The two most talked about trick shots in pickleball are the around-the-post shot and Erne. Let’s take a close look at these two exciting trick shots in pickleball.
The around-the-post shot is a type of shot that involves hitting the ball around the outside of the net post and into the opponent’s court. This shot is usually attempted when the ball is close to the sideline and there is not enough room to hit it directly over the net. The around-the-post shot can be a very effective way to catch your opponent off guard and win the point.
To perform the around-the-post shot, you need to be positioned on the court close to the sideline and facing the net. As the ball approaches, you need to hit it with a lot of spin so that it curves around the outside of the net post and lands in the opponent’s court. You will need to aim your shot carefully to ensure that it lands in the court and not out of bounds.
Timing and precision are crucial to executing this shot successfully. You will need to practice the around-the-post shot many times to get the hang of it, and it is important to remember that this is a high-risk shot that should only be attempted when you are confident in your ability to execute it effectively.
One of the best videos on the around-the-post shot is “US Open Pickleball – Multi-Camera Breakdown of an Around-the-Net Post Shot with Spectacular Return” presented by the Pickleball Channel. The video shows one point from a mixed doubles gold medal match that incorporates an around-the-post shot followed by a defensive hit. The video offers a unique multi-camera breakdown of this amazing point and demonstrates how to hit an around-the-post shot.
One other trick shot most talked about in pickleball is the Erne, a type of shot that involves hitting the ball while jumping or stepping outside the court, near the non-volley zone, and returning the ball while in mid-air or immediately after landing back in the court. This shot is typically used as an offensive strategy to catch the opponent off guard and put them on the defensive.
To perform the Erne, you need to be positioned close to the non-volley zone on either side of the court, facing the opponent’s side. As the ball approaches, you need to jump or step outside the court, hit the ball while in mid-air or immediately after landing back in the court, and return it with force toward your opponent’s side. This shot is usually performed when your opponent hits a high ball that is not too deep, allowing you to make it to the non-volley zone in time for the shot.
The information in this blog post comes from my research and experience playing pickleball and can be found in my books — HOW TO GET STARTED PLAYING and HOW TO IMPROVE FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE IN PICKLEBALL — both are available on Amazon. I hope you learn something from this post that you can take onto the courts to help you improve your game.