Terms related to the court and areas
Kitchen
The common name for the non-volley zone. It refers to the area within 2.13 m (7 feet) of the net, and volleys (hitting without a bounce) are prohibited within this area. It is the rule that is pickleball's biggest feature.
Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)
The formal name for the kitchen. This line, too, is treated as part of the NVZ. When you volley, having a foot enter this zone is a fault.
Baseline
The rear line of the court. The serve is hit from behind this line.
Sideline
The side line of the court. If the ball touches this line, it is in.
Centerline
The line dividing the serving side's court into left and right. It is important because the rule is to put the serve crosscourt.
Terms related to shots
dink（Dink）
A soft shot dropped gently into the opponent's kitchen from near the kitchen line. A technique that could be called the thrill of pickleball, competing not with power but with touch and placement.
Volley
A shot hit before the ball bounces. Volleys are prohibited within the kitchen, but from outside the kitchen you can hit freely.
Drop Shot
A shot dropped softly near the opponent's kitchen from near the baseline.The third shotis important tactically as a drop.
Third Shot Drop
A drop shot hit on the third stroke after the serve. An important tactical shot for coming forward to the net, and an essential technique for intermediates and above.
Drive
A shot with a low trajectory and speed. An aggressive stroke that presses the opponent.
Lob
A shot with a high trajectory that goes over the opponent's head. Used when the opponent has closed in on the net.
Smash / Overhead
A shot that strikes an overhead ball down hard. Used as a finishing shot.
Erne / Ernie
An advanced technique of jumping from outside the kitchen to volley a ball at the net. A technique that cleverly uses the NVZ rule.
ATP（Around The Post）
A shot that goes around the outside of the net post and into the court. Even without going over the net, it is legal by the rules if it passes outside the post.
Backspin
A shot that applies reverse spin to the ball. Because it slides low after the bounce, it becomes harder for the opponent to pick up.
Terms related to the serve
Underhand Serve
The only serve method allowed in pickleball. You swing the arm up from below and hit.
Drop Serve
A serve method of naturally dropping the ball from the hand and hitting it after the bounce. It became an official rule in 2021.
Fault
A violation on the serve or during play. Cases such as the serve landing in the NVZ or catching on the net apply.
Let
It previously meant a replay when the serve hit the net and went in, but under the current rules there is no let and it is good as is.
Ace
A serve that the opponent does not touch at all. In pickleball, where serve speed is kept low, they are not as common as in tennis.
Terms related to tactics and formations
Stacking
A formation tactic in doubles of standing in a position different from usual on the serve or return to play on your stronger side.
Poach
An interception tactic in doubles of darting across to hit a ball headed to your partner's side. An aggressive play that raises scoring power.
Banger
A term for a playing style centered on power shots, or the player who plays it. The antonym of dinker (dink-centered).
Dinker
A playing style centered on a soft game that makes heavy use of dinks. It draws out the opponent's mistakes with patient rallies.
Reset
A defensive technique of returning the opponent's aggressive shot softly to slow the pace. Returning a speed ball softly reclaims the initiative in the rally.
Transition Zone
The area between the baseline and the kitchen line. The place you temporarily stay while on the way to coming forward to the net.
Terms related to scoring
Side Out
The serve moving to the opposing team. In doubles, a side-out occurs when the second server also fails to score a point.
Rally Scoring
A scoring method in which a point goes to one side every rally, regardless of who holds the serve.MLPand other pro leagues have adopted it.
Traditional Scoring
The conventional scoring method in which only the serving side can score. First to 11 points (by a 2-point margin) is common.
Terms related to gear
Paddle
The racket for pickleball. A board-shaped implement smaller than a tennis racket, with no strings.
Honeycomb Core
The honeycomb-shaped structure inside the paddle. Polymer (polypropylene) is the most common material.
Edge Guard
The frame part that protects the edge of the paddle. Edgeless-design paddles are also increasing.
Sweet Spot
The area of the paddle face that sends the ball most efficiently. It is located near the center.
Wiffle Ball
The prototype of the perforated plastic ball used in pickleball. The actual pickleball is of a different design from a Wiffle ball.
Other terms
Two-Bounce Rule
The rule of letting the serve and the return each bounce once before hitting. From the third stroke onward, volleys become possible.
Foot Fault
A violation of stepping on the baseline on the serve, or of a foot entering the zone when volleying within the NVZ.
Dead Ball
The state where the rally has ended and the ball is no longer in play. It occurs after a fault or a scored point.
Timeout
The right to a break in play granted to each team in official matches. Usually twice per game, one minute each.
Medical Timeout
A special timeout that can be taken in case of injury or feeling unwell. It requires the referee's approval.
DUPR
Short for Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating. A worldwide rating system that quantifies a player's skill based on match results.
USAPA / USA Pickleball
USA Pickleball. The top governing body of pickleball, which sets the rules and approves paddles.
IPF
International Pickleball Federation. An international organization that oversees national associations around the world.
PPA
Professional Pickleball Association. One of the U.S. professional pickleball tours. It runs prestigious tournaments in which top pros compete.
MLP
Major League Pickleball. A team-format pro league. It adopts rally scoring, and speedier match play is its feature.
Mixed Doubles
A doubles format played by a male-female pair. Many tournaments set it as an independent category.
Skinny Singles
A singles practice format using only half the court. Effective for improving control and footwork.
That completes the 50 basic pickleball words worth knowing. If you remember these terms, watching matches and talking with companions should become more enjoyable. If a word you do not know comes up, come back to this page and check it.
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