The Erne Shot in Pickleball
The erne is one of pickleball's most exciting shots — a volley hit from outside the court, around or over the kitchen. Named after Erne Perry, who popularized it, this shot catches opponents off guard and ends points dramatically. Here's everything you need to know about the erne.
🎯 What Is an Erne?
An erne is a volley hit while you're standing outside the sideline, either by running around the kitchen or jumping over it. Because you're not in the non-volley zone when you contact the ball, it's completely legal — even though you're hitting from beside the net.
Why the Erne Works
Extreme Angle
From beside the net, you can hit angles that are impossible from the kitchen line. A cross-court erne can go almost sideways. Opponents often can't reach these shots even if they read them correctly.
Element of Surprise
Most players aren't expecting someone to leave the court and appear beside them at the net. The surprise factor alone can freeze opponents or cause rushed, panicked responses.
Intimidation Factor
Once you've hit a few ernes, opponents become nervous about dinking to your sideline. This psychological pressure opens up other parts of the court.
How to Execute the Erne
The Setup
Ernes don't happen randomly — you create them:
- Dink consistently to your opponent's sideline, establishing a pattern
- Watch for a dink that's heading toward your sideline
- As they contact the ball, begin your movement
The Movement
You have two options:
- Run around: Sprint around the corner of the kitchen, staying outside the non-volley zone, and intercept the ball on the other side.
- Jump over: Leap from behind the kitchen line, hit the ball while airborne, and land outside the sideline. Both feet must clear the kitchen.
The Shot
Keep it simple:
- Compact swing — you're moving fast, no time for a backswing
- Aim for the open court or at your opponent's body
- Don't try to be too cute — the angle itself is the weapon
❌ Common Erne Mistakes
- Going too early: If you leave too soon, opponents see you going and adjust their shot. Wait until they're committed.
- Stepping in the kitchen: Any part of your body touching the NVZ before or during the volley is a fault. Be careful with your footwork.
- Going for it every time: The erne works because it's unexpected. Overuse makes it predictable.
- Missing the ball: If you go for an erne and miss, you've left your partner in a 1v2 situation. Make sure you can get there.
When to Attempt the Erne
The erne is high-risk, high-reward. Good situations:
- Your opponent is locked in a cross-court dink pattern to your sideline
- They're looking at the ball, not at you
- You have the athleticism to get there quickly
- The score allows for some risk (not game point against you)
Bad situations:
- Opponent is watching your movement
- The ball is going toward the middle, not your sideline
- You're tired and slow
- You haven't established the dink pattern to set it up
Defending Against the Erne
If opponents are erne-ing you, here's how to respond:
Keep Your Head Up
Watch for movement in your peripheral vision. If you see them start to go, change your dink direction immediately.
Vary Your Dinks
Don't dink to the same spot repeatedly. Mix middle dinks with sideline dinks. Unpredictability prevents setup.
Dink to the Middle
You can't erne a ball that goes to the center of the court. When in doubt, go middle.
Lob When They Go
If they commit to an erne attempt, lob over their head. They're way out of position and can't recover.
Hit at Their Feet
If they're running toward the sideline, a ball at their feet makes the erne much harder to execute cleanly.
Practice Drills
Shadow ernes: Practice the footwork without a ball. Run around the kitchen corner or practice the jump. Get comfortable with the movement.
Partner dink-and-erne: Have a partner dink cross-court repeatedly. Practice recognizing when to go and executing the shot. Start slow, speed up as you improve.
Erne defense drill: Partner attempts ernes while you practice reading the movement and changing your dink direction.
The Bottom Line
The erne is flashy and fun, but it's a specialty shot, not a staple. It requires athleticism, timing, and good court awareness. Master the fundamentals first — dinking, volleying, third shots — before adding ernes to your game. When you do add them, use them sparingly for maximum effect.