Pickleball vocabulary: What the heck is an erne?
There are so many pickleball terms, and so little time. Let’s look at some of these, with definitions. I am including videos from several sources, so you can watch the demo of some of these great skills/shots.
There are traditional definitions, such as: The No Volley Zone = the kitchen.
There are traditional terms that are like tennis: “Ace” means a serve that is unreturnable.
Dink: A ball that lands in the kitchen, softly hit. Used to set up an attack.
Third shot: Drop, means it lands softly in your opponent’s kitchen. Drive means it is hit with power hoping your opponent will pop it up.
Here’s a good video: https://shorturl.at/kEQRW What about some of the other terms? The listed videos offer some demos.
ATP: Around the Net Post. Player lets the ball drop down low, and waits, then hits around the net post to the opponent’s court. Here’s a video: https://shorturl.at/lntvT
Erne: Player jumps across the kitchen line to the sideline, and attacks with a surprise volley.
Bert: Same as an erne but happens when you poach and execute the erne from your partner’s side of the court.
Shake and bake: You drive the serve at the player who is coming in. Your partner prepares to poach and attack the (hopefully) weak return or pop up.
Nasty nelson: The server intentionally aims the serve at the partner of the returning player. If it hits them, it is the serving teams’ point. Watch this video: https://shorturl.at/dpIKS
Tomahawk: Taking a ball that is high on your backhand side, and turning your paddle so that you can attack with a forehand. Drop down low with your body, and attack with a forehand on your backhand side. Watch this video: https://youtu.be/8ZRQ7dra_MY
Scorpion: Drop down low and attack a lower, slower ball out in front, with your body bent forward. Follow-through.
Pickled or bageled: Your team did not score any points in the game.
OPA: The third shot has been executed, and play is on.
Falafael: A shot that is so weak it does not travel over the net.
Check out YouTube to watch more video on special shots. Take a drill class to learn how to execute some of these.
Coach Mary’s Tip of the Week
Don’t be a square. Sara Ansbury covers a critical point in this video, about facing forward and getting hips and shoulders involved. Check it out and watch more than once. https://youtu.be/ATQvR8cm2UU
Sara takes a question from a player about facing the net yet being able to control and pinpoint shots from the kitchen.
First: Remember that everything in pickleball occurs in front of you. You will not be turning sideways, like old school tennis from the baseline. You will need to track your shoulders to where the ball is coming from.
Second: Do not be square. If you are crouched down, facing the net, you are not prepared for the return from your opponent. As soon as you see where the ball is coming from, turn that direction, tracking the ball with your paddle and your shoulders and stance. Your feet should be facing where you want to hit the ball. Happy feet! Be ready to move, track and angle your feet toward where you want to attack. Avoid just holding your paddle in front of you with your “chicken wing” up.
Third: Finish to your target. In front, In front, In front. Follow-through to your target area. (Watch video again) Paddle finishes to where you want the ball to land. Toes, paddle, and shoulders followthrough to your target.
Try to not just hit and reset to be ready to defend. Follow through, then get ready to defend.
Note: Drilling is great, but you need to put the drill skills into your game play. If you don’t, you will not improve. Drill it, then try it.