{"Status":true,"Message":"","Response":{"post":{"postuid":"5cd98ff2-b996-448d-a923-fdd4c4924905","tenantuid":"45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903","projectuid":"4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919","title":"What Is the Erne Shot in Pickleball?","slug":"article/what-is-the-erne-shot-in-pickleball","html":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Erne is an advanced shot where a player volleys the ball by jumping over or running around the corner of the non-volley zone (kitchen), landing outside the court boundary to hit a ball that would otherwise be a cross-court dink. It is a legal and highly effective shot that catches opponents off guard and can end a dinking rally outright.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022is_the_erne_shot_legal\u0022\u003EIs the Erne Shot Legal?\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes \u2014 the Erne is completely legal under USA Pickleball rules, provided it is executed correctly. The key rule is that you cannot step in or touch the non-volley zone (including the lines) before, during, or after hitting the volley. To hit an Erne legally, you must either:\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJump over the kitchen corner:\u003C/b\u003E Take off from behind the NVZ line, jump to the side of the post, make contact in the air while your feet are outside the kitchen area, and land completely outside the court \u2014 not in the kitchen.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERun around the kitchen:\u003C/b\u003E Walk or run around the end of the NVZ before the ball arrives, position yourself beside the post, and volley from outside the court.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ccite class=\u0022recommended\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ENote\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf your momentum carries you into the kitchen after hitting the Erne, it is a fault. You must establish your footing completely outside the NVZ. The sideline is not the kitchen, so landing on or past the sideline (outside the court boundary) is legal.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/cite\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022how_to_hit_the_erne_shot\u0022\u003EHow to Hit the Erne Shot\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERead the pattern:\u003C/b\u003E The Erne works when you anticipate your opponent is about to dink cross-court to your side. Watch for predictable cross-court dink patterns during a kitchen exchange.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPosition early:\u003C/b\u003E Slide toward the sideline before the ball arrives. Telegraphing your move too early can warn your opponent \u2014 but you need to be in position to execute.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJump or step around:\u003C/b\u003E Either jump over the kitchen corner (more explosive, harder to execute) or walk/run around the end of the NVZ (more controlled, slightly slower).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContact the ball:\u003C/b\u003E Volley the ball firmly as it comes across \u2014 you usually have a high, attackable ball since it\u2019s traveling cross-court toward your side.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELand outside:\u003C/b\u003E Your landing feet must be completely outside the NVZ \u2014 ideally on or past the sideline, outside the court entirely.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022when_to_use_the_erne\u0022\u003EWhen to Use the Erne\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Erne is most effective when your opponent is dinking cross-court to your forehand or backhand side in a predictable, repetitive pattern. If they\u2019re varying their dinks or watching for the Erne, attempting it will leave your side of the court wide open.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsed strategically \u2014 once or twice per game when the right opportunity presents itself \u2014 the Erne is a powerful pattern-breaker. Used too often or telegraphed, it becomes predictable and easy to counter with a straight-ahead dink.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022the_erne_vs_the_bert\u0022\u003EThe Erne vs. the Bert\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Erne and the Bert are closely related. The Erne is performed by the player whose side the ball is coming to. The Bert is performed by that player\u2019s partner, who crosses in front of them to hit the same type of shot from the opposite side. The Bert requires communication and coordination between doubles partners.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022frequently_asked_questions\u0022\u003EFrequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022who_invented_the_erne_shot\u0022\u003EWho invented the Erne shot?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe shot is named after Erne Perry, who famously used it in early competitive pickleball play. He didn\u0027t invent it in a strict sense, but his frequent and effective use of it during tournaments brought it widespread attention and earned it the name.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022can_you_hit_an_erne_on_a_ball_that_hasnt_crossed_the_net_yet\u0022\u003ECan you hit an Erne on a ball that hasn\u0027t crossed the net yet?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo \u2014 you cannot reach over or across the net plane to hit the ball before it crosses. The Erne is hit after the ball has crossed the net or at the moment it\u0027s at the net. Reaching over the net to make contact is a fault under USA Pickleball rules.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022how_do_i_defend_against_an_erne\u0022\u003EHow do I defend against an Erne?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe simplest defense is to vary your dinks. If you\u2019re only dinking cross-court, you\u0027re setting up your opponent for the Erne. Mix in straight-ahead dinks down the line \u2014 a player positioned for an Erne has vacated their side of the court, leaving it wide open for a line dink.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022related_articles\u0022\u003ERelated Articles\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/pickleball-shots-and-techniques-library-every-shot-you-need-to-know\u0022\u003EPickleball Shots \u0026amp; Techniques Library: Every Shot You Need to Know\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/complete-pickleball-rules-guide\u0022\u003EComplete Pickleball Rules Guide\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/pickleball-strategy-guide-how-to-win-more-points-games-and-matches\u0022\u003EPickleball Strategy Guide: How to Win More Points, Games, and Matches\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuestions about pickleball shots and techniques? Email \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:support@pickleball.com\u0022\u003Esupport@pickleball.com\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","publish_status":0,"post_type":"Article","authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","author":{"authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","name":"Christy Cook","url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/","photo_url":"https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/4fd2cf59-047a-4a00-8a6d-2d9c6c9f91fe.jpg?v=1114665229","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/"},"featured_image_updating":false,"meta_description":"Learn how to legally execute the Erne shot in pickleball, an advanced volley technique to surprise opponents and end dinking rallies effectively.","keywords":"Erne shot;non-volley zone;volley;cross-court dink;kitchen corner;jump;run around NVZ;strategy;defense;Bert shot","display_toc":true,"has_workingcopy":false,"allow_indexing":true,"total_views":18,"date_published":"2026-06-29T20:53:24.9","date_updated":"2026-06-29T20:53:24.91","date_created":"2026-06-29T20:51:16.617"}}}