Erne vs ATP in Pickleball: Which Attack to Use and When

November 4, 2026

The Erne and the ATP (around the post) are two of the most exciting shots in pickleball. Both attack from outside the normal court, and both reward players who read the ball early. They are not the same shot, though, and they come from different situations. This guide explains the difference and how to decide which one is on. For a deeper look at the first one, read our full Erne guide.

The short version

The Erne is planned. You move outside the kitchen, beside it, and volley the ball before it bounces.
The ATP is reactive. A wide ball pulls you outside the sideline after the bounce, and you hit it around the net post instead of over the net.

Put simply, the ATP depends on how wide the ball goes, while the Erne is planned.

How the Erne works

You see a dink or a ball heading near the sideline. You move around the kitchen, staying out of the non-volley zone, and set up outside the court near the net. When the ball comes, you volley it down into the opponents' court. The key is timing your move so you do not give it away too early, and making sure you do not step in the kitchen while you get there. Our kitchen rules guide covers what counts.

Use the Erne when:

Opponents keep dinking cross-court near your sideline.
You can get outside the kitchen without being seen too early.
The ball is coming at a height you can volley down.

How the ATP works

An opponent hits a sharp angled ball that bounces and keeps going wide. You chase it outside the sideline. Instead of lifting it over the net, you hit it around the post, low, into their court. The ball must travel outside the post (Rule 13.C), and a low trajectory is harder to defend.

The net posts sit outside the sidelines. Under the USA Pickleball Rulebook the posts sit 12 inches outside each sideline (Rule 3.B.2), and a ball that hits the post before crossing is a fault (Rule 13.B.1). Coaches often suggest aiming one to two fist widths outside the post to give yourself margin.

Use the ATP when:

The ball has bounced and is carrying wide of the sideline.
You can get to it with your body behind the ball.
Going over the net would mean a high, attackable shot.

Which one is on?

Ask two questions:

Has the ball bounced? If not, and you are outside the kitchen near the net, think Erne. If yes and it is wide, think ATP.
Did I choose this, or did the ball choose it? The Erne is your plan. The ATP is the ball's gift.

If neither is clear, play the safe shot. Hitting a solid dink or reset back into the court is often better than forcing a highlight.

Common mistakes

Showing the Erne too early. Opponents simply hit down the middle.
Touching the kitchen. A foot in the zone while volleying is a fault.
Going for the ATP from too close to the post. The angle gets tight and the post comes into play.
Hitting the ATP high. A ball that sits up is easy to put away.

Practice ideas

Erne setup drill: Two players dink cross-court near one sideline. On a call, one player steps around the kitchen and volleys the next ball.
ATP feed drill: A partner feeds sharp angle dinks wide. Let the ball bounce, chase it and aim low around the post. Set up a portable net at home if you want extra reps.

Mint GhostX pickleball paddle lying at an angle

Gear notes

Both shots need quick hands and a paddle you can move fast. The GhostX is listed as the lowest swing weight in the Unleash Series, which helps when reaction time is short. For practice at home, the Pro Portable Pickleball Net is 22 feet wide and 36 inches high at the posts and 34 inches at the center, per the listing.