Pickleball Glossary

Whether you're new to pickleball or looking to deepen your understanding, this glossary covers essential terminology for both the game and the equipment.

PADDLE TERMINOLOGY

Balance Point - The location along the paddle where weight is centered. Head-heavy paddles generate more power; handle-heavy paddles offer better maneuverability.

Carbon Fiber Face - A stiff, lightweight paddle surface material that provides excellent power transfer and durability. Carbon fiber faces generate more spin and tend to last longer than other materials.

Core - The internal structure of a paddle, typically made from honeycomb-patterned materials. The core determines the paddle's feel, power, and sound.

Edge Guard - A protective strip around the paddle's perimeter that shields the core and face from ground strikes and accidental impacts.

Elongated Paddle - A paddle shape that extends the length while narrowing the width, providing extra reach and leverage for power shots. The tradeoff is a smaller sweet spot.

EPP Foam Core - Expanded Polypropylene foam used in paddle cores for a soft feel with enhanced durability. EPP cores offer excellent vibration dampening and are popular in quieter paddles.

EVA Foam Core - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate foam used in paddle cores for a cushioned feel and superior vibration dampening. EVA cores are favored by players seeking touch and control.

Fiberglass Face - A paddle surface material offering a flexible, responsive feel with good touch. Fiberglass faces are forgiving on off-center hits.

Graphite Face - A thin, lightweight paddle surface known for excellent feel and responsiveness. Graphite faces prioritize finesse and touch over raw power.

Grip Circumference - The measurement around the paddle handle, typically ranging from 4" to 4.5" for adults. Proper grip size prevents injury and improves control.

Honeycomb Core - The hexagonal cell structure inside most modern paddles. This design provides strength while minimizing weight.

Nomex Core - A harder, louder core material made from aramid fiber honeycomb. Nomex cores deliver maximum power and a distinctive "pop" but transmit more vibration.

Polymer Core - The most common core material, made from polypropylene plastic formed into a honeycomb pattern. Polymer cores offer a soft, quiet feel with excellent control.

Spin Texture - The surface roughness on a paddle face that grips the ball to generate spin. USA Pickleball regulates allowable texture depth for approved paddles.

Sweet Spot - The optimal hitting area on the paddle face where shots feel most solid and controlled. Larger sweet spots are more forgiving.

Swing Weight - A measurement of how heavy a paddle feels when swung, influenced by weight distribution rather than total weight alone.

USA Pickleball Approved - Certification that a paddle meets official regulations for tournament play, including size, surface texture, and materials standards.

GAME TERMINOLOGY

ATP (Around the Post) - A shot hit around the outside of the net post rather than over the net. Legal as long as the ball lands in the court, the ATP is often a dramatic winner.

Dink - A soft, controlled shot that arcs over the net and lands in the opponent's non-volley zone. Dinking is a fundamental skill for patient, strategic play.

Erne - An advanced shot where a player jumps around or over the corner of the non-volley zone to volley the ball close to the net. Named after Erne Perry, who popularized the move.

Fault - A rule violation that ends the rally, such as hitting the ball out of bounds, into the net, or volleying from inside the kitchen.

Kitchen - The informal name for the non-volley zone, the 7-foot area on each side of the net where volleys are prohibited.

Lob - A high, arcing shot intended to sail over opponents' heads and land deep in the court. Used to reset position or catch opponents off guard.

Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) - The 7-foot area adjacent to the net on both sides. Players cannot volley while standing in this zone.

Poach - In doubles, when a player crosses into their partner's side of the court to intercept and hit a ball. Effective poaching requires anticipation and communication.

Rally - The continuous back-and-forth exchange of shots after the serve until a fault occurs or a point is scored.

Return of Serve - The second shot of each rally, hit by the receiving team after the serve bounces. A strong return sets up the point.

Serve - The underhand stroke that begins each point. The ball must be struck below waist level and land in the diagonal service court.

Side Out - When the serving team loses the rally and service passes to the opponent.

Split Step - A small hop that lands with feet shoulder-width apart, used to prepare for the next shot. Good players split step as their opponent makes contact.

Stacking - A doubles positioning strategy where partners line up on the same side of the court before the serve to optimize their positions after the point begins.

Third Shot Drop - A soft shot hit by the serving team on their third shot, designed to land softly in the opponents' kitchen and allow the serving team to advance to the net.

Last Updated: February 2026