Glossary of Pickleball Terms

Ace: A serve that is not returned by the opponent. Point is won on serve without being returned.

Ad Court: The left half of your side of the court. The first server will be on this side when their team’s score is odd,(1,3,5,7…)

All-court Game: A style of play which is defined as a composite of all of the different playing styles which includes baseline, transition, and the kitchen game.

Angle: The path of the ball from each hit. Offensively you hit angles and defensively you cover the angles.

Anticipation: A player takes into consideration many factors of the type of ball that was hit, the opponent’s tendencies, and anticipates where their shots will be returned.

Apex: The highest point of the path or trajectory of the ball.

Approach Shot: A shot that you hit and advance to your NVZ line.

Around the Post: (ATP) a player is returning a shot that is wide and outside of the net post and the ball is returned into the opponent’s court without going over the net. This is usually done while all 4 players are up at the NVZ line and one player hits an extreme angled shot.

Backcourt: The area near the baseline, roughly the few feet inside the court from the baseline.

Backspin: Also called "Slice" or "Chop", applying spin to the ball by striking it with high to low motion , causing the ball to spin in the direction opposite it's flight direction.

Backswing: the motion of swinging the pickleball paddle back from the ready position before following thru with forward swing.

Backhand: Shot where the player strikes the ball on the opposite side from their dominant forehand.

Backhand Grip: The paddle has bevels and this grip places your index knuckle on the top bevel of the paddle handle.

Bagel: winning (or losing) a game 11-0.

Ball-in-court: When a ball from another court comes on your court, play should stop and the point played over.

Banger: a style where the player hits the ball hard on most shots, tries to end the point asap, and rarely softens a shot with the intent of having their shot land in the kitchen.

Baseline: Line at that forms the back end of the court, 22 feet on either side of the pickleball net.

Beer Bracket: Most tournaments have the winner’s bracket, the loser’s bracket where you play after one loss, and a light hearted joke of a “beer bracket” after your second loss and you are out of the tournament to now have a cold drink. You can now watch your friends continue to play.

Bert: A newer term derived from Sesame Street and Bert and Erne. The “Bert” requires great leaping ability and the player jumps from the middle of the court to land towards the net and past the sideline while hitting a volley in the air.

Bevel: The handle of the paddle has 8 bevels to assist you in getting a better grip. Number 1 is on the top, #2 is the small bevel going clockwise, etc.

Block: a defensive shot with relatively little backswing, usually while returning a hard hit ball after it bounces or on the fly.

Body Bag: Please refrain from using this term as it can be offensive to our veterans or those in active service.

"Bounce It": Instructions called out to your partner to not hit the ball and let it bounce (because you think it will land out of bounds).

Brush Up: Is a commonly used term to describe the action of your paddle brushing up on the ball to impart topspin.

Bye: Refers to the round of the tournament where a player advances automatically without facing an opponent.

Call: an utterance declaring that a ball was outside of the play area.

Carry: A shot where the pickleball does not bounce directly off the paddle but rather is carried along the face of the paddle during the forward swing. It is a fault if done intentionally.

Centerline: The line extends from the Non-Volley Zone to the Baseline and divides the service court into two equal halves.

Challenge: to request the official review of the location where the ball has landed after a shot was called out.

Challenge Court: A court or courts are set up at any venue as a system to allow waiting players a way to get on the court. Generally 2 players move on to play the 2 winning players. It doesn’t work in very crowded situations because the wait times generally dictate 4 players move on after a game is finished.

Changing ends: Players change sides on the court after each game of 2 out of 3 games for a match and after 6 or 8 points in the final game of a match.

Chicken wing: A shot hit hard, generally at a player’s forehand standing at their NVZ line, that does not allow them to hit a volley in front of their body and they make contact behind their body.

Chip and Catch: A very important skill to develop that allows you to take all of the speed off of an incoming ball. You take your paddle face and slice or block the ball up in the air and catch it with your non hitting hand. This skill teaches you the application of underspin. It is the answer to soft hands, nice touch, and great feel. The skill allows you to hit drop shots and drop volleys. You should use this skill to gather the ball when you are the server for the next point. A progression to this skill is to chip the ball up, let it bounce, and hit it back when doing drills.

Chip and Charge: A player hits a shot and approaches the NVZ line. This involves hitting a slice shot while moving forward and following the shot to your NVZ line..

Chop: Slice from high to low to put backspin on the pickleball.

Closed Paddle Face: The face is turned towards the ground and a closed paddle face will impart Topspin to the ball.

Closed Stance: hitting the ball with the body facing between parallel to the baseline and back turned to the opponent; a classic technique.

Continental Grip: One way of holding the paddle that lends itself to one grip for all shots. The index knuckle is placed on the 2nd bevel. Most players change their hand position or grip during play.

Compact Swing: Players who do not take a large wind-up on their groundstrokes are said to have a "compact" swing. This helps many players to be more consistent.

Covering: Players protect a certain portion of the court for the anticipated return shot. A good example is when your partner is pulled off the court, you cover the middle of the court.

Cross-court: The court area diagonally opposite your side court.

Cut: A stroke that applies under spin on the ball.

Dead Ball: A ball is declared after a fault, the point is over.

Deep Shot: A shot hit far into the court, near the baseline.

Dead Dink: A Dink that is hit very conservatively and lands in the middle of the kitchen giving your opponent the easiest ball to return. Similar to a ball simply tossed into the kitchen.

Deep: Far into the court, near the baseline.

Deuce Court: The right half of your side of the court. The first server will be on this side when their team’s score is even,(0,2,4,6…)

Dig: A term used for a very good defensive return on a well placed offensive shot. It is called good hands and players with good hands are higher ranked players.

Dining Room Shot: A shot that is hit where the ball lands up to 3 feet past the NVZ line. (The dining room adjoins the kitchen in many homes)

Dink Shot: A soft shot that arcs over the net and falls into the opposing non-volley zone.

Dink War: A term used to describe all 4 players up at their NVZ line and hitting Dinks. A funny phrase is, “Dink responsibility and don’t get smashed”.

Dipper: A Topspin groundstroke hit with slower pace and additional spin in order for the ball to land in the kitchen or just beyond. Also called a “roller”.

Doubles: Pickleball game played between 4 people (2 on each team). Teams can be men, women or mixed doubles.

Double Bounce: A ball that bounces more than once, on one side of the net before being returned resulting in a lost point.

Double Hit: Ball is hit twice by one team before returning over the net. Double hits may occur when the same player hits twice or can involve both players on a team.

Down the Line: A Pickleball shot that travels straight ahead and parallel to the sideline as opposed to crosscourt.

Draw: The schedule of matches in a tournament.

Drive: A forehand shot hit straight and low, deep into the opposing backcourt or to challenge your opponent’s Volley.

Drive Volley (or swinging volley) : a volley executed with full swing or topspin drive, thus with pace and conventionally at shoulder height; in the manner of a forehand or backhand swing.

Drop Serve: As of 2021, a Drop Serve is in the rules that the server may drop the ball and hit their serve after the ball has bounced.

Drop Shot: A soft shot that clears the pickleball net and then falls short and in the kitchen. Used very effectively by players who have a lot of touch and finesse in their game.

Drop Volley: A type of volley shot done to take speed of the ball and return it short, near the net when opponents are positioned at the baseline. This shot is especially effective when initiated close to the non-volley line. It is used to reset a point by returning an attack Volley into the opponent’s kitchen.

Dura Pedicure: Hitting a volley down at opponent’s foot.

Eastern Forehand Grip: This grip is likened to the “handshake” of how you hold the paddle. The index knuckle is placed on the ridge between the 2nd and 3rd bevel.

Ernie: The name given to a shot when a player moves quickly to the side of the court and close to the net and volleys the opponent’s anticipated straight forward shot.

Error: A shot that does not land (correctly) in the opponent's court, resulting in the loss of a point.

Even Side of Court: The right side of the court where the server starts and the game score is even, 0,2,4,6, etc. when the server is on this side.

Exhibition: Games in which players compete for the purpose of entertaining the crowd.

Extend the Point: A strategy to hit easier shots to give your opponent a better chance to make a return and have longer rallies.

Face: the broad surface of either side of the pickleball paddle used to strike the ball.

Fault: A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

Feed: A ball is tossed or hit to a player who has been instructed to hit a returning shot with a specific stroke to a designated target area.

Flat Face: Keeping the pickleball paddle’s face parallel to the net.

Flat Shot: Shot with relatively little spin and usually hard-hit.

Flicker: Is the term used to describe an attacking topspin dink.

Foot Fault: On the pickleball serve, at least one foot behind the baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck, breaking either of these rules is a serving foot fault. A Non-Volley Zone foot fault is when volleying a ball, the player steps in the Non-Volley Zone or steps on the line of the NVZ.

Follow Through: On the swing, the continuing forward motion (after the backswing) in the direction you want the pickleball to travel. It takes place after the ball is hit.

Forehand: Paddle stroke on the same side of the body as you are holding the paddle. The ball is hit with the palm side of the paddle hand facing the ball.

Forced error: When an opponent hits a difficult shot that causes the player to miss. The opposite is an easier ball that is missed and is generally kept in play which is called an Unforced error.

French Fries: when the score is 1-1-1.

Game: A series of points played until one team has accumulated 11 points (winning by 2 points. Some pickle-ball tournaments play games to 15 or 21 points (win by 2).

Game Point: Potentially the last point of the game giving the winning player/team the winning point of at least 11 points and ahead by two points.

Good Hands: The player’s ability to return difficult balls and keep the ball in play.

Great Feel: The player’s ability to hit the ball with varying amounts of spin for great ball placement.

Grip: The manner that you hold the paddle handle with your hand (i.e. continental grip) or the material that is wrapped around the paddle handle to protect it and provide cushioning.

Grip Pressure: How hard you hold the paddle. A lighter pressure is advised when hitting softer shots.

Grip and Rip: A term to state a player who grips the paddle and hits the ball hard. i.e. a banger.

Groundstroke: Hitting the ball after one bounce (compared to a volley which is hit midair).

Half-Volley: A volley shot where the paddle contacts the ball immediately after it bounces from the court. The ball is still low before it has risen to its maximum bounce height.

Half Stack: A team that stacks only when they are serving to generally place forehands to be in the middle of the court.

Head: Part of the pickleball paddle above the handle that includes the paddle face (hitting surface and paddle edge).

Height: Is how high the ball clears the net. Spin, Pace, and Height are controlling factors in the placement of your shot.

Hinder: Any element that interferes with play or an occurrence that affects play.

Hitting Zone: An area where you ideally make contact with the ball with your paddle face aligned to return your shot to your desired target area.

Inside-out: running around one side (e.g. the backhand side) and hitting a crosscourt shot. Since most players are right-handed and since most players have stronger forehands than backhands, lots of players will run around their backhands to hit forehands to their opponent's backhands to gain a tactical advantage.

Jam: Hitting a ball at your opponent when they are at their NVZ line so they can’t contact the ball out in front and your shot restricts their shot.

Junior: Player between the ages of 7 and 19. USAPA Juniors was created in 2016 to support these younger players.

Kitchen: Slang term for the Non-Volley Zone.

Kitchen Line: Most often called the No Volley Zone line or NVZ line.

Let: A serve that hits the net cord and lands in the service court. Let serves are replayed, just as in Tennis.

Lines:

Baseline: The line at the back of the court that can’t be touched while serving and balls that hit the line are inbounds.

Centerline: The line extends from the Non-Volley Zone to the Baseline and divides the court into two sides for the serves to be hit. A ball that hits the line is in play.

Non-Volley Zone Line: The line separating the non-volley zone also called the kitchen from the rest of the court. Balls that hit this line on the serve are a fault. It is a fault if your foot touches this line on a volley.

Sideline: The lines that mark the sides on the court and balls that hit the line are inbounds.

Linesman: An official who observes a line and decides whether a ball has landed in play or not.

Let: This is called on a serve if the ball hits the net but lands within the appropriate service court.

Line Calls: Verbal indication said out loud indicating if the ball bounced inbounds or out of bounds. Normally players call the in/out on their side and the opposing team makes calls on their respective side.

Lob: A return shot sent as high and deep as possible, thereby forcing the opposing side back to the baseline.

Looping Swing: Opposite of Compact Swing. When a player uses a looping motion in the backswing of their groundstrokes, it is said to be a looping backswing or just a looping swing. This can generate more power but can also create a timing problem.

Looper: A topspin groundstroke hit so the ball lands shorter into your opponent’s court as in the kitchen.

Losers Bracket: Most tournaments are played with a double elimination. Once you lose in the Winners bracket, you go to the Loser’s Bracket, also called the “Opportunity Bracket”, and generally play one game to 15. The winners of this bracket advance to the Bronze medal match and can still advance to the Finals.

Match: A series of game(s) which determines the winner. In a tournament, a match consists of winning 2 out of 3 games.

Matrix Move: A move to dodge a ball that has been hit at you.

Midcourt: The middle area on the pickleball court between the Non-Volley Zone and the baseline.

Mid-point: Is the point on your side of the court which is the middle of the angle where your opponent could return the ball.

Mis-direct: Changing the direction or angle of a ball that has been hit yo you. Example: Player A hits the ball to you and you return the ball to player B.

Mis-hit: when the paddle fails to make contact with the ball in the “sweet spot" area.

Mixed Doubles: a game played by four players, two male, two female, one of each player sex per side of the court.

Moonball: a high defensive lob hit to allow you time to get in position for the next shot.

Nasty Nelson: The server hits a serve that hits the receiver’s partner which earns the serving team a point.

Net: Suspended between two posts, the net divides the court into two symmetrical sides. This is also the term given to a shot that hits the net.

Net Cord: Your opponent’s shot hits the top of the net and bounces over onto your side of the court and almost always into your kitchen and very close to the net.

Net Post: Posts on each side of the court which hold up the net. A ball that hits the net post is a dead ball and loss of point as well if a player makes contact with it during a point.

Nice Touch: A player’s ability to hit finesse shots by mastering the spin applied to the ball and accurately placing their shot. Not Up

No-Man's Land: the area between the NVZ line and the baseline, where a player is most vulnerable. Players pass through this area and it is also called a transition area as the player is moving up or back.

Non-Volley Zone: The 7 foot section of court on either side of the net. Pickleball players are not allowed to volley the ball in this zone. It includes all lines surrounding the zone. Also known as "The Kitchen" and the NVZ.

Not Up: The term used when a player tries to return a ball that bounced twice just before they hit it. Often a player will think that they hit it before the second bounce.

NVZ Line: no volley zone line, also called the “kitchen line”.

Odd Side of the Court: The left side of the court where the first server is positioned when the score os odd, 1,3,5,7,etc.

Open stance: hitting the ball with the body facing between parallel to the baseline and facing the opponent; a modern technique.

Open Face: Holding the pickleball paddle tilted slightly upward. An open face is used for Under Spin and the degree of the paddle face will control the Height of your shot.

Opportunity Bracket: Most tournaments are played with a double elimination. Once you lose in the Winners bracket, you go to the Loser’s Bracket, also called the “Opportunity Bracket”, and generally play one game to 15. The winners of this bracket advance to the Bronze medal match and can still advance to the Finals.

Out: Called by a linesman or player, w/o linesmen, when the ball lands outside the boundary lines of the court without first bouncing into play.

Overhead: (also: 'smash') A shot that is hit above the hitter's head with a tennis serve-like motion against a Lob. It is also referred to as a smash.

Pace: The velocity of the ball is one of the controlling factors for placement. Faster pace is effective as well as slower pace in order to hit the ball in front of your opponent’s feet.

Paddle: The equivalent to the racket in racquetball or tennis. Pickleball paddles can be made of wood, composite or graphite.

Passing shot: A shot that passes by (not over) the opponent at the NVZ line. (see lob)

Percentage Pickleball: Style of play consisting of safe shots with large margins of error. Aimed at keeping the ball in play in anticipation of an opponent's error or set up for a winning shot.

Permanent Object: Any object around the pickleball court that could interfere with the flight of the ball. Permanent objects may include walls, fences, fixtures, lights, net posts, bleachers or spectator seating, the referee, line judges, spectators themselves and all other objects around and above the court.

Pickled: The equivalent to getting "skunked" in other sports, scoring zero points in a whole game. If you lose a pickleball game 11-0, you've been "pickled".

Pickler: A pickleball addict. A pickleball freak who can't stop talking about the sport.

Pinching the Middle: One player stands more to the middle of the court in order to play more balls and forces the opponents into hitting the ball into smaller areas in an attempt to keep the ball away from the aggressive player.

Play Out the Point: Term used to continue playing the point in practice play or drills.

Poach: (in doubles) an aggressive move where the player at their NVZ line moves to volley a shot intended for his/her partner. A player can also poach a return of serve.

Pop Up: When your opponents are up at their NVZ line and you hit an attacking shot or low ball to them, they lack the skill to return your shot low and in front of you. Instead, a high ball or “pop up” is hit giving you an excellent opportunity to hit a hard attacking shot.

Post: The support for the net at either side of the court.

Positioning: Where players stand or move to according to where their shot has landed.

Put Away: A shot with no chance of being returned.

Punch Shot: Quick, short volley shot with little back swing and short follow through.

Puppet Master: A player who has mastered ball placement with finesse to make the opponent move and play balls that are very difficult to put away.

Racking System: An organized system at venues that controls the way waiting players get on a court. Generally a rack or paddle holder is where paddles of waiting players are placed and the next 4 players move onto the first open court. Most racking systems allow 2 or 4 players to stack their paddles so they can play together.

Rally: Continuous play that occurs from the time the ball is served and until play ends in a fault.

Rally Score System: Rally scoring is a system used in which a point is scored on every single rally. It doesn't matter which team serves the ball; points can be scored by either the serving or the receiving team. You do keep the normal rotation of servers once the server loses that point.

Rating: A system used by national pickleball organizations to group players of comparable skills.

Ready Position: Ideal position to receive the ball for return. Paddle is out in front of the player's body and up at chest height with a neutral grip for either forehand or backhand return. Weight is evenly balanced and weight on toes with knees slightly bent and ready to move in any direction.

Receiver: Player diagonally opposite from the server who will return the serve.

Referee: Person designated to enforce the rules of the game during play.

Reflex Volley: a volley in which the player has no time to plan the shot, and instead reacts instinctively to get the paddle in position to return the ball. This occurs frequently in doubles.

Replays: After any discrepancy between teams (for example if shot landed in/out, a point can be replayed for any reason without the awarding of a point or a side out.

Reset the Point: This is done by taking a hard hit Volley and returning with a Drop Volley into your opponent’s kitchen. Some advanced players in recreational play will reset volleys versus hit an attacking shot to end the point.

Return of Service: The first shot of a point played by the receiver of the service.

Roller: A Topspin groundstroke hit with slower pace and additional spin in order for the ball to land in the kitchen or just beyond. Also called a “dipper”.

Round Robin: Tournament format in which players are organized into groups of three to five players and compete against all other members of the group.

Rubber Game: A third game played in recreational play where each team has won a game to decide the overall winning team.

Scoring: Method of tracking progress of a match. A match consists of points and game(s).

Scorpion: A Scorpion is when a pickleball player drops low by using significant bend in his/her knees, raises his/her pickleball paddle above his/her head (like the raising of the tail of a scorpion), and uses a forehand to counterattack an attack from his/her opponents.

Second Serve: The second serve by one team after having lost the point on their first serve.

Seed: A player or team whose position in a tournament has been arranged based on his/her/their ranking so as not to meet other ranking players in the early rounds of play.

Seed or Seeding: Player or team whose position in a tournament has been arranged based on his/her/their ranking so as not to meet other ranking players in the early rounds of play.

Serve: An underhand stroke used to put the pickleball into play. Serving team has two attempts to serve the point. Paddle must contact the ball under the server's waist level.

Server Number: The number (1 or 2) indicates which server is serving for each team in the pickleball serving sequence.

Service Court: The area on either side of the center line, bounded by the non-volley line, the baseline, and the sideline. All lines are included in the service court except the non-volley line.

Service Fault: Can be for a foot fault, not serving into the correct service court, or not having at least one foot on the ground when the ball is contacted. You cannot serve until the referee or serving team has completely called the score.

Service Line: A line that runs parallel to the net at a distance of 7 feet from the net and forms part of the demarcation of the service box.

Shadowing: The strategy in pickleball of moving in tandem with your team partner, keeping roughly 10 feet between each other. Both players move laterally, approach the net or retreat to the baseline together in sync.

Shake and bake: An aggressive strategy where one player hits a hard 3rd shot drive to a player up at their VZ line and the partner is advancing to poach the volley.

Shank: Significantly misdirected shot, the result of hitting the ball in an unintentional manner, typically off the edge of the paddle. Such shots typically land outside the court, however, it is possible to hit a shank that lands in the court.

Short hop: See Half volley. “Short hop” is a baseball term used by some pickleball players. The baseball term states: “A ball that bounces immediately in front of an infielder. If the batter is a fast runner, an infielder may intentionally "short hop the ball" (take the ball on the short hop) to hasten his throw to first base. Balls may be short-hopped to turn a double play”.

Shot Selection: It is your decision on what shot you will hit on every ball and good players hit the higher percentage shots which takes into consideration the pace, height, spin, and angle.

Shuffle: Refers to the motion of your feet when trying to get into position. Basically, it is a lateral movement where you keep facing the net as you slide, move, or shuffle sideways.

Shot Selection: A player’s choice as to what shot to hit in any given situation. Prime example is the 3rd Shot on whether to hit a Drive or Drop.

Sick Trx: Is the name of a skinny singles game that involves playing the 4 patterns of both cross court and down the line. Players position themselves on the even side when they have an even score and the odd side when their score is odd.

Sideline: The lateral border of the pickleball court delimiting the playing zone from out of bounds area.

Side Out: Declared after one side loses its service and the other side serves the next point.

Singles: Playing pickleball with only 2 players, one player on each side.

Sitter: Shot which is hit with very little pace and is high, thus being an easy shot to put away.

Sitting On A Shot: A player anticipates a shot and is ready for that shot.

Skill set: A developed talent or ability; technique, requiring the use of the hands; expertise, talent, finesse.

Skill Level: Your rating or skill level is based on tournament results and some clubs will rate you so you know what level you are as they may have courts assigned for the different levels.

Skinny Singles: Is a singles game or drill played where each point is played cross court. To be really particular, you could place a piece of tape running from the center line to the net to divide the kitchen. Normally ATP’s are allowed because they are so fun. Sick Trx is a name of a game that includes playing points out down the line as well as crosscourt.

Slice: Is the action of the paddle slicing the ball to impart under spin or backspin. Many refer to the term “slice” as the name of a shot. It is a term for applying Under Spin or Backspin to the ball in order to hit specific shots.

Slide: A footwork move sideways at your NVZ line when your opponent is going to hit an attacking shot and you slide so you will be in position to either hit a backhand volley or forehand volley.

Slow It Down: A term used to slow the game down with softer drop shots into the opponent’s kitchen verses “speed it up”.

Smash: A shot that is hit above the hitter's head with a serve-like motion against a Lob. It is also referred to as an overhead.

Soft Hands: The players ability to take the speed off of a ball and hit shots like a Drop Shot.

Sorry, not sorry: Is a common term said by players after their shot hits the top of the net and falls over to win the point.

Speed It Up: A term used where a player hits an attacking dink or volley verses slowing the point down with a shot into the opponent’s kitchen.

Spin: rotation of the ball as it moves through the air, affecting its trajectory and bounce. See Under Spin and Topspin.

Split Step: Player comes to a stop as the opponent is hitting the ball with feet separate and parallel in the "ready position" to return the ball.

Stacking: A strategy that a team uses to position themselves to play one side of the court, generally placing the one player’s forehand down the middle.

Stacking Paddles: Two players place their paddles in a racking system so they can play together when it is their turn to get on an open court.

Stance: The way a player stands when hitting the ball.

Staying Home: A term used to describe a player’s positioning of covering their side of the court and not moving too far to the middle to poach.

Strategy: A game plan that is discussed that involves where to hit your shots, what your shot selection is, and where to position yourself on the court.

Strike Zone: A ball that is in a good height area to hit, between the height of your knees to chest.

Stroke: The swinging motion of striking the pickleball with the paddle (i.e. forehand stroke, backhand stroke, ground stroke).

Sweet spot: The central area of the paddle face which is the desired location for making contact with the ball.

Swinging Volley: Using a forehand or backhand swinging motion to hit the ball out of the air.

Switch: Term called out to partner to switch sides during a point. i.e. lob is hit over partner’s head.

Tagging: hitting an opponent on purpose to win a point.

Target Area: A place or area on the opponent’s court where you would like your ball to land.

Targeted Player: Is the weaker player that a team hits the vast majority of shots to in order to win. Should be done in competitive play but not recreational play.

Technical Foul: In tournament play, the referee may add a point to a team’s score when the opponent violates one of the rules calling for a technical foul other than standard faults in play. For example abusive language or unsportsmanlike play.

Technical Warning: In tournament play, the referee may warn a player when the player violates one of the rules calling for a technical foul other than standard faults in play. For example abusive language or unsportsmanlike play.

The Rally: The rule book has defined “The Rally” begins at the very instant when the referee, or in the case of rec play, the serving team has begun calling the score.

The Serve: The rule book has defined the term as the very point when the ball leaves the paddle: the actual point in time when the ball contacts the paddle and this cannot happen before all 3 numbers in the score have been called.

Third Shot: The third shot in the sequence of a point. (Serve, Return of Serve, and Third Shot)

Third Shot Drive and 5th Shot Drop: A strategy of hitting the third shot as a Drive designed to get a short Volley return which allows you to move forward for a 5th shot drop as you get to your NVZ line.

Topspin: A ball that is hit with an upward motion with a “closed” paddle face will have “topspin” imparted to it. The spin causes the ball to curve down into the court. This allows a player to hit harder and higher over the net (increasing the margin of error), and still keep the ball from going long (past the baseline).

Tournament Director: person in charge of the overall tournament.

Trajectory: The path of the ball traveling over the net.

Transition Zone: the area between the baseline and the NVZ line where players move through to transition from the baseline to the NVZ line. Sometimes, you will back up to form a better defensive position when your team’s shot is too high.This zone is also called “No Man’s Land”.

Trespassing: A term used where a player has poached a ball but extended too far into their partner’s court and has made a mistake. It is a nice way to say let me play the ball to my side of the court.

Tweener: A trick shot which involves hitting the ball between the legs.

Two Bounce Rule: The ball must bounce two times before the ball can be hit in the air as in a Volley. The Serve must bounce and the Return of Serve must bounce which are the first two shots in every point.

Two-handed: A player hitting the ball with two hands on the grip.

Under Spin (or backspin, slice): The spin applied to the ball where the top of the ball rotates away from the direction of travel; the spin is underneath the ball. Synonymous terms are slice and backspin. Used to hit a Drop Shot. The term used on the Tennis Professional Skills test.

Unforced error: During play, an error in a service or return shot that cannot be attributed to any factor other than poor judgement and execution by the player.

Volley: Hitting the ball in the air before the ball has a chance to bounce onto the pickleball court.

Volley Up: Is a term used to to emphasize the strategy of placing your shots low which forces your opponents to hit up on the ball in order to clear the net.

Western Grip: This grip is used for more Topspin on your forehand. Your index knuckle is placed on the 3rd bevel.

Whiff: A stroke in which the player misses the ball completely.

Windows: A term used to describe how accurately you must hit your shots for accurate placement. You hit the ball through an imaginary window that corresponds to your target area.

Winner: To play a shot that is impossible for the receiver to return.

Wrist Hinge: A slight movement of your wrist which results in your wrist applying under spin, backspin, or slice to the ball for greater ball control.