The Erne Shot in Pickleball: What It Is and How to Hit It
Named after Erne Perry, who popularized it at the highest levels of competitive play, the erne is pickleball's flashiest shot and one of its most misunderstood. Players who don't know what they're seeing assume it must be illegal. Players who do know often can't believe it's as effective as it looks. This guide covers everything: the rule that makes it legal, when to use it, how to set it up, and how to start practicing it.
What is the erne?
The erne is a volley hit from outside the court — specifically, from beside the net post, outside the sideline boundary. The player either jumps around the post or runs around it to volley the ball before it bounces, from a position that would normally be out of bounds.
It's most commonly set up on a dink rally where you can anticipate your opponent will hit a ball down the line, near the sideline. By moving laterally and getting outside the court boundary, you can volley the ball at a sharp, nearly unreturnable angle.
The shot was named after Erne Perry, who used it relentlessly in early PPA Tour competitions. Now it appears at all levels from 3.5 rec play to professional matches.
Why is it legal?
The erne is legal for one specific reason: the non-volley zone rule only restricts volleying from within the NVZ, not from outside the court. When you position yourself beside the post — outside the sideline — you are not in the kitchen. You're not even on the court.
The key requirements: your feet cannot touch the kitchen or the NVZ line at the moment of the volley. If you jump from outside the kitchen and land outside the sideline, you've never touched the NVZ. Legal erne.
You can also walk or run around the post (not jump), as long as you don't step in the kitchen during the volley. Some advanced players set up the erne several shots in advance by slowly walking around the post during the dink rally.
When to attempt an erne
The ideal setup: your opponent is dinking cross-court to your partner and the ball is tracking toward the sideline near you. If it's going to bounce near the NVZ line close to the sideline, you have time to move around the post.
Read the ball early. The erne only works if you commit before the ball reaches the kitchen. If you hesitate, you'll either be late or step in the kitchen trying to get there.
High-percentage erne situations: when your opponent is dinking predictably to the same spot repeatedly, when you've pushed the ball wide and they have to dink back cross-court, and when the dink is high and slow (giving you more time to position).
Low-percentage situations: when the dink is hit hard and fast, when the ball is going wide of where you'd need to be, or when you'd have to step in the kitchen to get there.
How to practice it
Start without a ball: practice the footwork of moving outside the post, planting outside the sideline, and volleying at shoulder height. The movement pattern — lateral shuffle then quick step around the post — needs to be automatic before you add the ball.
Drill with a partner: have them feed low, predictable dinks near the sideline while you practice the footwork and volley contact. Aim cross-court at a sharp angle — the geometry from outside the post creates angles that are nearly impossible to defend.
Common error: stepping in the kitchen while setting up. If your foot touches the NVZ line during the volley, it's a fault. Practice planting your lead foot outside the court (outside the sideline) before contact.
The Bert: your partner's erne
The Bert is the erne hit by the player at the opposite end of the net — it requires crossing in front of your partner. If you're on the left side of the court and you run around the right post (your partner's post) to volley, that's a Bert.
The Bert is rarer because it requires coordination with your partner — they have to move out of your way and cover your vacated side of the court simultaneously. At the recreational level, the Bert usually causes more chaos than it's worth unless you've practiced it.
In competitive doubles, a successful Bert is one of the most disruptive shots in the game — it completely wrong-foots the opponent who was tracking the cross-court player, not the one charging at them.
Frequently asked questions
Is the erne legal in all pickleball formats?+
Yes — the erne is legal under official USA Pickleball rules in recreational and tournament play, singles and doubles. The only requirement is that you don't touch the NVZ or NVZ line during the volley.
Can I set up an erne by walking around the post (not jumping)?+
Yes. Many experienced players slowly walk to the outside of the post during a dink exchange, particularly when they can see the dink heading toward the sideline. Jumping is flashier but walking is often more controlled and consistent.
What angle should I aim for on an erne?+
Aim cross-court — from your position outside the post, a cross-court ball travels at an extreme angle that puts it outside the opponent's reach. A down-the-line ball from the erne position is easier to defend.
What is the Bert in pickleball?+
The Bert is an erne hit by the player on the opposite side of the court, requiring them to cross in front of their partner and volley from outside the opposite post. It's rare in recreational play but devastatingly effective when executed well.
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