Pickleball Glossary: The Complete List of Terms You Need to Know

Pickleball is a sport with a quirky name. It comes with its own unique slang. As the sport grows in popularity, its vocabulary keeps expanding.

Some terms come from USAP rules (USA Pickleball Association), but most originated organically in pickleball communities and forums.

We’ve compiled the most complete glossary for you, which we continuously update.

Basic Pickleball Terms

ATP (Around the Post) – a shot around the net post. The ball travels outside the post and lands in the opponent’s court.

BERT – an advanced shot similar to an Erne. The player jumps over the “kitchen” from one side of the court to the other.

Body Bag – an intentional, aggressive shot aimed directly at an opponent to force an error or win the point.

Carry – a shot where the ball lingers on the paddle surface instead of bouncing off immediately.

Cross-court – the diagonal area of the court opposite your position.

Dead Ball – a ball declared dead due to a fault. Play is stopped.

Dead Dink – a weak dink that floats or bounces too high, allowing the opponent to attack.

Dink – a soft shot near the “kitchen” line, intended to land in or near the non-volley zone and reset the rally.

Drive – a strong groundstroke from the back of the court to pressure the opponent.

Drop – a soft shot from the back court that lands in or near the “kitchen,” allowing players to move forward.

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) – an app that tracks player ratings using a custom algorithm.

Erne – a volley executed after stepping outside the “kitchen” corner to gain a net advantage.

Getting Pickled – when a team loses a game without scoring any points.

Golden Pickle – winning a game 11–0 without losing the serve.

Groundstroke – a shot hit after the ball bounces.

MLP (Major League Pickleball) – a pro league where players earn points for their team.

Nasty Nelson – a serve intentionally aimed at the opponent. If it hits the opponent before touching the ground, it’s a point.

Poach – in doubles, when a player intercepts a shot intended for their partner.

PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) – the PPA tour organization where players compete for individual rankings.

Scorpion – a low strike where the player squats to hit a ball close to the ground.

Shake-n-Bake – a doubles tactic where one player hits a drive and the other rushes the net for a finish.

Side Out – when the serving team loses the serve and the other team gains possession.

Stack – a doubles strategy involving intentional positioning to keep preferred court sides.

Two Bounce Rule – the ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley.

Volley – hitting the ball in the air before it bounces. Not allowed inside the “kitchen.”

Pickleball Slang

Pickleball isn’t just about formal terms—it’s got a rich slang too, which makes the game more fun and lively. This slang evolves over time.

• “Kitchen” – the non-volley zone near the net.
• “Banger” – a player who loves to hit the ball hard, all the time.

This glossary helps you better understand the game. It makes pickleball more accessible and enjoyable. You’ll communicate more effectively with other players and follow broadcasts more easily.

Pickleball has its own unique lingo. Learning these terms will enhance your game experience. Study them, hit the court, and win!