What Is an Erne in Pickleball
Quick Answer: An erne is an aggressive pickleball shot where you volley the ball right next to the net while standing outside the kitchen, either by jumping over the corner of the non-volley zone or stepping around it. Because your feet are outside the kitchen, the volley is legal. It is used to surprise an opponent who dinks predictably toward your sideline, letting you attack a ball before it crosses the net.
The erne, named after player Erne Perry, is an advanced shot that lets you volley near the net without breaking the kitchen rule. It looks flashy, but at its core it is just a smart way to attack a predictable dink.
What exactly is an erne?
A volley hit beside the net from outside the kitchen. Normally you cannot volley while standing in the non-volley zone. The erne gets around this by positioning your body in the small legal area outside the sideline, next to the kitchen, so you can intercept the ball near the net while keeping your feet legal.
The key elements:
- You volley the ball (hit it before it bounces).
- Your feet are outside the kitchen, in the area beyond the sideline next to the net.
- You get there by jumping over the kitchen corner or stepping around it.
- It lets you attack near the net, taking time away from your opponent.
It is legal because the rules only restrict volleying while touching the kitchen, not standing beside it. What I tell players is that the erne is less about athleticism and more about reading your opponent.
How do you hit an erne?
Anticipate the dink, get around the kitchen, and volley clean. Timing and positioning are everything. The shot fails if you commit too early (your opponent sees it and goes elsewhere) or too late (you cannot get set).
The steps:
- Read a predictable dink heading toward your sideline corner.
- Move early but disguised, either jumping over the corner of the kitchen or stepping around the outside of it.
- Land or set your feet outside the kitchen line, beside the net.
- Volley the ball crisply, often downward, before it crosses to your side.
- Stay balanced, since landing in the kitchen during the volley motion is a fault.
A clean erne requires that your feet are outside the kitchen at contact and that you do not touch the zone as part of the shot. For the rule that governs that, see our guide to the momentum rule.
When should you use an erne, and what about the bert?
Use it against predictable dinks, sparingly, for surprise. The erne works best as an occasional weapon, not a go-to. Its power is surprise, and a predictable erne is easy to counter with a dink to the middle.
When it works:
- Your opponent dinks repeatedly to the same sideline spot.
- You can disguise your movement until the last moment.
- You want to apply pressure and take time away at the net.
When to skip it:
- The dink pattern is unpredictable.
- You would leave a huge gap in the court if you miss.
A close cousin is the bert, which is an erne hit by crossing in front of your partner, on their side of the court. We break that down in our guide to the bert and how it differs from an erne.
Frequently asked questions
What is an erne in pickleball? It is a volley hit next to the net from just outside the kitchen, reached by jumping over or stepping around the non-volley zone corner. It lets you legally attack near the net.
Is the erne legal? Yes. The rules only prohibit volleying while touching the kitchen. If your feet are outside the kitchen when you volley, an erne is completely legal.
How do you hit an erne? Anticipate a dink to your sideline, move around or over the kitchen corner, set your feet outside the kitchen line, and volley the ball before it crosses, staying balanced.
Who is the erne named after? It is named after pickleball player Erne Perry, who is credited with popularizing the shot.
When should I use an erne? Mostly as a surprise against an opponent who dinks predictably to your sideline. Used too often, it becomes easy to counter with a dink to the middle.
What is the difference between an erne and a bert? A bert is essentially an erne hit by crossing in front of your partner, on their side of the court, making it a more aggressive poaching version.
The erne rewards players who read patterns, not just athletes. Sharpen your net game with our beginner drills and the third shot drop, or get hands-on coaching through our coaches and clinics directory.
Written by the Pickler Junction Team.
