The A to Z of Pickleball: Your Ultimate JOOLA Glossary
Welcome to JOOLA Australia's complete A to Z glossary of pickleball! Whether you're a fresh-faced rookie, weekend warrior, or seasoned tournament player, this list will help you speak fluent pickleball and win a few more rallies while you're at it.
🔤 Jump to a Letter:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A is for...
Ace
A clean, untouched serve that lands in an instant point. Rare, but oh-so-satisfying.
ATP (Around the Post)
A jaw-dropping shot that curves around the net post and lands in. Usually set up with a dink that bounces quite wide, allowing for a direct path straight into the opposing court side. A legal, cheeky, and certified crowd-pleaser.
Attackable Ball
A ball that pops up high enough to smash. AKA green light moment.
B is for...
Banger
A player who hits hard... every. Single. Time. Great in some rallies, but watch that unforced error count.
Baseline
The back boundary line of the court. Most serves and returns start here, but staying glued to it? Rookie mistake.
Body Shot/ Body Bag
A smash aimed right at your torso. Evasive manoeuvres required.
C is for...
Carbon-Charged Surface
A paddle innovation that layers carbon for maximum spin without sacrificing control. The textured face grips the ball longer, letting players shape precise shots with confidence and consistency.
Chicken Wing
When a player gets jammed and lifts their elbow awkwardly to hit, not ideal, but hilarious to watch. Usually paired with a body bag.
Chirping
Playful (or not-so-playful 👀) trash talk between players during a match. A little banter is part of the game - just don’t let it mess with your focus… unless you’re the one doing the chirping 😏
Cross-Court Dink
A soft, strategic shot that moves diagonally into the kitchen. Low-risk, high finesse.
D is for...
Dink
The signature soft shot of pickleball, landing just over the net into the kitchen. An essential skill to use in pickleball matches.
Double Bounce Rule
Each team must let the ball bounce once on each side before volleying begins. Learn it, love it.
Drive
A fast, flat groundstroke. Usually low over the net and packed with intent.
E is for...
Erne
Pronounced "Ernie." A leap outside the kitchen (left or right side of the kitchen) to intercept a dink at the net at quite a close proximity to the opposing side. Ensure you do not enter the kitchen or move over the net without contacting the ball.
Edge Guard
Protective rim on the paddle. Helps absorb shock and prevent cracks. Usually, the best spot to fit out with edge guard tape and tungsten tape to customise your paddle weight.
F is for...
Foot Fault
When your foot steps into the kitchen on a volley or crosses the baseline on a serve. Refs don’t miss these.
Finesse Game
Playing with control, touch, and tactical placement rather than brute power.
Flick
A quick wrist snap to add surprise speed or spin - often from a dink position.
G is for...
Grip Pressure
The tension in your hand. Too tight = errors. Too loose = lost control. Goldilocks it.
Golden Pickle
Winning a game without giving up a single point. Rare. Glorious. Or devistating to be on the receiving side.
H is for...
Hyperfoam Edge Wall
JOOLA's elite tech foam-injected edge that boosts stability and enlarges the sweet spot.
Hands Battle
That chaotic, lightning-fast exchange at the kitchen line, where reflexes > strategy and only the quickest survive.
I is for...
Inside-Out Shot
A deceptive hit that appears to go one way but spins off in the opposite direction. Mind games.
Infinity App
JOOLA's go-to resource for elite training, gear matching, and community events.
J is for...
Jammed
When a shot lands on your body and you can't react in time, a classic body bag scenario.
JOOLA
The brand that blends elite performance with paddle innovation. Pronounced - YOLA.
K is for...
Kitchen
The non-volley zone. No smashing allowed inside this sacred rectangle. AKA the soft-shot zone.
Kyle Stoker
JOOLA Australia's very own pro player and coach. Known for big serves and even bigger energy.

L is for...
Lob
A high, arcing shot aimed to sail over your opponent’s head. Beautiful when it lands. Risky when it doesn't.
Let Serve
Not a thing in Australian pickleball! If the serve clips the net and lands in, it still counts.
M is for...
Match Point
One rally away from the win. Pressure = ON.
Momentum Shift
That electric moment when one team steals the rhythm. You feel it in your gut.
N is for...
Nasty Nelson
A serve that deliberately hits your opponent's partner before it bounces. Legal. Controversial. So if you're new we highly recommend never catching a serve on the full or keeping your eye off a server if you suspect a nasty nelson could occur.
Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)
AKA the kitchen, 7 feet on either side of the net. The space in which the majority of the pickleball match will be played around.
National Pickleball League (NPL)
An Australian-focused pickleball league built around team competition. It’s gaining traction with local pros and clubs, offering a structured way to play and watch team-based pickleball across the country
O is for...
Overhead Smash
A high-speed finishing shot. Think tennis serve, but mid-rally.
Open Face Paddle
When the paddle face is angled upward at contact. Great for dinks or defensive resets.

P is for...
Paddle
Your most trusted sidekick. Sometimes referred to new players as a racket or bat, but in pickleball weapon of choice is a paddle.
Pickled
Losing a game 11–0. Ouch.
Pickleball Australia Association (PA)
The national governing body for pickleball in Australia - which oversees official rules, rankings, sanctioned events, and the sport’s growth across the country. If it’s official, PA’s behind it.
Poach
When your partner jumps across the court to take a shot meant for you. Bold move! But it can pay off or cause rifts in a pickleball team.
Professional Pickleball Association (PPA)
The Professional Pickleball Association or commonly known as the PPA, is the largest professional league in Australia and across the globe.
Q is for...
Quick Hands
The magic of fast reactions in the kitchen. Makes or breaks hand battles.
R is for...
Reset
Turning a fast rally into a soft, controlled dink rally to regain control. Usually a game-saving move allowing a chance to reset the game to your favour.
Rally Scoring (not standard yet)
Point is scored on every rally, not just the serving team. Some leagues test it.
S is for...
Side Out
When the serve switches sides, after both players on one team lose their serve.
Skinny Singles
A variation of singles pickleball where players only cover half the court, either cross-court or straight on. Great for training placement, footwork, and touch without the full-court cardio grind.
Stacking
Team formation strategy to keep preferred players on certain court sides.
Sweet Spot
The centre of the paddle with max power and control. JOOLA tech = bigger sweet spots.
T is for...
Third Shot Drop
A soft shot hit after the return of serve to land in the kitchen. Sets up your net game and allows you an easier entry into the kitchen over a drive.
Two-Handed Backhand
Gaining popularity thanks to pros like Simone Jardim. Great for added control, but will need some training to work out the timing if trying to add to your skill set.
Tweener
That daring, in-the-middle-of-a-rally shot between the legs. High-risk. High-reward.
U is for...
Unforced Error
A mistake that wasn’t caused by your opponent. The ones that haunt your dreams.
USA Pickleball (USAP)
The governing body of the sport in the USA. Sets the rules - even in Australian Pickleball
United Pickleball Association of Australia (UPA-A)
An emerging governing body in the pickleball scene, aiming to create national pathways and unify standards for players, clubs, and competitions. Keep an eye on this one as it grows.
V is for...
Volley
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces. Not allowed in the kitchen!
Vibe
The intangible JOOLA energy when your fit, paddle, and game align.
W is for...
Winner
A shot your opponent can’t touch. Period.
Wrist Flick
A sneaky motion that adds spin or speed, deadly in hands battles.
X is for...
X-Factor
That special sauce - the pro-level edge that comes from gear, prep, and confidence. (Hint: starts with J and ends in OOLA.)
Y is for...
Yellow Ball
The iconic neon sphere of pickleball. Bright and Bold.
Z is for...
Zero-Zero-Two
The start of every pickleball game. First server starts with 2 — it’s tradition.
Zingers
Fast, flat shots that zing past your opponent. Risky, but spicy.
Whether you’re chasing your first win or your next championship, this glossary is here to elevate your understanding, your lingo, and your game.
Explore paddles, tips, and more at joola.com.au