​Pickleball Terms You Need to Know

​Pickleball Terms You Need to Know
 
Pickleball terminology can be quite foreign to a new player.  The following is a list of terms you need to know that will help you get started – and at least be able to identify what is going on.
 
Ace.  A serve that the opposing player isn’t able to return.
 
Backcourt.  This is the area near the baseline and is just a few feet inside the court.
 
Backswing.  Moving the paddle backward to prepare for the next shot.
 
Bounce It.  This term is important for doubles play.  Your partner will say this when they think the ball will fall out of bounds so that you don’t try to hit it.
 
Cross-court.  The area on the opposite side of your court and diagonal from you.
 
Dead Paddle.  This is when the ball is hit with not enough force and is extremely short.  Some people also call this a falafel.
 
Dink.  A soft shot that barely goes over the net, making it difficult for the opponent to return.
 
Doubles.  A pickleball game played with four people, two on each side of the court.
 
Drive.  A low shot that lands in the opponent’s backcourt.
 
Kitchen.  This is a slang term for the non-volley zone close to the net.
 
Lob.  This is a shot that is very high and over the heads of the opponent.  This requires your opponent to move back to the baseline.
 
Mid-court.  The area of the court between the non-volley zone and the baseline.
 
Paddle.  In pickleball this is equivalent to a racket in tennis.  Paddles are smaller than tennis rackets.
 
Pickle.  This is the term you shout before you serve to alert everyone you are about to serve.
 
Pickled.  This term applies when you lose the game having scored zero points.  If the final score is 11-0 you have been pickled.
 
Poach. The term used for a member playing doubles who crosses into their partner’s area.
 
Serve.  In pickleball this is an underhand stroke that is made below the waist and that puts the ball into play.
 
Shadowing.  This is when doubles partners move in unison staying about six feet apart at all times.  This prevents large gaps on the court.
 
Singles.  A pickleball game played with two people, one on each side of the court.
 
Smash.  This is a shot that is performed overhand when the ball is over the hitter’s head.  This shot lands with a lot of force.
 
Volley.  When you hit the ball in the air before it has a chance to bounce, it is called a volley.