Like the ATP, an Erne is a specialty shot on the pickleball court and is named after Erne Perry, who first invented the shot. The Erne is a shot where you hit the pickleball either (1) in the air as you are jumping around the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen; or (2) after you run around or through the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen and re-establish your feet out of bounds, just to the side of the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen. The Erne puts pressure on your opponents to make a quality shot and may cause your opponents to make unforced errors if they lift their heads to look at you running or jumping around the court, rather than focusing on the pickleball.

You will be able to execute an Erne if your opponents hit the pickleball close to the sideline so that you have an easy, attackable shot within reach. If your opponents hit the pickleball too far from the sideline, then the pickleball will most likely be out of your reach, unless you step into the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen, which will be a fault and you will lose the point.

The keys to hitting an Erne are:

1. Think ahead and plan the shot. Remember, your opponents must hit the pickleball toward the sideline that you are trying to Erne on in order for you to hit an effective Erne without a fault. The most likely scenario when your opponents will hit to your desired sideline is if your opponents are compromised. In other words, the pickleball is down at their feet, possibly got behind their bodies a little, and their head is down and tracking the pickleball. In this instance, you will be able to quickly jump or run around the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen and prepare to hit an Erne on your opponents.

2. Whether you are jumping across or running around the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen, be sure to establish your feet outside of the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen. Once you step into the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen, you must re-establish both feet outside of the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen. If you are jumping, as long as you do not land inside the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen (including on the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line or sidelines), you do not have to re-establish. In other words, the airspace of the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen does not count as being in the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen. You must make contact with the ground (which includes the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line). If you run around the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen,
consider dragging your back foot in order to re-establish your feet outside of the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen as soon as possible before contact with the pickleball.

3. Keep your paddle out in front of you and take a short, compact backswing.

4. Make sure that you and your partner stay linked. If you move off of the court to attempt an Erne, your partner must come with you and cover the middle of the court, as there will be open court space on your side of the pickleball court due to your movement. So, make sure you and your partner stay linked in the event that your opponents do not give you the opportunity to hit the Erne or your opponents are able to return your Erne shot.

5. Hopefully, your Erne is effective and you put the pickleball away. However, always assume that the pickleball will be returned by your opponents. Assuming the pickleball will be returned, quickly move back to your original position behind the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line and revert to Pickleball Ready. Be aware that, due to the open court space caused by you attempting the Erne, it is imperative you hit a winner or otherwise put your opponents on the defensive to keep the point alive.

Again, the Erne is an effective shot in pickleball because it puts pressure on your opponents to hit a quality shot. An Erne also gives your opponents reduced reaction time, generally throws your opponents off guard, and gives your opponents a different “look” on the pickleball courts, which can keep them constantly guessing as to what you and your partner will do next. Once you execute an effective Erne, you can continue to keep your opponents guessing and feeling uncomfortable by even faking that you are going to do an Erne.

Lastly, the Erne can also be an effective tool to encourage your opponents to hit the pickleball to your partner if you find that your opponents are consistently picking on you. Try an Erne, but be sure to set up early and tell your opponents what you are doing. Your opponents will likely avoid hitting the pickleball to you for an easy attack, but rather hit to the open court and your partner will be able to engage in the point.