The Pickleball Glossary You Didn’t Know You Needed

Marketing @ PP (Performance Pickleball)
Jul 21
2 min read

Because yes, “kitchen” means something totally different here.

Whether you're brand new to pickleball or already hooked on those satisfying rallies, this is your cheat sheet to sounding like a pro and laughing like one too. Let’s decode the quirky, fun, and essential lingo of the court.

1. Kitchen

Nope, we’re not talking about your favorite place to snack. In pickleball, the kitchen is the non-volley zone, that 7-foot area on either side of the net. You can’t volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in it. Step in, and you might just get cooked.

2. Dink

A dink is a soft, strategic shot that lands in the opponent's kitchen. It’s sneaky, clever, and oh-so-satisfying. Dinking wars are real and addictive.

3. Erne

Feeling acrobatic? The Erne is a wild move where a player jumps outside the kitchen (usually over the sideline) to slam a volley. It’s flashy and fearless and usually followed by a “Did you SEE that?!”

4. Pickled

If your team loses a game 11–0, congrats… you’ve been pickled. It’s painful. It’s humbling. It’s also a rite of passage. Wear it with pride (and bounce back in the next round).

5. Paddle Tap

Pickleball’s version of a handshake. After a game win or lose you walk to the net and tap paddles with your opponents. It’s a small thing, but it says a lot: respect, sportsmanship, and community matter here.

6. Banger

A player who hits the ball hard and often. Think power over precision. If you’re up against one, bring your reflexes and maybe a soft dinker to throw them off.

7. ATP (Around The Post)

A magical shot that goes around the net post (outside the sideline) and still lands in. Legal? Yes. Legendary? Absolutely.

8. Third Shot Drop

One of the most important shots to master, especially if you’re moving into intermediate play. After the serve and return, the third shot is often a drop shot to the kitchen, slowing the pace and setting up a strategic rally.

9. Split Step

It’s not just for dancers. A split step is a little hop that helps you stay balanced and ready for anything your opponent sends your way.

Pickleball comes with its own language and the more you play, the more fun it is to speak it. So whether you’re dropping dinks, dodging bangers, or just trying not to get pickled, remember: everyone starts somewhere. And now, you're in on the lingo.