If you have ever watched a pickleball player run outside the court and hit the ball around the side of the net, you may have seen an ATP.
ATP stands for Around the Post.
Instead of sending the ball over the net, an ATP sends the ball around the outside of the net post and back into the opponent’s court.
It may look like the ball is going the wrong way, but an ATP is completely legal when played correctly.
What Is an ATP in Pickleball?
An ATP, or Around the Post shot, is a return that travels around the outside of the net post instead of going over the net.
Most shots in pickleball need to clear the net. An ATP is different because the ball travels completely around it.
For the shot to work, you usually need to be pulled wide enough that there is a clear path around the post and back into your opponent’s court.
ATP opportunities often happen during a dink rally when an opponent hits a sharp crosscourt shot that takes you outside the sideline.
Is an ATP Legal?
Yes. An ATP is a legal pickleball shot.
The ball does not have to travel over the net. It can travel around the outside of the net post and into the opponent’s court.
This is one reason the shot can look unusual the first time you see it. The ball may travel much lower than the top of the net and still be legal.
The important part is that the ball goes around the outside of the post, not through the gap between the net and the post.
When Can You Hit an ATP?
You cannot really force an ATP from anywhere on the court. You normally need the right angle first.
A common setup happens when your opponent hits a wide crosscourt dink. After the ball bounces, it continues travelling away from the sideline and pulls you outside the court.
If the ball travels far enough past the net post, you may suddenly have a direct path back into your opponent’s court without having to hit over the net.
That is your ATP opportunity.
Think of it like this:
Wide ball → You move outside the court → Ball passes the post → Hit around the post
How Do You Hit an ATP?
The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to hit the ball too early.
When an ATP opportunity appears, you often need to let the ball travel wider than you normally would. This creates more space between the ball and the net post.
Move with the ball and get into a balanced position outside the sideline. Once you have a clear path around the post, guide the ball back into the opponent’s court.
You can focus on a few simple things:
- Follow the ball outside the court
- Let it travel wide enough to create an angle
- Keep your paddle controlled
- Aim around the outside of the post
- Keep the ball inside the opponent’s court
You do not need to hit the ball extremely hard. A well-placed ATP can already be difficult to return because of the angle.
Where Should an ATP Land?
Once the ball travels around the post, it still needs to land inside your opponent’s court.
Many players aim down the sideline because that is often the most natural angle from outside the court.
For beginners, however, there is no need to aim right beside the line.
Giving yourself a little more space inside the court can make the shot safer and easier to control.
Can the Ball Go Below the Net?
Yes.
This is one of the most interesting parts of an ATP.
Because the ball is travelling around the net instead of over it, it does not need to clear the top of the net. An ATP can travel below net height and still be legal.
That is why some ATPs travel very low to the ground.
The important thing is the path of the ball. It needs to go around the outside of the post and land legally in the opponent’s court.
Can You Run Outside the Court?
Yes.
Players are allowed to move outside the sidelines during a rally, so you can run off the court to reach a wide ball and attempt an ATP.
There are still rules around the plane of the net. In normal play, you cannot cross the plane of the net before hitting the ball. After making contact, however, your follow-through can take you around the post and across that imaginary line, provided you follow the other net and opponent-contact rules. The current 2026 rules continue to distinguish crossing before contact from crossing as part of the shot after contact.
For a beginner, the easiest thing to remember is:
Go around the court if you need to, but hit the ball before moving past the net line.
Common ATP Mistakes
Hitting the Ball Too Early
If you hit while the ball is still too close to the court, the net post may still be blocking your angle.
Letting the ball travel farther outside the sideline can create a much clearer path around the post.
Trying to Hit Over the Net
An ATP does not need to go over the net.
If the angle is there, think around the post, not over it.
Hitting the Net Post
The ball needs to travel cleanly around the outside of the post. The net post is treated as a permanent object under the rules, so hitting the post before the ball lands does not make a successful ATP.
Aiming Too Close to the Line
Trying to hit the perfect ATP right beside the sideline can lead to unnecessary errors.
If you are learning the shot, aim safely inside the court first.
Forcing the Shot
Not every wide ball gives you an ATP.
If the ball has not travelled far enough past the post, you may be better off making a normal return and staying in the rally.
ATP vs Erne
An ATP and an Erne are both unusual-looking pickleball shots, but they are not the same.
An ATP is about where the ball travels.
The ball goes around the outside of the net post instead of over the net.
An Erne is about where the player is positioned when hitting a volley.
The player hits the ball near the net while positioned outside the non-volley zone.
An easy way to remember the difference is:
ATP = ball goes around the post
Erne = player moves around the kitchen
Quick Recap
ATP stands for Around the Post.
It is a legal shot where the ball travels around the outside of the net post and lands inside the opponent’s court.
It usually happens when a wide shot pulls you outside the sideline and creates an open angle around the post.
The ball does not have to travel over the net and can even travel below net height.
The easiest way to remember it is:
ATP = around the post, not over the net.
You may not see an ATP in every game, but once you know what to look for, you will probably start noticing when the opportunity appears.
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