Ace

A serve that the opponent does not return. This is rare in pickleball due to the underhand serve rule.

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ATP (Around the Post)

An ATP is a specialty shot where you hit the pickleball under the top of the net and around the net post.

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Baseline

The line at the back of a pickleball court. There are two baselines each 22 feet from the net.

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Bert

Similar to an Ernie only the player takes the shot from their teammate's side of the court rather than their own.

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Canadian Doubles

Playing pickleball 2-on-1. If you have three players it is no fun to make someone wait to play. Instead you can play a friendly game of Canadian doubles. Canadian doubles is not an unofficial type of play so there are no official rules.

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Carry

Hitting the ball in a way that the ball does not bounce off the paddle. Rather the ball is carried and thrown off the paddle.

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Centerline

Divides the service courts and extends from the baseline to the no-volley zone line.

Cross-Court

The section of the court diagonally across the net from a player.

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Dead Ball

A ball that is no longer in play. Such as after a fault.

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Dink

A soft shot made with the open face of the paddle that drops into the opponents no-volley zone.

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Double Bounce

When the ball bounces more than once on a side before being returned.

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Doubles

Playing with 4 plays (2 on 2).

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Double Hit

When a player contacts the ball more than once with their paddle before returning the ball. Similar to a carry.

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DUPR

DUPR is an acronym for Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, which is commonly referred to as the most inclusive and accurate rating system in pickleball. It takes into account multiple playing formats, such as rec and tournament, uses a 3-digit system, and rates player attributes on the same scale.

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Ernie

An Ernie is an aggressive shot played from the air over the non volley zone.  This move is executed when a player jumps outside the court, strikes the ball mid-air, and lands outside the kitchen.

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Even/Right Court

The service area on the right side of the court when facing the net. The first serve should start from the even court when a team’s score is even.
 

Fault

An infraction resulting in the end of a rally and a loss of serve (from first serve to second serve or side out).

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Fist Bump

The official pickleball handshake.

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Foot Fault

There are two kinds of Foot Faults:

1.Stepping into the no-volley zone while returning a ball

2.Stepping over the baseline when serving.

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Groudstroke

Hitting the ball after one bounce (as opposed to a volley).

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Half Volley

A groundstroke that contacts the ball after its bounce but before the ball reaches its full height.

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Hinder

Anything outside the game that interferes with play.

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Kitchen

Another name for the no-volley zone. The kitchen is 7 feet from the net on both sides. Players may not enter the kitchen while returning a ball unless the ball has already bounced.

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Ladder/Shootout

The general concept of a Shootout, also known as Ladder Play, is that players of equal skill level play with and against players of the same skill level. Initially, players are skill-level ranked by past experience, or by rating, such as DUPR. If they win the go up a court (ladder) and if they loose, they go down a court.

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Lob

Hitting the ball in a high arc to the opponents back court. This shot is designed to move a player back away from the net if that have advanced.

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Nasty Nelson

A Nasty Nelson is a shot in which the server attempts to intentionally hit the return-of-servers partner- who is likely positioned at or near their own non-volley-line with the served ball. If the server does, indeed, hit the server's partner in the air before the ball bounces, it is a fault on the receiving team and results in a point for the serving team.

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Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)

Sometimes called the the “no-volley zone” or the “kitchen.” The Non-volley zone is the area that extends 7 feet on both sides of the net. Players may not enter the non-volley zone while returning a ball unless the ball has already bounced.

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Odd/Left Court

The service area on the left side of the court when facing the net. The first serve should start from the odd court when his or her score is odd.

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Passing Shot

A shot that goes past the opposing player, usually to win the rally.

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Permanent Object

Any object around the court that can interfere. Such as a wall, ceiling, fence, etc.

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Pickled

A shutout in pickleball (Losing 11-0). Equivalent to ‘skunked’ in other racket sports.

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Golden Pickle

The first server serves the entire game and wins 11-0-2

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Poach

In doubles, crossing over the centerline to play a ball on your partners side. This is allowed and is not a fault.

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Rally

Hitting the ball back and forth between opposing teams.

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Rally Scoring

A point is scored on every rally, regardless of who has served. In many cases, the final point has to  be won by the serving team.

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Round Robin

An event in which each competitor plays in turn against every other participant.

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Serve / Service

A underhand stroke used to put the ball in play at the beginning of a rally. At point of contact, the paddle must be below the wrist and the wrist must be below the naval. Exception:  New rules allow a player to drop the ball and then hit it on the bounce. If this technique is used, there is no rule about the placement of the paddle upon contact with the ball.

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Service Court

The area on either side of the centerline. Includes the centerline, sideline, and baseline. Excludes the non-volley zone. A serve must land in the service court diagonally across from the server.

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Service Out Side Scoring

The scoring system used in pickleball where you can only score on your serve. Commonly used in volleyball as well.

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Sideline

The lines on the sides of the court. Sidelines are 20 feet apart.

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Side-out

When the serve moves from one team to the other.

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Singles

Playing with 2 players (1 on 1). As opposed to doubles.

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Shootout

See Ladder play above

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Skinny Singles

Skinny singles means playing against one other opponent but cutting the court in half. This makes it easier to retrieve the ball and allows  this hybrid game to be more about paddle skills and less about mobilitiy and running. In other words, some would say it is a drill disguised as a game.  When each player has an even score, they are in the right quadrant and if the score is odd, they are in the left quadrant. This rule applies to both participants. As such, you could be serving straight across if one has a odd score and the other even.

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Slam/Smash

A hard overhand shot

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Team Reach

In general, Team Reach is an app that is used to simplify communication and management for sports teams, clubs and groups.  PRP uses it primarily as a communication tool in its various leagues and events.​

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Technical Foul

A foul called by a referee when a player violates a rules. A point is awarded to the other team. Referees may give a warning first.

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Two-Bounce Rule

The receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the first return bounce. On the third shot, and thereafter, the ball may be volleyed.

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Volley

Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces (as opposed to a groundstroke)

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