At PickleRage, we know pickleball isn’t just a game—it’s a culture. And like any great culture, it comes with its own language. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, knowing the lingo can help you communicate better on the court and have more fun in the game. 

From Aces to Volleys, here’s everything you need to know to speak pickleball fluently.

A

  • Ace – A serve that lands untouched, winning the point outright. 
  • Approach Shot – A shot hit while moving toward the net, setting up for an offensive position. 
  • Around-the-Post (ATP) – A shot that travels outside the net post and lands inbounds on the opponent’s side.

B

  • Backcourt – The area near the baseline, farthest from the net. 
  • Banger – A player who prefers to hit fast, powerful shots rather than engage in soft dink rallies. 
  • Baseline – The boundary line at the back of the court. 
  • Basher – A player who relies on power shots rather than finesse. 
  • Bert – An aggressive poaching move where a player crosses the centerline to hit a volley. 
  • Body Bag – When a player gets hit by the ball during play—ouch! 
  • Bounce It! – A call to let a shot bounce, often when it might land out of bounds. 

C

  • Carry – When the ball is hit in a way that it stays on the paddle too long, creating an illegal stroke. 
  • Centerline – The line dividing the service courts. 
  • Counterattack – A fast response shot to an opponent’s drive or aggressive shot. 
  • Crosscourt – A shot hit diagonally across the court. 

D

  • Dead Ball – A ball that is no longer in play due to a fault or rule violation. 
  • Dillball – A ball that is in play and has bounced once—legal and live! 
  • Dink – A soft shot that barely clears the net and lands in the opponent’s kitchen. 
  • Double Bounce Rule – The requirement that the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed. 
  • Drive – A fast, low shot meant to push opponents back or create a weak return. 
  • Drop Shot – A softly hit shot that falls just over the net, often used to slow the pace of play.

E

  • Erne – A sneaky volley taken just outside the court, near the net, to cut off a sharp angle shot.

F

  • Falafel – A weak shot that lacks power due to poor paddle contact. 
  • Fault – A rules violation that results in a loss of serve or point. 
  • Flapjack – A shot that must bounce before being hit, usually early in a rally. 
  • Foot Fault – When a player steps on or over the baseline while serving or violates the kitchen rule.

G

  • Golden Pickle – Winning a game 11-0 without the opposing team serving—total domination! 
  • Groundstroke – A shot hit after the ball has bounced.

H

  • Half Volley – Hitting the ball right after it bounces, often requiring quick reflexes. 
  • Heavy Ball – A shot that has a lot of pace and spin, making it difficult to return. 
  • Hinder – A distraction or interference that causes a rally to be replayed.

K

  • Kitchen – The non-volley zone, seven feet from the net, where volleying is not allowed.

L

  • Lob – A high shot meant to push opponents back toward the baseline.

O

  • Overhead Smash – A powerful shot hit downward, usually in response to a high ball.

P

  • Paddle Tap – A friendly gesture of tapping paddles with opponents after a game. 
  • Pickled – Losing a game without scoring any points. 
  • Poach – When a player crosses into their partner’s area to intercept a shot. 
  • Punch Volley – A controlled volley with minimal backswing, focusing on placement. 
  • Put Away – A shot that is unreturnable and ends the point.

R

  • Reset Shot – A soft shot used to slow the game down and regain control of the rally. 
  • Rally – A series of consecutive shots back and forth before a point is won.

S

  • Scorpion – A defensive position where a player raises their paddle high to block a shot. 
  • Shake & Bake – A two-person play where one player drives the ball while the other intercepts the weak return. 
  • Stacking – A positioning strategy where partners shift to maintain favorable court coverage. 
  • Side Out – When the serve changes to the other team due to a loss of a rally. 
  • Split Step – A small hop taken before reacting to a shot, improving movement and balance. 
  • Sweet Spot – The ideal part of the paddle for making contact with the ball for the best control and power.

T

  • Third Shot Drop – A soft shot designed to land in the opponent’s kitchen, allowing the serving team to approach the net. 
  • Tweener – A trick shot where the ball is hit between the legs, often in response to a lob.

V

  • Volley – Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces. 
  • Vulturing – A player who aggressively poaches most shots, leaving their partner less involved.

 

Now that you’ve got the lingo down, it’s time to hit the courts and start using your new pickleball vocabulary. Whether you’re making a smooth third-shot drop or powering through a blistering drive, knowing the terms will help you play smarter and communicate better on the court.