Pickleball Terms: The Glossary

Kitchen / non-volley zone (NVZ).The seven-foot area either side of the net where you may not volley the ball — you may stand there, but you cannot hit a ball out of the air while any part of you is in it. It is the rule that creates the whole soft game. Full detail in what is the kitchen.

Two-bounce rule (double-bounce rule). The serve must bounce, and the return must bounce, before anyone may volley. It exists to stop the serving team rushing the net, and it is why the third shot drop exists as a concept.

Side-out. The serve passing to the opposing team. In traditional scoring, only the serving team can score, so a side-out means the other team now has the chance.

Server number (the third number).In doubles you call three numbers — your score, their score, and whether you are the first or second server on this side-out. So "4-2-1" means your team has 4, theirs has 2, and you are the first server. Covered in pickleball rules for beginners.

Rally scoring. An alternative format where a point is scored on every rally regardless of who served. Used in some leagues and pro formats; traditional side-out scoring is still the default in most recreational play.

Foot fault.Most commonly, touching the kitchen line or the zone while volleying — including on the follow-through and including momentum carrying you in after contact. Also applies to serving position.

Let. A serve that clips the net and lands in was formerly replayed; under current rules the ball is live and play continues. Worth knowing because people still call it out of habit.

Baseline, sideline, centerline.The back line, the side lines, and the line dividing the two service courts. All lines are in except the kitchen line on a serve — a serve landing on the kitchen line is a fault. Dimensions in pickleball court dimensions.

Dink.A soft shot hit from near the kitchen that lands in the opponents' kitchen, arcing just over the net. The foundation of the soft game. Full guide: what is a dink, plus dinking drills.

Third shot drop.The soft, arcing shot the serving team hits from the baseline to land in the opponents' kitchen, allowing them to advance to the net. Explained in the third shot drop.

Third shot drive.The alternative to the drop — a hard, flat drive at the opponents' feet or body, played when the return was short enough to attack.

Reset. Any shot that takes pace off an incoming ball and drops it soft, usually into the kitchen, to neutralize an attack. Resetting well is the single biggest separator between 3.5 and 4.5 players.

Roll / topspin roll.A brushing shot hit with heavy topspin that dips sharply after crossing the net. It is the shot raw carbon faces exist for — see best spin paddles.

Volley. Any ball struck out of the air before it bounces. Legal anywhere except from inside the kitchen.

Overhead / smash. The put-away hit downward from above shoulder height, usually off a ball that was allowed to float.

Lob.A high shot over the opponents' heads to push them off the kitchen line. Effective and widely disliked in equal measure.

ATP (around the post).A shot hit around the outside of the net post rather than over the net. Legal, and there is no height requirement — the ball can pass below net height.

Erne. A volley hit while positioned outside the sideline beside the kitchen, either by jumping across the corner of the zone or by standing outside it. Named after Erne Perry. Legal, spectacular, and easy to fault on.

Bert.An Erne hit on your partner's side of the court, having crossed in front of them. Rare, and rarely a good idea.

Flick / speed-up. A sudden attacking shot from a dink exchange, usually a wrist- or forearm-driven flick that changes the pace of the rally without warning.

Stacking. Both partners positioning on the same side of the court before the serve, then moving after it, so each player consistently ends up on their preferred side. Usually done to keep a strong forehand in the middle.

Switching. Partners swapping sides during a rally, typically after a lob or a wide ball has pulled one player out of position.

Transition zone / no-man's land.The area between the baseline and the kitchen line. You do not want to be caught standing there — balls arrive at your feet — but you have to cross it, which is exactly the problem the third shot drop solves.

Poaching.Crossing into your partner's side of the court to take a ball you can attack. Effective; requires communication.

Shake and bake. A doubles pattern where one partner drives the third shot hard and the other crashes the net to volley the weak reply.

Kitchen line battle / hands battle.A fast exchange of volleys at close range at the net. Won by paddle speed, reaction time and a paddle you can move quickly — which is part of why widebody paddles suit net players.

The construction terms get a full explanation in thermoformed vs cold-pressed, the face materials in carbon fiber vs fiberglass, thickness in 14mm vs 16mm, weight in the paddle weight guide, and certification in USA Pickleball approval.

Pickled. Losing a game 11-0. Said with more delight than sympathy.

Falafel.A shot hit so soft off the paddle that it barely goes anywhere — usually a mishit off the very edge of the face.

Chicken wing. The awkward, elbow-up defensive position you end up in when a ball is driven at your dominant shoulder. Also the name of the shot that results.

Dillball.A live ball — one that has bounced in bounds and is still in play.

Flapjack. A shot that must bounce before it can be hit, under the two-bounce rule.

Nasty Nelson. A serve deliberately aimed at the non-receiving opponent. Legal, and a good way to lose friends.

Golden pickle. Winning 11-0 on the very first service turn of the match.

Open play. Drop-in social pickleball, usually with paddles queued on a rack and winners staying on. It is how most people play, and what to bring is covered in what to bring to open play.

Skill ratings come up constantly in gear conversations — including on this site — so they are worth defining. The scale runs roughly 1.0 to 6.0+.