Court Talk: A Glossary for the Newly Obsessed

Every sport has its own language. Here’s enough of ours to sound like you’ve been playing for years.

Pickleball

Kitchen. The zone right at the net where you can’t volley. Step in, and the ball has to bounce first.

Dink. A soft shot that lands in your opponent’s kitchen. Patience wins more dink rallies than power.

Third shot drop. A soft shot hit by the serving team that lands in the kitchen, buying time to move up to the net.

Two bounce rule. The return of serve and the next shot must bounce before anyone volleys.

Erne. Jumping around the kitchen to volley near the sideline. Hard to pull off. Great to talk about afterward.

Padel

Bandeja. A controlled overhead with slice, used to keep your spot at the net rather than end the point.

Víbora. The bandeja’s more aggressive cousin, hit with extra sidespin so the ball skids off the wall.

Chiquita. A soft, low ball aimed at your opponents’ feet when they’re at the net.

Por tres. A smash hit so hard it bounces out over the side wall. Mostly seen on highlight reels.

Golden point. At deuce, the next point wins the game. The receiving team picks which side takes it.

Learn a few. Use them loudly. Then go earn the right to.