Every sport has its own language. Football has touchdowns. Basketball has layups. And pickleball? Pickleball has the kitchen.
Yes, the kitchen. And no, nobody is cooking in there.
Before you step on the court for the first time, you need to know what people are actually talking about. Here are the seven basic pickleball terms that come up in almost every game.
The 7 Terms You Need to Know
Serve
This is the shot that starts every rally. The server hits the ball from behind the baseline and must land it diagonally across the court, past the kitchen line. Every point begins with a serve.
Rally
Once the serve is in, the rally begins. A rally is the back-and-forth exchange of shots between both teams. It continues until someone hits the ball out, into the net, or commits a fault.
Dink
A dink is a soft, controlled shot that lands inside the kitchen. It isn't meant to be powerful. It's meant to keep the ball low and force your opponent to hit up. You'll hear this term a lot, especially during longer kitchen rallies.
Drive
A drive is a fast, flat shot designed to pressure your opponent. It's commonly used on the third shot or whenever you have an opportunity to attack.
Volley
A volley is when you hit the ball before it bounces. You can volley almost anywhere on the court, except while you're touching the kitchen or the kitchen line.
Side Out
A side out happens when the serving team loses the rally and the serve goes to the other team. Since only the serving team can score, earning a side out gives your team the chance to start putting points on the board.
Kitchen
The kitchen is the seven-foot non-volley zone on both sides of the net. You can stand in it, walk through it, and hit the ball after it bounces there. The only thing you can't do is volley while touching the kitchen or its line.
Why These Terms Matter
You don't need to memorize the entire rulebook before your first game. But knowing these seven terms will help you understand what's happening on the court, communicate better with your partner, and feel much more confident when someone says, "Nice dink!"
