What is an Erne in Pickleball?

Sometimes when watching masters or more advanced pickleball players duel it out, you’ll see a shot or two that makes you go, “What was that?!” An Erne (pronounced ern-ie) is one of those shots. Today, we discuss the Erne, including what it is, where its name came from, how to set one up, and the benefits of using it.

Let’s get started.

What is an Erne?

On any competitive field or court, it’s essential to keep your opponent guessing. In pickleball, this might mean driving the ball when you should drop shot it or performing a more advanced surprise shot like the Erne. An Erne is when a player steps outside the inner part of the court and on the other side of the sideline (left or right) and comes forward to be parallel with the kitchen (though they are technically outside the kitchen). The ball is struck out of the air and very close to the net.

It may help to think of table tennis. It’s almost as if you are jumping and reaching over your opponent’s net to slam the ball onto their side. Imagine running around to the side of the table, right up against the net, and slamming the ball–it’s almost impossible for your opponent to return this shot.

Now, instead of a table, imagine the court. You place your body outside the NVZ (non-volley zone) and quickly hit the ball, surprising your opponent.

In case you’re more of a visual learner, consider these frames taken from a video by our friends at Prime Time Pickleball:

The player is set up at the kitchen line in this frame, simply playing a volley.

Then, on one of his opponent’s returns, he quickly places his to the outside of the kitchen (it’s critical to not have your foot on the line or in the kitchen).

He hits the ball quickly, as soon as it crosses the net.

He strikes the ball past his opponent’s feet, while maintaining his out-of-bounds position.

You can watch the full video on How to Setup the Erne in Pickleball here.

Where Does the Erne Name Come From?

But why is it called the Erne? The Erne shot, or just called the Erne, was a term used by a videographer named Jeff Shank, who watched Erne Perry during the 2010 USAPA National Pickleball Tournament in Buckeye, Arizona. Although Perry didn’t invent the shot, he used the shot often to dominate rallies and received credit for making the shot popular during competitive play. Hence, the “Erne” was born.

How to Set Up an Erne

The trick to setting up an Erne is getting your opponent to continue dinking the ball down closer toward the sideline. Ideally, you’ve put them in a position where they cannot hit it the other way or take the ball deeper into your court. You will need to be close enough to the sideline to either hop or quickly run and establish your feet outside of the kitchen. But, to do this, you need to start your movement before they hit the ball.  

The timing of this is critical and what makes it such an advanced shot. You need to coax your opponent to hit it exactly where you want them to, then have the confidence to start your movement before they actually do it. Also, if they notice you moving there for the setup, they may try to hit the ball somewhere else instead. You can practice this by getting a partner and working dink shots down the kitchen line. Find the right angles to aim for that prevent your partner from taking their shot anywhere else but the kitchen corner. Then, try out the Erne and see how it works for you.

What Makes an Erne Legal?

The kitchen rules state that you cannot hit a ball out of the air while standing in the non-volley zone (NVZ) or on the NVZ line. But, that line does not extend beyond the court. Meaning, if you are standing on the sideline, the kitchen rules no longer apply. If the NVZ line extended, then the shot wouldn’t be legal–but it doesn’t and so the shot is legal.

Also, you cannot reach your arm over the net and hit the ball before it crosses the plane. You must wait until the ball crosses before you make contact with it. The goal then is to hit the ball as soon as it crosses, which means the motions all begin earlier than you would start them for other shots. This also lends to the surprise of the Erne.

Benefits of an Erne

Besides being fun and awesome to watch, the Erne does carry some benefits.

1. It catches your opponent off guard

Typically, players are not looking at the sidelines for their opponents, so they may not notice that you’ve moved there (especially if you’ve done it quickly).

2. It’s difficult to return

Your Erne should strike either past the player or right at their feet. If you’ve timed it right, your opponent will likely hesitate for a moment and be unable to recover quickly enough to return it back.

3. In doubles, your partner can rescue you

If you attempt an Erne while playing doubles, and you time it wrong, or your opponent becomes hip to your attempt, they will try to aim their shot the other way. If your partner knows that you are going to try an Erne from time to time, they should be able to recover the spot you abandoned and keep the volley going.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has clarified the Erne shot, and you’re better prepared to take it on yourself. We implore you to give it a shot (pun not intended) during practice and see if it’s something worth adding to your arsenal. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll become so good at it, they’ll have to rename it after you!