Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health & Fitness

47 pickleball terms every player should know

Sound like a pro pickleball player by knowing these terms

By
An image of pickleball balls.
Franklin Sports via Amazon / Amazon

If one wants to develop their pickleball skills on the court, it is crucial that they understand the terms and vocabulary used within the sport. Knowing these terms not only improves communication on the court but is also one of the foundational skills for effectively learning how to play like a pro.

In this Pickleball terms guide, we list, in alphabetical order (we’ve skipped a few letters that have no terms – yet), the key pickleball terms. We’ve included pickleball equipment terms, slang words often used, and court positioning terms. Let’s take a look at what to know!

Recommended Videos

What are the 47 pickleball terms every player should know? 

A view of pickleball courts
Frankie Lopez / Unsplash

The list below will help update experienced players on any new terms being used while also helping beginner pickleball players gain a better understanding of the game and its terms.

Related

A

  • Ace: This is when the player plays a well-executed serve, and their opponent cannot return it.
  • Approach Shot: This is when the pickleball is struck as it moves toward the net to gain an advantage.
  • ATP (or Around the Post): An ATP is a unique shot that a player makes where the ball goes under the net and around the post.

B

  • Backhand Stroke: This refers to when you hit the ball and the nondominant side – or the back of your hand – is facing towards the net.
  • Backspin (or Slice/Chop): This is when a high-to-low motion is used to make the ball spin in an opposing direction than the ball was initially heading towards. 

C

  • Carry Hit: A reference to hitting the ball in one continuous direction, even if the ball may be hit twice (carried) unintentionally by the player.
  • Cross-court: Refers to the court that is diagonally opposite to your own court.
  • Champion Shot: Refers to a shot that bounces in the non-volley zone twice.

D

  • Dead Ball: This refers to when a ball is not in play after a fault is declared. This usually happens if the ball hits a permanent object or a player is causing a fault.
  • Dink Shot: Refers to a shot that intends to arc over the net and bounce within the non-volley zone. 
  • Double Bounce: This term refers to when the pickleball bounces twice before being issued in return, which ends with a deadball being announced.

E

  • Erne: A reference to when the player lunges over the corner and out of bounds to get closer to the net. The player usually tries to smash the ball without accidentally breaking the rules, with their feet in the non-volley zone while the ball is in the air.

F

  • Fault: This is when the gameplay is stopped due to an action that has led to a rule violation.
  • First Serve: This refers to the first serve of the game or rotation until a fault occurs.
  • Flapjack: This refers to a shot that is hit while the ball is in midair, as the ball did not bounce on each side of the court.

G

  • Groundstroke: This is when a player hits the ball after it bounced once.
  • Golden Pickle: This refers to a game in which the opposing team wins using only their first server without losing a point.
  • Getting Pickled: When a team loses with no points scored.

H

  • Half Volley: This is when a groundstroke makes immediate contact with the ball after it has bounced off the court and before it has risen to its potential height.
  • Hinder: This is an instance or occurrence that will affect (hinder) gameplay.
  • Head: This is the section of the pickleball paddle that sits above the handle and includes the face of the paddle.

I

  • Incorrect position: Generally refers to being in the wrong position during serve or play.

J

  • Joey: Refers to when a player makes an ATP shot back to their opposition after their opponent used an ATP shot prior.

K

  • Kitchen: This is a slang term used amongst players for the Non-Volley Zone.
  • Kill Shot: Refers to a shot made high above the net to win a point.

L

  • Let: Refers to when the ball hits the net after a serve and still lands in the service court.
  • Line Calls: When the ball lands on any court line, it is considered an in.
  • Lob: This is when a player returns a shot as deep and as high as possible to make the ball shoot out of the opposing side’s reach.

M

  • Midcourt: This is the area between the baseline and the non-volley zone.

N

  • Nasty Nelson: This is when a player attempts to take the opposition off guard by aiming to hit while their opponent is not ready to receive a serve.
  • Non-Volley Zone: This refers to the 7-foot area on either side of the net that is considered a no-go area, better known as the “kitchen.”

O

  • Overhead Slam: A strong hit using a downward motion to return from receiving a high bounce or lob.
  • Open Face: Refers to when a player holds a pickleball paddle with the face tilting up.

P

  • Passing Shot: Refers to when a player is trying to prevent the return of the ball by using a groundstroke or volley play at a distance.
  • Paddy: A slang term that refers to a pickleball paddle.
  • Painting the Line: A well-executed line shot that lands right on the line.

R

  • Rally Score System: Refers to the pickleball scoring system, where points can be won on every serve.
  • Ready Position: This is when the player is in the ideal position to receive and return the ball.

S

  • Serve: A serve is an underhand stroke used to start pickleball play. It must make contact with the ball below the waist to be valid.
  • Service Court: This references the baseline, sideline, and centerline of the court and excludes the non-volley zone.

T

  • Technical Foul: This is when the referee adds a point to a team’s score after the opposing team violates a rule that is outside of the standard faults caused in play. It usually happens due to unsportsmanlike behavior or foul language on the court.
  • Third Shot Drop: This is when a shot that is aimed close to the baseline is played and returned to land in the opposition’s non-volley zone.
  • Truck Driver: This refers to a score that is 10-4.

U

  • Unattackable Ball: This is when a shot is below the top of the net and does not bounce high enough for the opposition to attack or return.

V

  • Volley: This refers to a shot that is hit during a rally in mid-air before the ball can hit the ground.
  • Volley Llama: This is considered an illegal play and refers to when the player hits a volley shot in the non-volley zone.

Z

  • Zero–Zero: Refers to a game of singles starting score.

Editors’ Recommendations

Jason Collins
Jason Collins
Contributor
Jason is a busy writer, avid traveler, and a car fanatic.
How many sets should you be lifting for muscle growth in older age? New study
There are plenty of reasons to try resistance training in your later years.
Man wearing blue tank sitting in gym doing dumbbell concentration curl on bench

Even if you start lifting weights later in life, research continues to support the benefits. Committing to one year of heavy resistance training has been proven to provide benefits that can last for four years. People often say, “I’m too old for that,” but this mounting research is another reason we shouldn't let age hold us back from swelling those muscles. Recently, researchers analyzed the effects of resistance training on people 65 years old and over. Let’s look at the study and the proven benefits of resistance training and picking up those dumbbells.
The study

In the review and meta-analysis published in Experimental Gerontology, researchers set out to explore the effects of resistance training on muscle hypertrophy in adults aged 65 and up. Muscle hypertrophy refers to an increase in muscle size. The researchers looked at changes in quadriceps muscle size, lean mass, and fiber area, and they considered factors like age, training volume, and training duration. 

Read more
How much protein is actually in an egg? What you need to know
The amount of protein you need differs based on several factors
White and brown eggs

Whether you are trying to build muscle or simply improve your health, there are many foods that claim to be the staple you need in your diet. As a nutritionist, I am always sharing the top list of foods I recommend with my clients to help them meet their high protein goals. While there are many protein sources to choose from, eggs are certainly one of the best, as they contain other nutrients as well.

How much protein in an egg? Keep reading to learn more about the delicious and versatile food, as well as other advice for hitting your goals.
How much protein is in an egg?

Read more
Should you follow the anti-inflammatory diet? (If you’re a fan of the Mediterranean diet, yes)
The do's and don'ts of this eating method
Mediterranean meal

As a health enthusiast, I'm always looking for ways to improve my health and longevity. There are so many diets out there claiming to be the ones that could make a difference for me, so it can be a bit overwhelming. Some involve buying specific products, while others tell you what food groups to omit. Ultimately, it can be confusing when it comes to picking one to stick with.

Luckily, I found that the anti-inflammatory diet is quite simple. Like the Mediterranean diet, it encourages eating healthy foods and cutting out anything processed. As the name suggests, the eating method can help reduce inflammation in the body, which can help with weight loss, lessening risks of disease, and more. Keep reading to find out if it's right for you.
What is the anti-inflammatory diet?

Read more