Know the Game
Pickleball Terms
A serve that is not hit at all by the receiver. Point for serving team.
When the ball is hit while moving forward towards the net.
The area from the baseline to around 3-4 feet inside the court.
Shot where the player strikes the ball while the back of their hand is facing forward, usually on the non-dominant side of their body (the opposite side of the hand you're holding the paddle with).
Applying spin to the ball by striking it with high-to-low motion causing the ball to spin backwards.
The motion of swinging the pickleball paddle back from the ready position before swinging it forward.
Lines that forms the back of the court; parallel with the net (22 feet from the net).
A shot where the pickleball rolls or slides along the face of the paddle during the forward swing as opposed to when the ball pops off as it's hit.
The line the extends from the Non-Volley Zone to the Baseline and divides the service court into two equal halves.
A pickleball shot that bounces twice in the Non-Volley Zone.
Swing the paddle quickly from high to low to put backspin on the pickleball.
The court area on the other side of the net and opposite your side (left or right) of the court.
A ball is declared "dead" after a fault, the point is over.
When the ball is hit with very little power causing it to fall short of the net. (see also "falafel")
Shot that is inbounds and has bounced once, a live ball.
A soft shot made from near the non-volley zone that arcs over the net and falls into or near the opposing team's non-volley zone.
A ball that bounces more than once on one side of the net before being returned.
When the pickleball is hit twice by one team before being returned over the net. This can happen by the same player or one hit per teammate.
A pickleball game played between four people (two on each team).
A shot that travels near and parallel to the sideline.
A forehand shot hit straight and low, usually deep into the opposing team's backcourt.(see also "drive serve")
A soft shot hit from middle to back court that clears the pickleball net and falls in or near the non-volley zone.
A drop shot hit before the ball touches the ground.
Spin that's put on the ball by chopping or slicing so that drops quickly after making it over the net.
The broad surfaces of either side of the pickleball paddle used to strike the ball.
When the ball is hit with very little power causing it to fall short of the net. (see also "dead paddle")
Any action that stops play due to a rule violation.
A mid air pickleball that must bounce once before it can be hit (during the serve and after it's return).
When the face of the pickleball paddle is held parallel to the net.
The continuation of the forward motion of the paddle in the direction you want the pickleball to travel.
A fault caused by stepping over or onto a line when doing so causes a fault.
Shot where the player strikes the ball while the front of their hand is facing forward, usually on the dominant side of their body (the side of the hand you're holding the paddle with).
A series of points played until one team has reached the designated number of points (often 11, 15, or 21). Usually must win by 2 points.
When a team wins a game on its first server, never allowing their opponent to serve.
The material wrapped around the handle of a pickleball paddle or the way a player holds the paddle.
When the ball is hit after a bounce (as opposed to a "volley", which is hit before it bounces)
A ground stroke shot that's hit immediately after the ball contacts the court.
The part of the pickleball paddle above the handle that's used to hit the ball. Includes the paddle face.
A common slang term for the Non-Volley Zone.
A serve that hits the net but still lands in the service court. Before Jan 15th, 2021, "Let" serves were replayed.
An indication by of whether or not the ball hit in-bounds or out of bounds.
A high deep shot going over the heads of the opponents with the intent of forcing the opponent to their backcourt.
The middle area on the pickleball court from the Non-Volley Zone to the backcourt.
A serve that hits the non-receiving opponnet prior to touching the ground, giving the serving team a point.
An area that extends 7 feet from the net on each side, within which a player is not allowed to strike the ball without it first bouncing. (see also "kitchen")
Often yelled after the 3rd shot has been hit and open volleying has begun.
A way of holding the pickleball paddle angled slightly upward.
A shot hit where the paddle starts above your head and moves downward.
The equivalent of a racquet in tennis. Pickleball paddles are made of wood, composite, or graphite.
A shot that goes beyond an opponent's reach and lands in bounds. Often made as an opponent approaches or is already at the non-volley zone.
Any object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court.
Varies by region. 1) A warning yelled out by the server to notify all players on the pickleball court that they are about to serve. 2) A warning yelled to notify players on a different court that there is an extra ball on the court which stops play and helps keep players from stepping on an errant ball.
Court where the championship match in a pickleball tournament is played.
Someone who plays pickleball. Can also refer to someone who not only plays the sport, but plays often and promotes the sport.
To reach into your partner's side of the court to hit a shot (in doubles).
Quick, short volley shot with little back swing and short follow through.
A shot with no chance of being returned.
The time between a serve and a fault causing play to stop.
A non-standard method of scoring where either team can gain a point regardless of who is serving.
Describes the position of a player when they are in position and "ready" for the ball to be hit by their opponent.
The player diagonally opposite from the server
When a player squats down to hit a high forehand volley. This shot became popular in late 2021. It takes a ball that would normally require a backhand shot to return and turns it into an attackable forehand shot.
The serve that happens at the start of a game or after a team loses the first of its two allowed serves.
An underhand shot used to put the pickleball into play at the start of a rally/point. (see also "service")
Either a "1" or a "2" to denote the first or second server allowed per side. Vocalized as the third number when calling the score. For example, when the score is 10-8, a player will say "ten, eight, two" or "ten, eight, on two".
An underhand shot used to put the pickleball into play at the start of a rally/point (see also "serve")
The area where a serve must land – on either side of the center line between the non-volley line and the baseline.
Lateral movement with your doubles partnerso that you always stay around 10 feet (or 6-7 feet depending on your strategy) apart to maintain maximum court coverage.
When one team loses its serve and other team is awarded serve.
The lateral border of the pickleball court that splits the playing area and the out of bounds area.
A game with only two players, one player on each side of the court.
An overhead shot that's hit with power. (see also "smash")
A type of shot used to create backspin on the ball where the paddle moves sharply downwards as it comes in contact with the ball.
An overhead shot that is hit with power. (see also "slam")
A strategy used in doubles pickleball when players of the same team arrange themselves in a way that is opposite the score. For example, if my partner's forehand is stronger, we may want them to always play on the left side of the court. So when it's my serve, from the left/odd court, they can position themselves left of me. Then, after I serve, I can shift to the right court for the remainder of the rally.
The motion of arm and paddle when striking the pickleball.
When a player violates any rule calling for a technical foul, the referee will add one point to the opponent's score.
When the ball spins forward causing the ball to drop quickly and skip forward when it bounces.
When the ball is hit in the air before it bounces.
An illegal move where the pickleball is hit as a volley in the non-volley zone.