It’s one of the most electric, high-flying, and unexpected shots in all of pickleball. You’re in a fast-paced dink rally, and suddenly, a player seems to defy gravity—and the rules—by leaping across the sideline to smash a winning volley.
Their partner yells “ERNIE!” and the crowd goes wild.
If you’re new to the sport, this moment is pure confusion. You’re left asking, what is an ernie in pickleball? It looks like a blatant kitchen fault, but everyone is celebrating. The Ernie is more than just a shot; it’s a statement. It’s an advanced, athletic maneuver that, when done correctly, is a complete game-changer.
The Definition: So, What is an Ernie in Pickleball?
Let’s get the technical definition out of the way first. An Ernie is an aggressive, offensive shot where a player jumps over the non-volley zone (NVZ) outside the confines of the court to hit a volley.
The player is leaping across the corner of the kitchen, not into it. They are airborne, adjacent to the sideline, allowing them to legally strike a volley that would otherwise be unreachable or un-attackable. This shot is the ultimate answer to an opponent who is dinking too comfortably cross-court. When you master the Ernie, you add a terrifying weapon to your arsenal.
Is the Ernie Even Legal? The Kitchen Rule Explained
The first question every new player asks after seeing one is, “But isn’t that a fault?” The confusion is understandable. The answer, however, is yes, the Ernie is 100% legal.
This is the most critical part of understanding what is an ernie in pickleball. The Non-Volley Zone rule only applies to the 7-foot area between the sidelines. The airspace outside the sidelines (the area you are jumping over) is not part of the NVZ. For a full breakdown of the Kitchen rules and all other official regulations, check out our Complete Pickleball Play Guide: Origins and Official Rules.
As long as your feet:
- Take off from a legal position (outside the NVZ).
- Do not touch the ground inside the NVZ or on the NVZ line after you hit the ball…
…you can jump, fly, and hit any ball you want. The Ernie is a brilliant exploitation of this rule.
The Origin: Why is it Called an “Ernie”?
The shot’s name is just as quirky as the sport itself. The Ernie is named after player Erv Zentner (nicknamed Ernie), who was known for pioneering this aggressive jump-volley. He was one of the first players to realize that the outside airspace was a legal avenue for an attack, and his execution of the shot made it famous, cementing its name in the pickleball lexicon.
So, when someone asks what is an ernie in pickleball, you can tell them it’s named after a real player who changed the way the game is played at the net.
The Strategic Purpose: When and Why to Hit an Ernie
The Ernie isn’t just a party trick. It’s a high-level tactical move used to counter a specific, common scenario.
1. Breaking the Cross-Court Dink Rally
This is the primary setup. Imagine you are at the net on the even (right) side. Your opponent (also on the even side) is engaged in a safe, cross-court dink rally with your partner. You, as the player on the odd side, are just standing there, watching. The Ernie is your way to poach and end the rally.
You anticipate the next cross-court dink. As the opponent hits it, you jump across the sideline, intercept the ball in the air, and smash it, often at the feet of the player who hit it. It’s the ultimate violation of their “safe” space.
2. The Element of Surprise
Even if you miss, the threat of an Ernie is often enough. Once you prove you’re willing to do it, your opponents can no longer comfortably dink cross-court. They have to change their entire strategy, often forcing them into riskier shots down the line. The Ernie is a mental weapon as much as a physical one.
How to Execute a Perfect Ernie (Step-by-Step)
Executing an Ernie is one of the most physically demanding shots in pickleball. Here’s the breakdown.
- The Bait: You must anticipate the shot. Watch your opponent. Are they locked into a cross-court dink pattern? Are their hips facing that direction? This anticipation is the first step.
- The Footwork: You cannot just jump from a standing start. You must take a quick shuffle or step toward the sideline, parallel to the kitchen line.
- The Jump: This is the key. You must take off before the sideline and jump diagonally over the outside corner of the NVZ. Your entire body must be in the air, outside the court’s playing surface, as you make contact.
- The Contact: This is a volley, so make it count. It’s not a wild swing; it’s a firm “punch” volley, typically aimed down at the opponent’s feet or into the open center of the court.
- The Landing: You must land outside the court. If your momentum carries you forward and your foot touches the Kitchen line or the court inside the Kitchen, it is a fault. Land on your feet, balanced, in the out-of-bounds area.
Mastering this sequence is what separates players who know what is an ernie in pickleball from those who can actually do one.
The Risks: What Can Go Wrong?
Before you start leaping around the court, understand the dangers of the Ernie.
- The Foot Fault: This is the most common error. If any part of your foot touches the NVZ or its line during the jump or landing, you lose the point.
- The Miss: The Ernie is a high-difficulty, all-or-nothing shot. You are jumping, turning, and hitting a moving ball, all at once. It’s very easy to hit the ball into the net or sail it long.
- Exposing Your Partner: When you go for an Ernie, you are completely abandoning your side of the court. If your opponent sees you coming and hits the ball down the line instead, you and your partner are left hopelessly out of position.
This shot requires near-perfect timing and high athleticism. Don’t attempt the Ernie unless you have mastered the fundamentals of the soft game first.
The Ernie is the pinnacle of pickleball aggression. It’s a spectacular, high-risk, high-reward play that proves the depth of strategy in this sport. Now, the next time you see it happen, you won’t be asking, what is an ernie in pickleball? You’ll just be asking if they can do it again.
