What is an Erne?

The opponent has sent a loopy ball but its bound to fall in the kitchen and with that youre chances of hitting a volley also went away, but what if we told you there is a way to legally hit this ball on the volley in Pickleball? If you’re eyeballs lit up then you need to first thank one certain Mr. Erne Perry and then continue reading this guide in order to learn what is an Erne shot in pickleball.

What Is an Erne in Pickleball?

At Home for Pickleball, we love talking about the shots played by the pros and the Erne is hands down one of them.

An Erne is basically an aggressive volley taken while you position yourself just outside the court, striking the ball in the air as it travels above the kitchen. For it to be legal, you must jump or move into the out-of-bounds area beside the non-volley zone, make contact mid-air, and land completely outside the kitchen. No part of your body, paddle, or momentum can drift into the NVZ.

You can hit an Erne on either side of the net, but timing and footwork are everything. When you pull it off cleanly, it’s usually the last shot of the rally. But before chasing highlight-worthy shots, we strongly encourage players to build the fundamentals of steady dinks, patient patterns, and reliable volleys first. These are the skills that set you up to recognize and create Erne opportunities instead of forcing them.

So why do the pros drill this shot so often? Not just because it makes for good highlights on ESPN. The real reason is simple: knowing when to attack with an Erne can be the difference between finishing a game confidently and walking away thinking “if only.” It’s a weapon that can elevate your game from a strong 4.0 play into a 5.0 play where players are always decisive, intentional, and always plan for the next shot simply by predicting patterns.

Now that you know what makes the Erne so effective, let’s break down how to actually hit one.

Why Is It Called An Erne?

Ok we know reading about this can be a bit boring but it is only fair to put the limelight on why the shot is called an Erne.

The Erne gets its name from Erne Perry, a competitive pickleball player who became widely recognized for hitting this shot time and again and winning points with it as well. His ability to time the move perfectly and use it as a real offensive weapon made the shot stand out and ultimately earned it his name.

Erne Perry didn’t invent the technique, but he’s the one who put it on the map. His breakout moment came during the 2010 USAPA National Pickleball Tournament in Buckeye, Arizona, where he used the shot so effectively that players and spectators couldn’t stop talking about it. From that point forward, the move became known simply as “the Erne,” a nod to the player who brought it into the spotlight.

Mastering the Erne

The Erne is one of those shots that can light up a rally and just as easily leave experienced players shaking their heads. It’s not simply the jump beside the non-volley zone that makes it tricky. What really matters is timing, precision, and a bit of controlled boldness or what we like to call it ‘cockyness’

But here’s the good news: the Erne doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Imagine you’re deep into a fast-paced point, you recognize the setup, take a clean split step, and explode toward the sideline. In one smooth motion, your paddle meets the ball mid-air, and you put away the Erne with authority. Your opponents freeze, your partner grins, and for a moment the whole court feels electric, and just like that the momentum of the game turns into your favor

That’s the magic of the Erne it blends finesse with power and rewards players willing to think ahead and trust their instincts. It’s also a reflection of your growth as a player: your discipline, your willingness to evolve, and your love for the sport.

With the right coaching, consistent reps, and a paddle that matches your style, mastering the Erne isn’t just possible but it is the next exciting step in elevating your pickleball game.

What Does An Erne Look Like?

An Erne is the kind of shot that makes you feel like a certified Avenger on the pickleball court. When your usual toolbox isn’t getting the job done and the point looks out of reach, the Erne steps in as your secret weapon.

The setup usually starts in a tight dink exchange. If you’ve managed to pin your opponent into a corner and they’re forced to send their dinks closer and closer to your sideline, stay alert. Watch the height and lift on their shot. The moment you see a ball with enough air under it, that’s your cue. Explode past the kitchen, leap into the out-of-bounds lane, and strike the volley cleanly mid-air. Just remember the golden rule: nothing your feet, your paddle, or your momentum can touch the net or the non-volley zone.

Pulling off an Erne at the right moment doesn’t just win you the point. It sends a message: you’re here to play bold, play smart, and take control of the court.

The Bert and Erne in Pickleball

The Bert and Erne shots are like two peas of the same pod in Pickleball given that both are meant to have a surprise element and the one hitting the shot lands outside the court. You wont see these shots being hit successfully quite often as both require an advance level of skill which is only developed after hours and hours of practice. Both shots are equally effective but can also make you look like an absolute beginner if not attempted correctly. So use them wisely and sparingly, but then again we at HomeforPickleball believe in the saying fortune favors the brave, and so we will teach you both the shots without having to spend thousands of dollars on Pickleball coaches.

What Is A Bert in Pickleball?

A Bert is another exciting, high-energy shot in pickleball almost like the Erne’s adventurous cousin. It’s a volley you take by coming in front of your partner and finishing the shot outside the court on their half. Think of it as an Erne, but instead of stepping out on your own sideline, you land yourself across your partner’s side. Because you’re essentially “poaching” their space to attack, the Bert is often called a poach. And when you pull it off cleanly, it opens up a much sharper angle, especially if you’re attacking with your dominant forehand side.

But communication is everything. If you’re planning to go for a Bert, your partner needs to know ahead of time. Without that heads-up, you both risk collapsing into the same half of the court and leaving the opposite side completely exposed.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get back to what you are here for, ‘the Erne,’ althought if the bert shot peaked your interest, go read our guide on how to execute the bert shot to get better at it.

How to setup and execute the Erne

Before you start chasing Ernes, it’s important to approach the shot with the right mindset. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to set up an Erne on every point. Mixing up your patterns is what keeps your opponents guessing, that unpredictability is exactly what increases your chances of turning an Erne opportunity into a lethal shot to end a rally.

To create the perfect setup, you will need a blend of sharp decision-making, patience at the kitchen line, and the ability to read your opponent’s dink patterns. When you combine anticipation with smart variation, the openings for an Erne appear naturally instead of being forced.

The setup

Your dink placement is the key to creating a clean Erne opportunity. To set one up, you want to guide your opponent into sending their dink closer to your sideline. When the ball drifts wide, you’ll have the space—and the angle—to step outside the court and attack the volley for an Erne winner.

But remember, variety is everything. If you rely on the same pattern too often, your opponent will spot the setup long before you make your move. And once they start reading it, you might find them turning the tables and Erne-ing you instead.

If your opponent begins anticipating your wide-dink setups, switch gears. Try mixing in other aggressive patterns, like the popular shake-and-bake strategy, to keep them guessing and maintain control of the rally.

Awareness and reading patterns

Being aware when to charge for the Erne is equally as important as anticipating the opponent’s dink heights. Once you have engaged your opponents in a few dink rallies you can then identify if their dinks have spin on then or are they at “Erning height”. Most pro players usually use the first 2-3 points to identify their opponents dinks and movements to identify if Erne’s would be effective finishers.

Legal Aspects of the Erne Shot

The Erne shot is legal in pickleball because it has nothing to do with the non-volley zone rules. Let me explain, As per the NVZ rule, all volleys must be initiated from outside the non-volley zone or the NVZ line. So when a player hits an Erne, they step away from the NVZ line hence it is a legal shot. But also remember even after you hit an Erne, you’re follow through or any part of your body cannot touch any part of the net or the net post.

Defending Against the Erne

Some may think that it is impossible to defend against an Erne and they could not be more wrong about that. The key to counter an Erne is identifying it early and setting your paddle angle and body position correctly, If these two things are done correctly you can counter an Erne shot by hitting a cross-court dink on the volley, hit a lob shot or simply body bag the one hitting the Erne as they are most likely to be out of position for a return shot.

The Impact of the Erne on Pickleball

The Erne shot has undoubtedly opened up a whole new pattern of strategies in Pickleball. Gone are those days where you could easily drop your 5th shot into a diagonal corner, or expect to get away with a loopy cross court dink. The Erne is soon becomming a focal point for the most rapidly growing sport in history. If you want to master the Erne or read about how to counter the Erne shot then check our guide about Various Pickleball strategies.

Master the Fundamentals First

The Erne shot is undisputed when it comes to the most stylish pickleball shot with the ATP coming in a close second. With that being said, while the Erne is a lethal weapon to add to your arsenal of advanced shots, if you play it often in a match, you will get predictable and your opponent can leverage that to their advantage. So like we say in almost all our guides and tutorials, first thing to do is, master the basics. Always remember, make an habit of getting more points rather than getting only a few highlight points. So if you’re new to the sport of pickleball or a seasoned pro, it is always good to brush up on the basics. Once you have learned to art of taking early leads, you can then try to hit shots like an Erne consistently