What’s A Dink? Fun Terms You Need To Know When Playing Pickleball

In a pickle over the lingo used in pickleball? We’re here to translate.

Pickleball is a relatively new sport and evolving, so we’re all still learning and trying to understand the specific terms used on the pickleball court. But nothing helps you feel at one with a sport than using the right jargon. Here are some unusual terms and phrases you may hear in a pickleball game.

Kitchen 

Don’t ask why there’s a kitchen on a pickleball court. Just know that the kitchen refers to the non-volley zone that runs 7 feet (2.13m) from the net on both sides. Players cannot hit a volley shot (hitting a shot in the air) while standing inside the kitchen. 

No Man’s Land

This is the space between the no-volley zone and the baseline. It’s known as a danger zone or no man’s land as it’s not advisable to stand in the area, seeing as how the opponent will usually drop balls in the zone itself, leaving players with little space to maneuver a good return.

Dink

A dink is a soft shot that lands just over the net, in the opponent’s kitchen. The objective of a dink is to get your opponent to hit a pop-up shot, which you can then take advantage of by hitting a smash or a more aggressive shot. Dinks require a lot of finesse, and they can really throw off your opponent's rhythm.

Dill ball

A ball in play, also known as a standard shot that has bounced once.

Falafel

A shot that falls short due to hitting the pickleball with little to no power. Also known as a “dead paddle”. 

Flapjack

A shot that must bounce once before it can be hit, which occurs during the first two shots of any point (ie. the return of serve or the return of the return of serve). After the third shot, no bounce is necessary and the ball can be volleyed.

Volley llama

An illegal move, or a fault, where a player hits a volley shot in the non-volley zone.

Opa!

A cheer often shouted out after the double-bounce rule is fulfilled and volleying and open rally has begun. 

Dinking Duel

A friendly back-and-forth exchange of soft shots between players at the non-volley zone. It's a low-intensity way to warm up and test your opponent's patience. It's also a great way to practice your dink shots and improve your control.

Pickled
When a team scores zero points in a whole game. If you lose 11-0, you’ve been pickled.

Pickler

A pickleball addict. Is this you?