If you have been playing or watching pickleball for even a short amount of time, chances are you have seen a pickleball Erne (or, more commonly: an attempted Erne). But what is a Berne shot in pickleball?
Pickleball Erne shot
For reference, a pickleball Erne can be done in two different ways:
When a player jumps over the kitchen to the out-of-bounds area while hitting a shot in the air.
When a player is already out-of-bounds, next to the kitchen, and hits a ball.
Learn more about all the rules of a pickleball Erne.
Pickleball “Berne” shot
A pickleball Berne is a counter to an Erne shot. If you see an opponent making their move off the court to hit an Erne or you sense they are going to jump over the kitchen line, the Berne is when you hit the ball directly at their chest before they have time to return it.
The Berne (also known as an “Erne bodybag”) is a surprise attack to a player who is trying to take a high-level shot against you.
Using the Erne & Berne in pickleball
Now that you know what an Erne and Berne are, pay attention next time you watch a pro pickleball game to see if you can spot them. They are very high-level pickleball shots, but something any level of pickleball player can use to gain an advantage and throw their opponent off their game.