If you have ever watched a pickleball player suddenly move outside the court and hit a volley right beside the net, you may have seen an Erne.
An Erne is a volley hit near the net while the player is positioned outside the kitchen, usually beside the sideline.
It allows the player to attack the ball very close to the net without actually standing inside the non-volley zone.
It looks unusual, but when done correctly, an Erne is completely legal.
What Is an Erne in Pickleball?
An Erne is a volley hit close to the net while the player is positioned outside the non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen.
Instead of standing behind the kitchen line like you normally would for a volley, the player moves around or jumps over the corner of the kitchen and positions themselves beside the court.
From there, they can take the ball out of the air very close to the net.
Because the player is outside the kitchen when they volley, the shot can be legal even though they are much closer to the net than usual.
Why Is an Erne Legal?
The kitchen rule does not say that you have to stay seven feet away from the net.
It says that you cannot volley while touching the non-volley zone or its lines. USA Pickleball also requires a player who has touched the kitchen to re-establish themselves completely outside it before hitting a volley.
The area outside the sideline is not part of the kitchen.
That means a player can move beside the court, near the net, and volley the ball from there as long as they follow the other rules.
The easiest way to understand it is:
You cannot volley from inside the kitchen, but you can volley from beside it.
When Can You Hit an Erne?
An Erne usually appears when your opponent hits a ball close to the sideline.
Imagine both teams are dinking near the kitchen. Your opponent keeps sending the ball towards the edge of the court.
If you can predict where the next ball is going, you may be able to move outside the sideline before they hit it.
Instead of waiting behind the kitchen line, you position yourself beside the net and take the next ball out of the air.
Because you are so close to the net, you can often hit the ball at a sharper angle and give your opponent less time to react.
Ernes are generally considered a more advanced technique. USA Pickleball includes the Erne among strategies that higher-level players begin to use as their anticipation and court awareness improve.
How Do You Hit an Erne?
There are different ways to get into position for an Erne, but the goal is the same: get outside the kitchen before hitting the volley.
One common method is to move around the outside edge of the kitchen and stand beside the court near the net.
Another is to jump over the corner of the kitchen and hit the ball while moving outside the court.
Whichever method you use, the important part is that you do not touch the kitchen while completing the volley.
You also need to time your movement carefully. Moving too early can show your opponent exactly what you are planning, while moving too late may leave you unable to reach the ball.
Can You Jump Over the Kitchen?
Yes, but simply being in the air does not automatically make the shot legal.
If you jump to hit an Erne, you must follow the non-volley-zone rules throughout the volley. You cannot jump from inside the kitchen to hit a volley and then land outside it.
USA Pickleball specifically states that a player who has touched the non-volley zone must re-establish both feet outside the zone before volleying.
So a legal Erne may involve jumping over the corner of the kitchen from outside it and landing outside the court.
Think of it this way:
Jump over the kitchen = possible
Jump from inside the kitchen = fault
Common Erne Mistakes
Touching the Kitchen
This is the most important one.
An Erne is still a volley, so normal kitchen rules apply. If you touch the kitchen or its line while completing the volley, it is a fault.
Stepping Through the Kitchen and Volleying Too Soon
You can move through the kitchen during a rally, but if you have touched it, you must re-establish yourself outside the zone before hitting a volley.
Simply jumping out of the kitchen is not enough.
Crossing the Net Too Early
Being outside the sideline does not mean you can move onto your opponent’s side of the net.
Under the current rules, crossing the plane of the net before striking the ball is a fault. A player may cross it immediately after contact as part of the natural continuation of the shot, provided the other net rules are followed.
Moving Too Early
An Erne often relies on anticipation.
If you move outside the court too soon, your opponent may notice and simply hit the ball somewhere else.
Trying to Force an Erne
Not every ball near the sideline is an Erne opportunity.
Sometimes staying in position and playing a normal volley or dink is the better choice.
Erne vs ATP
An Erne and an ATP can both happen near the net post, which is why beginners sometimes confuse them.
But they describe two different things.
An Erne is about where the player is positioned.
The player moves outside the kitchen and volleys the ball close to the net.
An ATP, or Around the Post shot, is about where the ball travels.
The ball travels around the outside of the net post instead of going over the net.
So the easiest way to remember them is:
Erne = player goes beside the kitchen
ATP = ball goes around the post
With an Erne, the ball will usually still travel over the net. With an ATP, it goes around it.
Quick Recap
An Erne is a volley hit near the net while the player is positioned outside the kitchen, usually beside the sideline.
It allows a player to attack the ball from very close to the net while still following the non-volley-zone rules.
To keep an Erne legal, remember:
- Do not volley while touching the kitchen or its line
- If you entered the kitchen, re-establish yourself outside before volleying
- Do not cross the plane of the net before hitting the ball
- Stay clear of the net itself
The easiest way to remember it is:
Erne = volley from beside the kitchen.
It is a more advanced shot, so beginners do not need to start attempting Ernes straight away. But knowing what one looks like will make it much easier to understand when you see one during a game.
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