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Pickleball Bert Shot
The Bert is the sibling of the Erne, the same kitchen-jumping volley executed from the opposite side of the court. It is a surprise weapon in doubles when a dink drifts wide to the sideline, but it requires partner coordination and precise timing.
Erne
Player on the right side of the court leaps over the right corner of the kitchen. Named after Erne Perry.
Bert
Player on the left side of the court leaps over the left corner of the kitchen. Executed by the partner. Same shot, different side.
Legal requirements for the Bert
- ✓ Both feet outside the kitchen at contact, not in the NVZ
- ✓ No contact with the kitchen or kitchen line during the shot
- ✓ Ball must be contacted before landing
- ✓ Ball does not need to cross the net (ATP rule applies)
- ✗ Landing in the kitchen after contact = kitchen fault
How to execute the Bert
Read the setup
The Bert works when opponents are cross-court dinking toward the sideline. Watch for a ball that will land at the corner of the kitchen, that is your trigger.
Communicate with your partner
'Bert!' or 'Going!' lets your partner know you are crossing. They must shift to cover the middle court you are vacating. Without communication, you both end up out of position.
Approach the corner fast
Move quickly to the outside corner of the kitchen before the ball arrives. You need to be in position before the ball reaches the net side.
Jump and clear the kitchen
Leap from outside the court, clearing the kitchen corner in the air. You may not touch the kitchen or kitchen line during the shot.
Contact the ball before landing
Hit the volley while airborne, this is the key legal requirement. Contact must happen before your feet touch any surface.
Land outside the court
Ideally land outside the court boundaries on the far side. Your momentum carries you past the kitchen. Landing in the kitchen after a Bert is a fault.
Your partner's role
Cover the middle
When your partner calls 'Bert' and crosses, you must shift to cover the center of the court they have vacated. A cross-down-the-middle return from the opponent is the most common counter.
Stay ready for the lob
Opponents who recognize a Bert attempt may lob over the vacated area. Position to cover or call the lob early so your partner can reset.
Communicate availability
If you are not in position to cover, say so before your partner commits. A failed Bert with no partner coverage gives the opponents a wide open court.
How to defend the Bert
Keep dinks away from the sideline
The Bert only works when the ball is near the outside kitchen corner. Dink cross-court toward the middle, not down the sideline.
Hit to the body of the Bert-runner
If you see someone approaching the corner, hit the ball at their body or toward the middle, not to the corner they are running to.
Lob over the vacated position
When a player commits to the Bert, their half of the court is empty. A well-placed lob over the vacated area forces the partner to cover a difficult ball.
Hit low and fast down the line
A hard, low ball down the sideline behind the Bert-runner is difficult to handle from a mid-air, lateral jumping position.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bert in pickleball?
The Bert is a pickleball shot where a player leaps over the kitchen, volleys a ball on the opponent's side of the net (the non-volley zone side), and lands out of bounds, similar to an Erne but executed by the player on the opposite side of the court from where the Erne would normally happen. Named after Ernie's friend Bert from Sesame Street, it is the same mechanics as an Erne but from the partner's side. The Bert requires jumping over the kitchen corner, volleying before landing, and landing outside the court on the far side.
What is the difference between an Erne and a Bert?
The Erne and Bert are the same shot executed from opposite sides of the court. The Erne is named for Erne Perry who popularized it, the player on the right side of the court leaps over the right kitchen corner to volley. The Bert is the same shot executed by the player on the left side leaping over the left kitchen corner, typically the partner of the player doing the Erne. The physics and legality are identical; the difference is only which player executes it and which corner they clear.
Is the Bert legal in pickleball?
Yes, the Bert is legal in pickleball under the same conditions as the Erne. The player must: have both feet outside the kitchen (not in the non-volley zone) when making contact, not touch the kitchen or kitchen line during the shot, and not enter the NVZ after contact. The player may jump from outside the court, cross over the non-volley zone in the air (as long as they don't touch it), hit the ball, and land outside the court. The Around the Post rules also apply, the ball does not need to pass over the net.
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