What is an Erne in Pickleball|3 Important Drills For Erne Shot

What is an Erne in Pickleball

Do you know what is an erne in pickleball? In a matter of seconds, you’re stunned, baffled, and reeling from the shock that has hit you.

Surely that shot is illegal, isn’t it? Surely they cannot get away with that, you assure yourself, shaken. The fact remains that they do…and they’re able to do so in spite of this. It’s not necessary for you to worry about anything at all, as there’s nothing to worry about.

It’s universally true that everyone’s first experience receiving a well-executed pickleball Erne has the same reaction. Within a short period of time, those initial feelings of shock are replaced by feelings of acceptance. Next, we’ll consider revenge. Throughout this article, you’ll learn how and when to hit a great Erne.

Furthermore, we’ll discuss why it can be a lethal addition to your pickleball skill arsenal. In addition, we’ll provide you with some tips to defend against it in the future, so you’ll not be surprised by it.

what is an erne in pickleball

What Is an Erne in Pickleball?

“Erne” is a pickleball shot you may have heard of. Pickleball’s Erne shot is an advanced shot named after Erne Perry, who first introduced the shot into the mainstream competition. What are the pickleball Erne Rules? There are two ways in which you can hit a pickleball, Erne.

The first way is to jump in the non-volley zone or when you run in the Kitchen after putting your feet back in bounds after having established your feet out of bounds. When the Erne is used, it puts pressure on your opponents to make quality shots and may cause them to make unforced errors if they focus on you instead of the pickleball. If don’t know what is an erne move in pickleball. We discuss it.

To hit an Erne:

  • If you want to get your opponent to hit the pickleball towards your sideline, you’ll have to think and plan ahead to entice them to hit it towards the sideline that you would like to Erne on. There is a good chance that this will happen if your opponents are letting the pickleball get behind them at the Kitchen Line near the preferred sideline;
  • In order to hide your advanced move, you should wait until your opponent hits or is about to hit the pickleball before moving to the sideline outside of the Kitchen (this will help conceal your move).
  • You can run or jump to the sideline area outside the kitchen to play pickleball in the area outside the kitchen. It is important for you to establish, or re-establish, your feet outside of the Kitchen, which can be done by dragging your back foot or jumping over the Kitchen entirely if you are running through the Kitchen.

As per Rule 9. B of the 2020 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, the pickleball needs to bounce before being hit. It includes the swing, the follow-through, and any momentum gained. To be valid, volleys must be executed outside the Non-Volley Zone.

As a result of jumping over a Non-Volley Zone, one must reestablish his or her feet outside the Non-Volley Zone after making contact with it, or if one does, one must reestablish his or her feet after making contact with it. Has Erne ever won you a point? Is a well-executed Erne affecting you? Feel free to comment!

Why is it called an Erne in pickleball?

Why is it called and What is an Erne in Pickleball? ” Erne shot” is the title given by a videographer during the 2010 USAPA National Pickleball Tournament held in Buckeye, Arizona, when he described the manner in which Erne Perry played during his match against Erne Perry in terms of how he played.

Despite the fact that Perry did not invent the shot, he used it often to dominate rallies during competitive play, and as a result, he is credited with making the shot popular. The “Erne” came into existence as a result of this.

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How To Setup The Erne In Pickleball?

To set up an Erne, you need to get your opponent to continue dashing the ball down closer to the sideline in order to set the ball up. The ideal position to put them in is to put them in such a position that they can’t hit it the other way or take the ball deeper into their court.

It’ll be necessary for you to be close enough to the sideline to either hop or run as quickly as you can and establish your feet outside of the kitchen as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, in order to do this, you must start your movement before they hit the ball in order to be successful. There’s a great deal of timing involved in this shot, and this is what makes it such an advanced shot.

If you want to have any chance of winning, you need to coax your opponent to hit it exactly where you want them to, then have the confidence to start your movement before they actually do. Also, it’s possible for them to try to hit the ball somewhere else if they see you moving to the place where the setup is going to take place.

A good way to practice this is by getting a partner and working on dink shots down the kitchen line with them. To make sure your partner cannot take their shot anywhere else than the kitchen corner, you should find the right angles to aim for which will prevent them from doing so. It’s worth a shot to try out the Erne and see how it works for you once you’ve tried it out for yourself.

Does Player Positioning Matter in Doing an Erne?

In pickleball, being in the right position at all times is crucial, especially when executing an effective Erne shot. To anticipate the game, it’s essential to position yourself behind the kitchen line, as close to the sideline as possible, to avoid being caught off guard when you need to jump or move outside of the court. Additionally, maintaining a small gap between you and your partner is vital.

When dinking straight across to your opponent, be on the lookout for a higher dink, which can provide the perfect opportunity for an Erne shot to score a point. It is crucial to maintain discretion while executing an Erne shot, so it’s essential not to give away your strategy too early.

The position of your opponent is not significant, but it’s better if they are near the kitchen line, so they are not prepared for your powerful Erne shot. Be mindful that your opponents may also try to set up their own Erne shot, so keep your focus and be ready to respond quickly.

what is an erne in pickleball

In pickleball, the kitchen rules dictate that hitting a ball out of the air while standing on or inside the non-volley zone (NVZ) line is not allowed. However, the NVZ line does not extend beyond the court. This means that when you’re standing on the sideline, the kitchen rules do not apply, and you’re free to hit the ball out of the air.

By hitting the ball as soon as it crosses the plane, you can surprise your opponents with an Erne shot. However, it’s essential to remember that you cannot reach your arm over the net and hit the ball before it crosses the plane. You must wait until the ball crosses the net before making contact with it, which means the movements for an Erne shot begin earlier than for other shots.

By following these rules, you can execute an effective Erne shot and gain a point.

What is a Bert and Erne in Pickleball?

If you’re a fan of Sesame Street, you may be curious about the “Bert and Erne” shot in pickleball. An Erne shot involves hitting the ball out of the air after moving outside of the court, but a Bert shot takes this to the next level. It’s essentially an Erne shot but taken from your partner’s side of the court.

Executing a Bert shot requires coordination and communication with your partner, as they need to know that you might suddenly move in front of them. This shot can catch your opponents off guard, especially if you lure them into hitting a high ball near your partner’s sideline. However, it takes planning, timing, and skill to execute successfully. If you anticipate a high shot and start moving, but it ends up being a dink, you could find yourselves out of position and on the defense.

While Bert shots are more commonly seen at the professional level, especially in mixed doubles, they can still be a valuable tool for any experienced pickleball player looking to add more complexity to their game.

Benefits of an Erne

The Erne shot is not just an exciting move to watch on the pickleball court—it also has several strategic benefits that can help you win points.

Firstly, catching your opponent off guard by moving toward the sideline can give you an edge and increase your chances of winning the point.

Secondly, executing the Erne shot well by hitting it past your opponent or at their feet can be challenging for them to return, causing hesitation and giving you time to prepare for your next shot.

Lastly, in doubles, your partner can rescue you if your Erne attempt fails. By communicating your intentions, your partner can cover the spot you left open and keep the rally going. With these advantages in mind, the Erne shot is a powerful tool to add to your pickleball arsenal.

How to Defend Against an Erne Pickleball?

Defending against an Erne shot is just as critical as executing it. To defend successfully, you need to recognize when your opponent has an opportunity to perform an Erne shot and immediately set yourself on the defense. To do so, try to remain calm and hit your return straight to where your opponent is standing or slightly to their midcourt side, keeping the ball out of their reach as they jump the sideline.

Alternatively, hitting a low, short shot into the kitchen can make it harder for your opponent to reach from the sideline, making it challenging for them to clear the sideline if they hit the ball before it bounces. Another option is to use a lob. Suppose you spot an Erne set-up.

In that case, hit a lob as your opponent starts their move to the sideline to force their partner to cover the entire court and allow your team to stay on the offense.

Finally, a riskier defense method is to hit your next shot hard and directly at your opponent as they position themselves for an Erne shot, forcing them into making an error or misstep into the kitchen. However, be prepared for a quick return and react quickly.

What Is an Erne in Pickleball

How to Hit a Successful Erne|Different Drills

In this article, we taught you what is an Erne in pickleball and how to hit a successful Ernie shot, including the setup and some drills to help you develop the shot. The key to hitting an Ernie is timing, so it’s important to practice your footwork and anticipation.

Drill # 1

One drill you can do with your partner is to dink down the line and work on your timing for hitting the Ernie. Focus on hitting everything down the line, so you can get comfortable with the shot.

Drill # 2

To set up the Ernie in a real game, you need to anticipate your opponent hitting a down-the-line shot. You can try to force them to hit down the line with your shots or create a difficult angle that will make it more likely for them to hit down the line.

Drill # 3

You should also work on your footwork and anticipation by practicing against a wall or using other training aids. With practice, you’ll be able to execute the Ernie shot successfully in real-game situations

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand what is an Erne in pickleball and given you the confidence to try it out for yourself. We encourage you to become a master and practice this shot and see if it’s something you can add to your skills. With dedication and effort, you might even become a master at it someday! Who knows, maybe one day they’ll be naming this shot after you. So, keep practicing, and good luck out there on the court!

FAQs

A Bert shot is very similar to the Erne shot, but it is executed on your partner’s side of the pickleball court, specifically in front of them, by jumping or running around the Kitchen. It’s essentially an Erne shot that is performed on the opposite side of the court.

Adding the Bert shot to your pickleball repertoire can add an extra layer of surprise and challenge to your game. Give it a try during practice and see how it works for you!

The Erne shot in pickleball is named after Erne Perry, a professional player who gained fame for using the shot during the 2010 USAPA tournament. With the Erne shot, Perry was able to dominate multiple rallies, and the move quickly became a popular tactic in the sport of pickleball.

The Erne shot in pickleball involves hitting the ball either while jumping in the air around the Non-Volley Zone (also called the Kitchen), or after running through the Kitchen and returning to a position outside of the zone. This advanced-level shot requires more skill and precision and is a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal.