{"Status":true,"Message":"","Response":{"post":{"postuid":"b4205beb-c309-4a73-83d0-b86b9e52b999","tenantuid":"45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903","projectuid":"4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919","title":"What Is an ATP (Around the Post) Shot in Pickleball?","slug":"article/what-is-an-atp-around-the-post-shot-in-pickleball","html":"\u003Cp\u003EAn ATP (Around the Post) shot is a shot where the ball travels around the outside of the net post \u2014 not over the net \u2014 and lands in the opponent\u0027s court. It is completely legal under USA Pickleball rules and is one of the most exciting and visually spectacular shots in the sport.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022is_the_atp_shot_legal\u0022\u003EIs the ATP Shot Legal?\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes \u2014 the ATP is fully legal. USA Pickleball rules do not require the ball to cross over the net. The ball only needs to land in the opponent\u0027s court. When the ball travels wide enough to go around the post rather than over the net, the shot is valid as long as it lands in bounds.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ccite class=\u0022recommended\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ENote\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe ball does not need to pass over the net at all on an ATP \u2014 it can travel entirely outside the net post. This surprises many players who assume all shots must cross the net. As long as the ball lands in the opponent\u0027s court, the shot is legal.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/cite\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022when_does_an_atp_happen\u0022\u003EWhen Does an ATP Happen?\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn ATP opportunity arises when an opponent hits an aggressive, sharply angled shot that pulls you wide \u2014 often well past the sideline. Rather than trying to redirect the ball back over the net from an extreme wide position, you instead swing around the outside of the post and angle the ball back into the opponent\u0027s court.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EATPs most commonly occur during fast-paced kitchen exchanges when one player hits an extremely wide cross-court angle, pulling their opponent off the court entirely. The ball has traveled so far to the side that going over the net isn\u0027t a realistic option from that position \u2014 but going around the post is.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022how_to_hit_the_atp\u0022\u003EHow to Hit the ATP\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERecognize the opportunity:\u003C/b\u003E As you\u0027re pulled wide, assess quickly whether the ball is traveling far enough past the sideline for an ATP to be feasible.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGet low:\u003C/b\u003E The ATP is typically hit at a low height, around net level or below. Bend your knees and get down to the ball.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESwing around the post:\u003C/b\u003E Your swing arc goes around the outside of the net post \u2014 not upward over it. The paddle path curves to send the ball back into the opponent\u0027s court at an angle.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAim cross-court:\u003C/b\u003E The ball needs to travel back into the opponent\u0027s court after rounding the post. Aim for the near side of the court, angling back in.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFollow through:\u003C/b\u003E Let the swing follow through naturally \u2014 don\u0027t jab or stop at contact.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022atp_vs_erne_whats_the_difference\u0022\u003EATP vs. Erne: What\u0027s the Difference?\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth the ATP and the Erne are flashy wide-angle shots, but they are executed from completely different positions. The Erne is hit from beside the net post \u2014 the player positions themselves outside the kitchen and volleys a ball that is coming cross-court at net height. The ATP is hit from wide off the court when you\u0027ve been pulled beyond the sideline \u2014 you\u0027re not beside the net, you\u0027re well outside the court entirely, and the ball goes around the post rather than over it.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022frequently_asked_questions\u0022\u003EFrequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022can_you_hit_an_atp_from_anywhere_on_the_court\u0022\u003ECan you hit an ATP from anywhere on the court?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn practice, ATPs only happen when you\u0027re pulled wide past the sideline \u2014 usually well off the court. From a normal court position, there\u0027s no reason to go around the post since you can simply hit over the net. The ATP is an improvised shot forced by a specific situation, not a planned tactical choice.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022does_the_ball_have_to_stay_below_the_net_height_on_an_atp\u0022\u003EDoes the ball have to stay below the net height on an ATP?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo \u2014 there\u0027s no height restriction on an ATP. The ball simply needs to travel around the post (not over the net) and land in the opponent\u0027s court. In practice, ATPs are typically hit at a low trajectory because the player is stretched wide and low, but there\u0027s no rule requiring this.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022can_you_hit_an_atp_in_doubles\u0022\u003ECan you hit an ATP in doubles?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes. ATPs occur in both singles and doubles. In doubles, the partner who isn\u0027t hitting the ATP should be ready to cover the court in case the shot doesn\u0027t land in, as the ATP player will be well out of position after hitting it.\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 all about the ATP shot in pickleball: legal rules, when to use it, how to hit it, and its difference from the Erne. Master this flashy wide-angle shot!","keywords":"ATP shot; around the post; legal shot; USA Pickleball rules; wide-angle shot; kitchen exchanges; swing technique; cross-court angle; shot comparison; doubles strategy","display_toc":true,"has_workingcopy":false,"allow_indexing":true,"total_views":82,"date_stale":"2027-07-01T00:00:00","date_published":"2026-06-29T21:06:24.03","date_updated":"2026-06-29T21:06:24.04","date_created":"2026-06-29T21:00:43.55"}}}