The Erne in Pickleball: What It Is, Why It Is Legal and How to Defend It

The Erne is a surprise volley from beside the net post. A player moves outside the sideline, next to the net post, and volleys the ball before it can get past them. Done well, it ends the point. Done badly, it ends in a kitchen fault.

What is an Erne?

An Erne is a volley hit from outside the sideline, close to the net post, usually after the player has moved around or jumped over the corner of the non-volley zone (the kitchen).

Because the player is standing beside the net rather than behind the kitchen line, they can take the ball much earlier and angle it away from their opponents.

Where the name comes from

The shot is named after Erne Perry. According to PickleballMAX and Hudef Sport, Perry used it repeatedly at the 2010 national tournament in Buckeye, Arizona, and videographer Jeff Shank gave it his name, which is why it is spelled "Erne" and not "Ernie". Neither source credits Perry with inventing the shot. Hudef Sport says he began using it regularly in 1993.

Why the Erne is legal

The Erne works because of how the rules define the kitchen. Here are the key points from the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook.

• The kitchen ends at the sidelines. The non-volley zone is the 7 foot by 20 foot area next to the net, between the two sidelines. All the lines that bound it are part of the zone (Rule 3.A.4.c). The ground outside the sideline is not the kitchen.
• The kitchen is flat. The rulebook says the zone is two-dimensional and does not extend above the playing surface (Rule 3.A.4.c). You can be in the air above it, as long as you do not touch it while volleying or land in it afterward.
• Volleys must start outside the zone. You may stand in the kitchen at other times, but you cannot touch it during the act of volleying (Rules 11.A and 11.A.1).
• Momentum counts. If your momentum after the volley carries you into the kitchen, even after the ball is dead, it is a fault (Rules 11.A.1 and 11.A.2).
• Leave the kitchen properly first. If you go through the kitchen to get outside the sideline, both feet must touch the ground completely outside the zone before you volley (Rule 11.A.3).

For a full refresher, read our kitchen rules guide.

Net rules still apply

Standing next to the post does not change the net rules:

• Let the ball cross first. The ball must fully cross to your side of the net before you hit it (Rule 13.F).
• Do not touch the net or post. Touching the net or the net support system while the ball is live is a fault (Rule 13.G.1).
• Stay on your side until you hit. You cannot cross the plane of the net before you hit the ball (Rule 13.I). The rules allow you to cross after hitting, as part of the same stroke (Rule 13.I.1).

Three ways to get into position

Players usually reach the Erne spot in one of three ways:

1. Jump over the kitchen corner. Take off from outside the zone, volley in the air, and land outside the sideline. Do not land in the kitchen.
2. Step around the corner. Move behind the kitchen line and then out past the sideline before the ball arrives.
3. Go through the kitchen. Cross the kitchen between shots, then get both feet down outside the zone before you volley.

The first two are the most common. The third is the easiest to get wrong because of Rule 11.A.3.

When to use the Erne

The Erne is a surprise shot. It works best when:

• Your opponent keeps dinking straight down the sideline. Repeated line dinks give you a chance to read the pattern and move.
• The dink is high enough. You need a ball you can volley at a comfortable height.
• Your partner can cover the middle. When you move wide, your partner should shift over to protect the gap.

Set it up with patient dinking first. Our Dinking 101 guide covers the soft game that leads to the Erne.

How to defend the Erne

• Dink crosscourt more often. A crosscourt dink travels away from the sideline and is much harder to Erne.
• Watch for the move. If your opponent starts drifting toward the sideline or takes a step around the corner, change your target.
• Keep line dinks low. A low dink that lands close to the net gives the Erne player nothing to volley.
• Cover the middle and the line. If an Erne is coming, the player opposite should get ready to block, and the partner should protect the middle.
• Watch their feet. Opponents can fault themselves by touching the kitchen during the volley or landing in it afterward. Know the rules so you can make or accept a fair call.

Gear for quick hands at the net

The Erne needs a paddle that is easy to move fast. The Mademoiselle and Monsieur paddles use a T700 carbon fiber face with a textured grit surface over a 16mm core. The Movemint II has a T300 carbon face and a 13mm profile. For drilling, stock up on Cannonballz 40 Hole Outdoor pickleballs.

Key takeaways

• An Erne is a volley from outside the sideline, next to the net post.
• It is legal because the kitchen ends at the sideline and does not extend into the air.
• You must not touch the kitchen while volleying or land in it afterward.
• Defend it with crosscourt and low dinks, and keep an eye on your opponent's feet.