Welcome to pickleball, where the rules are simple, the game is fast, and the lingo sounds like something out of a comedy sketch. If you’re new to the sport, you might feel like you’ve stepped into a secret society where everyone’s shouting weird terms like “dink,” “kitchen,” and “pickle juice,” and you’re just nodding along, pretending to understand.
Fear not, fellow paddler-in-training. This guide will have you talking the talk (and maybe walking the walk) in no time. Let’s dive into the wacky world of pickleball terms—because nothing says “I know what I’m doing” like confidently yelling, “Watch the kitchen!” even if you’re holding the paddle backward.
The Kitchen: No Cooking Allowed
Let’s start with the big one: the kitchen. This is the seven-foot no-volley zone on either side of the net. In simple terms, you can’t smash the ball out of the air while standing in the kitchen. Why is it called the kitchen? Nobody knows, but we’re all grateful it’s not called “the laundry room” because that would be even worse.
What You’ll Hear:
• “Get out of the kitchen!”
• “Don’t step in the kitchen unless the ball bounces!”
• “You’ve been in the kitchen all game—make me a sandwich already!”
Pro Tip: When someone shouts about the kitchen, they’re not judging your cooking skills. Probably.
Dink: The Most Adorable Shot in Sports
A dink is a soft, gentle shot that lands just over the net in the kitchen. Think of it as the sport’s version of a delicate pat on the back. Dinking is an art form—it’s about control, finesse, and making your opponent sprint like they just heard the ice cream truck.
What You’ll Hear:
• “Let’s play a dink game!”
• “You call that a dink? My grandma dinks harder than that!”
• “Stop smashing and start dinking, banger!”
Pro Tip: If you master the dink, you’ll earn the respect of every pickleball purist and confuse every banger on the court.
Banger: The Court’s Wild Child
A banger is someone who smashes the ball as hard as humanly possible, often without much thought or precision. They’re the pickleball equivalent of someone yelling “YOLO!” every time they swing.
What You’ll Hear:
• “Ugh, another banger on the court.”
• “You can’t just bang your way to victory!”
• “Nice shot, but try hitting it in bounds next time.”
Pro Tip: Every player starts as a banger. Some evolve into finesse players. Others stay bangers forever. It’s not a phase, Mom—it’s a lifestyle.
Pickled: The Most Humbling Experience
To be pickled is to lose a game without scoring a single point. Yes, it’s as brutal as it sounds. It’s called being “pickled” because… well, let’s be honest, it just sounds funny.
What You’ll Hear:
• “We got pickled. Let’s never speak of this again.”
• “Oof, that’s a pickle party you don’t want an invite to.”
• “Hey, at least you didn’t lose 11-0 twice.”
Pro Tip: If you get pickled, laugh it off and tell people you were just “warming up.”
Erne: The Fancy Shot for Show-Offs
An Erne (pronounced “Ernie,” like Bert’s buddy from Sesame Street) is when a player leaps outside the court to hit a ball while avoiding the kitchen. It’s flashy, it’s risky, and when done right, it looks like something out of an action movie. When done wrong, it looks like a failed audition for America’s Funniest Home Videos.
What You’ll Hear:
• “Did you see that Erne? They should be in the Olympics!”
• “Nice Erne! Are you okay, though? That landing looked rough.”
• “Please stop trying to Erne. You’re going to break something.”
Pro Tip: Attempt an Erne sparingly—preferably when no one’s recording.
Side Out: A Fancy Way to Say “Switch”
Side out simply means the serve is switching teams. It’s a moment of victory for the team that just won the rally and a moment of “Ugh, not again” for the team that lost it.
What You’ll Hear:
• “Side out! Let’s go!”
• “Finally, we’re serving again!”
• “Great, now we just have to score… somehow.”
Pro Tip: Shouting “Side out!” with enthusiasm makes you sound like you know what you’re doing, even if you’ve just hit the ball into the next zip code.
Paddle Talk: Trash Talk with Style
Pickleball has its own brand of trash talk, and it’s all in good fun. Here are a few lines you might hear:
• “That ball was so out, it’s applying for a passport.”
• “Nice dink! Did you mean to do that?”
• “Your paddle has more cracks than my morning eggs.”
Pro Tip: Keep it light and friendly. Pickleball trash talk is all about laughs, not tears.
Final Thoughts: Talk the Talk, Play the Game
Now that you’re armed with pickleball’s finest lingo, you’re ready to hit the court sounding like a pro (or at least someone who knows what a dink is). Don’t worry if you mess up the terms or accidentally yell “Side out!” when it’s not your turn. Half the fun of pickleball is learning—and laughing—along the way.
So grab your paddle, avoid the kitchen, and dink your way to glory. And if you get pickled? Well, there’s always the next game.
Now go forth and paddle like a champion! Or at least like someone who knows what “Erne” means.