The Pickleball Erne in an advanced play named after the pro player Erne Perry who pioneered this move. As you advance to the 3.5+ level, you will look to use this play if you have the physical agility to pull it off.
In pickleball you can’t volley a shot when you are in the kitchen. You also can’t land in the kitchen after hitting any shot contacted outside of the kitchen.
However, you can hit a shot from the side of the kitchen. You can also hit a shot in the air over the kitchen if you leave the ground from outside the kitchen and land outside of the kitchen.
Moving from the back of the kitchen line to the side of the kitchen while striking the ball in the air is an Erne.
It’s an advanced technique that demands physical agility. You also need to be looking for a good setup to execute the Erne.
Pickleball Erne Scenario
The Erne happens mostly when teams are at the net in a dinking rally. The illustration below shows an Erne.
In this scenario…
1. Your partner dinks a shot back at the opponent in front of you.
2. Your opponent dinks it straight back at you.
3. You anticipate this and jump from the back line of the kitchen, over the sideline. While the dink is just coming over the net, you are moving through the air and can reach it before it drops. You volley it hard and put it away. You land safely on the side of the court and never touch the kitchen line.
Amazing!
Your opponents are stunned and don’t know what hit them because it happened so fast.
Pickleball Erne Limitations
You cannot touch the net or land on the kitchen line.
Instead of jumping over the kitchen, you can also run through the kitchen to the sideline. Just make sure when you hit the ball your feet are planted outside of the kitchen.
Look for the Erne Setup
The Pickleball Erne play is a great tactic for advanced players.
It requires you to think about doing it ahead of time. Look for it when dinking and anticipate a forward dink right back at you when you are positioned near the sideline.
The Pickleball Erne play is an anticipation and timing move that requires great skill and athletic ability.
Good luck!
A collection of Pickleball Erne plays…
Courtesy of PickleballerTV