Your Cart is Empty
Pickleball has its own set of terms and jargon that can be confusing for new players. Understanding these terms will help players to communicate more effectively on the court, and to make strategic decisions during play. Here are some common pickleball terms and jargon:
Ace: An ace is a serve that is not returned by the opponent and results in an immediate point.
Alley: The area on the court between the doubles sideline and the singles sideline.
Backhand: A shot hit with the back of the paddle, typically used for shots hit on the player's backhand side.
Dink: A soft, low shot hit over the net, used to keep the ball in play and to disrupt the opponent's positioning.
Drive: A powerful shot hit with a lot of force, used to end a rally or to put pressure on the opponent.
Fault: A mistake made by a player during a rally, such as hitting the ball out of bounds or taking more than one step while hitting the ball.
Foot Fault: A mistake made by a player while serving, such as stepping on or over the baseline, or not keeping both feet behind the baseline while serving.
Kitchen: The area on the court inside the non-volley zone.
Let: A let is a rally that is replayed due to an interruption or disturbance, such as a ball from another court interfering with play.
Lob: A high, deep shot hit over the opponent's head, used to disrupt the opponent's positioning or to put pressure on the opponent.
Non-Volley Zone (NVZ): The area on the court within 7 feet of the net, where players are not allowed to hit the ball after it has bounced.
Paddle: The racket-like tool used to hit the ball in pickleball.
Volley: A shot hit before the ball bounces, typically used to put pressure on the opponent and to end rallies quickly.
Third Shot Drop: A shot hit soft and low over the net with the intention of dropping the ball close to the opponent's feet, making it difficult for them to return the ball.
Serve: The act of starting a point by hitting the ball diagonally across the net to the opponent's service court.
Service Court: The area on the opponent's side of the court where the ball must land when serving.
Service Box: The area on the opponent's side of the court where the server must hit the ball when serving.
Smash: A powerful overhead shot hit with a lot of force, used to end a rally or to put pressure on the opponent.
Spin: The rotation imparted on the ball by striking it with a tilted surface of the paddle.
Split Step: A quick movement performed by a player just before the ball is hit, used to improve balance and to be ready to move in any direction.
Third Shot: The third shot hit by a team in a rally, typically used to set up a point-ending shot or to disrupt the opponent's positioning.
Up: A term used to indicate that a player is ready to play, typically used when a player is waiting to receive a serve.
Z-Shot: A shot where the player hits the ball high and deep over the net, aiming to land the ball behind the opponent.
Half Volley: A shot hit after the ball has bounced but before it reaches the highest point