Advanced shots
Pickleball Erne
The Erne is one of pickleball's most spectacular shots, volleying around the outside of the NVZ post from a position that's technically outside the kitchen. It's completely legal, highly effective when set up correctly, and one of the most visually impressive plays in the game.
Why the Erne is legal
The NVZ rule prohibits volleying from inside or touching the NVZ. But the area beyond the NVZ post, past the sideline, is not the NVZ. By jumping around or walking outside the post, you're in completely legal territory. The ball doesn't need to cross the net at the normal crossing point, it can go around the post.
How to hit the Erne
Five steps from setup to execution.
Set up the Erne with a dink to the sideline
The best Ernes start when you hit a dink that forces your opponent to return toward the sideline near the kitchen corner. Their cross-court reply often comes back shallow and near that same corner, your opportunity.
Read the ball's trajectory early
As your opponent makes contact, read whether the ball is heading toward the sideline corner. You need 1-2 steps advance warning to position for the Erne, late recognition means rushing and missing.
Move laterally beyond the post (Walk Erne)
The simpler version: walk completely around the NVZ post and stand outside the kitchen boundary before the ball arrives. Then volley from outside, no jumping required. This is more consistent for most players.
Or jump around the post (Jump Erne)
The flashier version: jump laterally around the outside of the post, contact the ball while airborne outside the NVZ boundaries, and land in the legal area beyond the sideline. Higher risk, higher reward.
Aim at the opponent's feet or the open court
The Erne angle allows you to volley downward into the kitchen or into the open sideline, areas your opponent can't reach from their position. Hit firmly at their feet or into the wide-open space they left when they hit to the corner.
Walk Erne
Step around the post before the ball arrives. Stand outside the NVZ boundary. Volley from there. More consistent, no timing pressure of jumping.
Recommended for most playersJump Erne
Jump around the post and contact mid-air outside the NVZ. More spectacular and can be faster, but requires excellent timing and athletic ability.
AdvancedHow to defend against the Erne
Hit deep cross-court, not to the sideline corner
Ernes are set up by balls near the sideline kitchen corner. If you consistently dink deep cross-court (toward the center), there's no corner angle to exploit.
Recognize the pre-Erne setup
Watch your opponent's lateral movement before they hit. If they're moving toward the sideline post, they may be setting up an Erne, adjust your dink direction toward the center of the court.
Dink to the player's feet (not the Erne position)
If you see an opponent threatening the Erne, hit a dink toward their feet at the kitchen line, not toward the sideline corner they're positioning toward.
Lob if they're running to the corner
An opponent running wide to the Erne position leaves the middle of their court open. A lob over the Erne-positioning player can force a partner scramble or an overhead from bad position.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Erne in pickleball?
The Erne is an advanced pickleball shot where a player jumps around the outside of the NVZ post to volley the ball from beyond the kitchen line. Named after Erne Perry who popularized it, the Erne allows you to volley a ball that would normally require stepping into the kitchen, by going around the post instead. It's completely legal as long as you land outside the kitchen boundaries (beyond the sideline or in the transition zone after the post).
How do you hit an Erne in pickleball?
To hit an Erne: recognize a dink that will come near the sideline kitchen corner, move laterally to position outside the NVZ post, jump around the outside of the post, contact the ball while airborne outside the NVZ, and land in the legal area beyond the sideline. Alternatively (the 'walk Erne'): step completely around the post before the ball arrives, stand outside the kitchen boundary, and volley from there without jumping.
Is the Erne legal in pickleball?
Yes, the Erne is completely legal in pickleball. The rule is that you cannot volley from inside the NVZ, but the area beyond the NVZ post (outside the sideline) is not the NVZ. By jumping around or walking around the post, you're outside the kitchen boundary and free to volley. The shot only becomes illegal if any part of your body touches the NVZ or NVZ line during the contact.
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