• Transition Error – A mistake made while moving from baseline to NVZ, often due to poor timing or footwork.
• Transition Game – Tactical play while moving from baseline toward the net.
• Vibe Check – A fun way players assess their energy, attitude, or team chemistry mid-match.
• Whiff – An attempted shot that completely misses the ball.
• Wind Read – Adjusting shots to accommodate outdoor wind conditions.