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Pickleball Basic Rules
Pickleball Terms
Paddle: The equipment used to hit the pickleball. It's a solid, perforated surface with a handle.
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Pickleball: The plastic ball used in the game. It has holes in it and is similar in size to a wiffle ball.
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Dink: A soft and controlled shot that is hit just over the net, often used to strategically place the ball in difficult positions for your opponent.
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Volley: Hitting the ball in the air without letting it bounce, typically near the net.
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Kitchen: Also known as the "Non-Volley Zone," this is the area close to the net where you are not allowed to hit the ball in the air. You must let it bounce before hitting it if you're in this zone.
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Baseline: The back boundary line of the court, which is the farthest point from the net.
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Side-Out: When the serving team loses their serve and the opposing team gets the chance to serve.
Fault: A mistake or error in serving, such as stepping on or over the baseline or into the non-volley zone while serving.
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Deuce: When the score is tied at 10-10, or in some cases, 9-9, and one more point is needed to win.
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Third Shot Drop: A specific shot that is used on the third shot of the rally to softly place the ball in the kitchen.
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Drive: A harder, low shot with speed and power, often used to put pressure on the opponent.
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Ernie: A shot where a player, usually from the non-volley zone, quickly moves to the side to hit a ball before it bounces.
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Pickleball Line Judge: An official who assists in making line calls during tournaments and competitive play.
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In and Out: Refers to whether a ball has landed within the court boundaries (in) or outside the boundaries (out).
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Rally: A sequence of shots and volleys exchanged between the two teams.