Pickleball Glossary

APP Association of Pickleball Players - professional pickleball tour featuring individual rankings and prize money tournaments Ace Any serve that is not returned by the receiver, or more specifically, a serve that the receiver's paddle never touches Approach Shot Shot executed while moving from the backcourt towards the non-volley zone Around the Post (ATP) Legal shot that travels around the net post without crossing over the net, typically used when the ball bounces wide At the Net Player positioned at the non-volley line; considered a strategically dominant position Attackable Ball Ball returned over the net in a way that allows the receiving side to make a strategic offensive shot

Backcourt The area of the court located near the baseline Backhand Shot made with the palm of the hand facing away from the net Backspin Backward rotation on the ball causing it to 'bite' and bounce lower or shorter. Also called slice or underspin Backswing The backward movement of the paddle in advance of striking the ball Bagel Shutout game ending when one team earned no points (11-0). Also called 'getting pickled' Bainbridge Island Island in Washington state where pickleball was invented at Joel Pritchard's home Ball On Call made to alert all players that an errant ball has made its way to their court Banger Player who consistently hits hard shots, prioritizing power over placement Baseline The lines parallel to the net at each end of the court, 22 feet from the net Bash Hard shot that hits the top of the net and then lands in play on the opponent's side Bert Advanced shot similar to an Erne but executed on the partner's side of the court Block Shot Defensive shot with little to no backswing intended to slow down the ball Body Bag Intentionally hitting opponent with ball to win the point. Also called body shot or tag Bounce It Call made by one partner to the other instructing them to allow the ball to bounce

Carry Fault where the ball doesn't bounce cleanly off the paddle but is carried along the face Centerline Line down the center of the court extending from the non-volley zone to the baseline Chainsaw Serve Illegal serve that starts by swiping or rolling the ball against the paddle to impart spin. Banned in 2021 Champion The final winner in a tournament bracket Chicken Wing Awkward defensive shot made with the paddle arm bent and elbow extended up and away from the body Chip Shot Striking the ball using an open-faced paddle while moving downward to impart backspin Closed Face Tilting the paddle face down when striking the ball Continental Grip Way to grip the paddle where the index finger and thumb form a V shape on the edge Corkspin Rotation of the ball where the axis is parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the net plane Crosscourt The opponent's half of the court that is diagonally opposite the player striking the ball

DUPR Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating - global rating system on 2.000-8.000 scale Dead Ball Ball that is no longer in play due to a fault, permanent object contact, or hindrance Dillbreaker Alternative name for Dreambreaker in Major League Pickleball Dink Soft, controlled shot that just clears the net and lands in the opponent's non-volley zone Dink Rally Series of slow dink shots where each side attempts to deny their opponent an attackable ball Dinker Player that is exceptionally good at dinking Double Bounce Rule Requirement that each side must make one groundstroke before volleying after the serve Double Hit Hitting the ball twice before it is returned - legal if performed as one continuous stroke Doubles Pickleball matches having two players per side Dreambreaker Major League Pickleball's tiebreaker format featuring singles play with player rotations Drive Hard, low groundstroke or volley hit deep into the opponent's backcourt Drop Serve Legal serve made by striking the ball after it bounces on the playing surface Drop Shot Soft shot from baseline/midcourt that lands short in the opponent's kitchen

Eastern Grip Type of grip resulting in slightly closed face for forehands and open face for backhands Erne Advanced shot where a player steps outside court boundaries near the kitchen to volley while avoiding NVZ violations Even Court The right service area when facing the net. Also called right court Every Pickle Point Counts Scoring system used in some team tournaments where points won in each game are cumulative

Falafel Weak shot with little power that doesn't reach its full potential Fault Rules violation that results in a dead ball and/or the end of the rally First Server In doubles, the player designated to serve first after a side out Flat Face Keeping the paddle face parallel with the plane of the net when striking the ball Flat Shot Shot with minimal spin, usually hit hard Follow Through Continual swing of your arms after it has made contact with the ball Foot Fault Fault for violating foot placement rules during serve or volleying in the NVZ Forehand Shot made with the palm of the hand facing towards the net Freeze In rally scoring, when a team reaches a certain score and must win subsequent points while serving

Game Individual scored competition within a match, typically played to 11, 15, or 21 points Game Point Situation where a player/team needs one more point to win the game Golden Pickle Winning 11-0 without any side-outs, same server throughout Golden Ticket Automatic qualification to enter National Championships granted to gold medal winners Grip The manner in which a player holds a pickleball paddle or the material covering the handle Groundstroke Ball that is struck after it bounces

Half Stack When a team stacks only prior to serving Half Volley Groundstroke made immediately after the ball bounces, before it rises to full height Hammer Grip Alternative name for Continental grip Hand Signals Non-verbal physical gestures used to communicate during the game Handshake Grip Alternative name for Eastern grip Hinder Interference of play by something outside the game, resulting in a dead ball and replay

I-Formation Doubles serving strategy where the non-serving player starts at the net In Line call made when a ball lands within or on the court lines Indoor Ball Ball designed for indoor play with fewer, larger holes for slower play and less noise Into-the-Post (ITP) Shot that results in the ball hitting the post, usually when attempting an ATP shot

Joey Hitting an ATP shot directly back at the opponent that made the ATP shot. Named for Joe Valenti

King of the Court Competition format where one side is designated the 'king' and faces rotating challengers Kitchen Colloquial term for the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)

Left Service Court The service court to the left of the centerline when facing the net. Also called odd court Let Serve Served ball that hits the net but still lands in the correct service court - valid in USAP rules Line Call Determination whether a ball has landed inside or outside the court lines Lob High, arching shot hit over the opponent's head to the backcourt

Major League Pickleball (MLP) Team-based professional league featuring roster drafts and team competitions Match Complete competition between players/teams, typically consisting of multiple games Match Point Situation where a player/team needs one more point to win the entire match Medical Time-Out 15-minute break each player is permitted once per match for medical issues Midcourt Area of the court between the non-volley zone and backcourt Mini-Singles Version of singles pickleball where only half of each player's court is used Misdirection Strategy where a player deceives their opponent by preparing to hit one way but hitting another Mixed Doubles Doubles format with one male and one female player per team Momentum Player's forward motion after a shot; can result in fault if it carries player into kitchen

Nasty Nelson Serve that intentionally hits the non-receiving player closest to the net No Man's Land Area midway between baseline and non-volley zone, considered strategically vulnerable Non-Volley Line Court lines parallel to the net and 7 feet back that define the non-volley zone Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net where volleys are prohibited

Odd Service Court The left service area when facing the net Open Face Tilting the paddle face up when striking the ball Out Line call made when a ball lands outside the court lines Outdoor Ball Ball designed for outdoor play with smaller, more numerous holes for wind resistance Overgrip Thin secondary binding used to cover the primary grip on the paddle handle Overhead Powerful shot made while the ball is above the player's head, typically in response to a lob

PPA Professional Pickleball Association - individual rankings-based professional tour Pace Speed and power imparted to the ball when struck by the paddle Paddle Equipment used to strike the ball; maximum combined length and width of 24 inches Paddle Tap Courtesy performed at the end of each game where all players meet at the net Pantry Unofficial area outside the court on either side of the kitchen Passing Shot Low shot that passes outside the reach of an opponent and lands inbounds Permanent Object Any object on or near the court that can interfere with play Pickle Point Game point that would end the game with the other side having zero points Pickled Losing a game without scoring any points (11-0) Pickler Person obsessed with pickleball Plane of the Net Imaginary vertical planes extending beyond the net system on all sides Poach Doubles strategy where one player crosses into partner's territory to intercept a shot Pop-up Ball that is hit high enough that it is easily attackable by an opponent Punch Volley Quick volley with minimal backswing and 'punching' motion for precision Put-away Offensive shot that the opponent cannot react fast enough to successfully counter

Questionable Call Call that appears to one team that it may have been incorrect by the other team

Rally Continuous play from serve until a fault occurs or ball becomes dead Rally Scoring Scoring method where a point is awarded after every rally regardless of serving team Ranking Player or team's position within a hierarchical achievement-based list Rating Numeric score assigned to a player indicating their skill level Ready Position Optimal stance with paddle chest-high, weight on balls of feet, facing the ball Receiver Player positioned diagonally opposite the server to return the serve Reset Neutralizing a fast-paced rally by returning the ball softly to the kitchen Right Service Court The service court to the right of the centerline when facing the net. Also called even court Round Robin Tournament format where each player/team plays every other participant

Score Freezing In rally scoring, when a team can only score the game-winning point when serving Scorpion Overhead shot taken by a player while in a squatted position Second Server In doubles, the first server's partner who serves after the first server loses serve Self-Rating Player's own assessment of skill level using published criteria Serve Initial strike of the ball with the paddle to start a rally Service Court Area beyond the NVZ on either side of the centerline where serves must land Shake and Bake Doubles strategy where one player drives the third shot while partner rushes net Side Out Transfer of serving privileges to the opposing team after losing a rally Sidelines Lines perpendicular to the net on each side of the court Singles Pickleball matches having one player per side Skinny Singles Playing singles using only the right or left side of the court Slice Shot hit with backspin where the ball spins backward Smash Powerful shot made while the ball is above the player's head Speed Up Quickly increasing the pace of the ball to end a slow dink rally Spin Any rotation imparted on the ball by the strike of the paddle Split Step Small hop into ready position as opponent strikes the ball Stacking Doubles strategy where both players line up on the same side before serve/return Starting Server Designated player who serves first at the beginning of each game in doubles

Technical Foul Behavioral penalty resulting in one point being removed from the offending team's score Third Shot Third shot of a rally after the receiving team returns the ball to the serving team Third Shot Drop Essential strategic shot that arcs upward and lands softly in the kitchen Time-Out Break in play during a game - three types are permitted in official rules Tomahawk High overhead shot where player begins in backhand position but rotates wrist to hit forehand Topspin Forward rotation causing the ball to dive down after crossing the net Tournament Director Official responsible for tournament operations and rule enforcement Transition Zone Area between baseline and non-volley zone, considered strategically vulnerable Triple Crown Winning singles, gender doubles and mixed doubles all in the same tournament Tweener Shot hit between the player's own legs, often when chasing down a lob Two-Bounce Rule Requirement that each side must make one groundstroke before volleying after the serve Twoey Two-handed shot, most often referring to a two-handed backhand

USA Pickleball National governing body for pickleball in the United States UTR-P Universal Tennis Rating - Pickleball: official USA Pickleball rating system on 1.0-10.0 scale Underspin Another term for backspin, produced by high-to-low paddle motion Unforced Error Mistake made on a shot that is not considered difficult to execute

Volley Strike of the ball out of the air before it has bounced Volley Serve Serve made by striking the ball without bouncing it off the playing surface

Western Grip Grip resulting in closed face for forehands and open face for backhands Win by Two Requirement that the winning score must exceed the opponent's by at least 2 points World Pickleball Day October 10th of each year, established by the World Pickleball Federation in 2020 World Pickleball Federation Federation of national pickleball organizations founded in 2018

Yips Mental state in which a player loses routine muscle memory and consistently fails to make shots You Common exclamation used in partner communication telling partner they should return the ball

Zero-Zero (0-0) Starting score for a game of singles pickleball Zero-Zero-Two (0-0-2) Starting score for a game of doubles pickleball