The erne
The erne is a legal volley hit from outside the sideline, next to the kitchen, by jumping over the kitchen corner or stepping around it. Learn the rules, the setup and how to defend it.
What an erne is
An erne is a volley hit close to the net from outside the sideline, next to the kitchen. Because the player is not touching the kitchen, the volley is legal even though they are effectively standing beside the net. The shot is named after Erne Perry, a player credited with popularizing it.
It is one of the most exciting shots in pickleball, and a great way to end a dink rally that has drifted toward the sideline.
How to do it legally
There are two ways to get into erne position:
- Jump the corner. From outside the kitchen, leap over the corner of the kitchen and land outside the sideline, hitting the ball in the air before or as you land.
- Walk around. Step outside the sideline, beside the kitchen, before the ball is struck, and wait there to volley.
The key rules come from the kitchen rules:
- You cannot volley while touching the kitchen, including its lines.
- If you step through the kitchen to get there, you must establish both feet outside the kitchen, on the ground beyond the sideline, before you volley.
- Your momentum after the volley cannot carry you into the kitchen.
| Situation | Call |
|---|---|
| Jump from outside, over the corner, volley in the air, land outside the sideline | Legal |
| Walk through the kitchen, plant both feet outside the sideline, then volley | Legal |
| Walk through the kitchen and volley with one foot still in | Fault |
| Volley, then land on the kitchen line | Fault |
When to look for it
The erne works when your opponent dinks straight down the line along your sideline, especially from their side of the court nearest you. Watch for:
- A predictable down-the-line dink pattern.
- An opponent who is pulled wide and cannot dink cross-court.
- A dink that stays high enough to volley.
Disguise is everything. If you move too early, your opponent will simply dink cross-court.
How to hit it
- Time your move as the opponent commits to the shot.
- Keep the paddle up and in front.
- Hit down and toward the opponent's feet or into the open middle.
- Keep the swing compact; it is a short, firm volley, not a smash.
Defending the erne
- Dink cross-court more. Erne attempts depend on down-the-line balls.
- Keep dinks low. A ball that stays below net height is hard to erne.
- Watch the sideline. If you see an opponent creeping outside, dink to the middle or behind them.
- Be ready for a fast ball at your feet or body.
Drill
Set up a down-the-line dink rally along one sideline. One player feeds slightly high dinks. The other practices stepping around the post, establishing both feet, and volleying to a target. Then progress to the jump version, starting at walking pace.
Jumping ernes involve landing at speed near the post and net. Learn the walk-around version first, and make sure the area outside the sideline is clear and not slippery.
Related highlight shot
The erne's cousin is the around-the-post shot, which also uses the space outside the sidelines.
