Master the Erne: A MUST HAVE WEAPON in Your Pickleball Game

The Erne is one of the coolest looking shots in pickleball, but it's also one of the most effective. My erne has been a huge weapon in my pro pickleball journey, and today, I'm revealing most, but not all, of my secrets ;)
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[@Chorspool]

Whoever is editing these videos needs a HUGE raise. Half of the value is making it fun! The outlines of players, the red lines, and the silly Superman bit. Kyle and his team EASILY make the best Pickleball videos. Keep it up!!

[@thatpickleballguy]

My editor is THE best. Working to make more money so i can keep paying him more!! He deserves it!

[@pbjpickleball]

I can’t agree enough with this comment

[@everbard3071]

Kyle, you've quickly become my favorite KZbin pickleball instructor. I feel like your topics and the way you teach them are perfect for the hungry, intellectual pickleball player like me. I'm 4.0 currently and still trying to raise my game. This is perfect for that. I knew #1 and #3, but not #2. Thank you and please keep making content.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Wow! Thanks for the encouragement!!

[@keatongrimmett9212]

I have no idea how you don't have more subscribers. Easily the best Pickleball youtube channel I have found.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks Keaton! Tell your friends 😉

[@apeoftheplanets]

also commenting for how much you're opening my mind up for the game in these videos. I wouldn't have considered third shot drops to the backhand side to be erne-able but it's too obvious after watching this vid. S tier content. Few others like it on YT so far

[@thatpickleballguy]

Oo yeah!! Erne possibilities everywhere! Thanks for watching.

[@jim_stuhh_1572]

Love these videos, just got into pickleball with my buddies, been having a blast! Thanks for the information and fun videos !

[@thatpickleballguy]

Absolutely! Enjoy!

[@deborahspeece4316]

I FINALLY understand what an Erne is!! Not sure I can execute but that's a whole 'nuther story. Thanks, great instruction and video🎉🎉

[@thatpickleballguy]

You can!!!

[@user-in9tg9ot9h]

Kyle, great video! I got my first Erne last week during rec play - it felt amazing haha!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Lets go!!!

[@sergiipogoretskyi5635]

Good explanation with fun. Awesome!🎉 thank you🎉

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it helped!! :)

[@mervatameen646]

Best explanation, and the editing was fantastic! Thanks !

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thank you!! My editor is the best!

[@igorhiller5596]

Best erne vid I've seen. Thank you!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Fantastic! Glad it helped!

[@Mr.DJones]

Thank you for posting. Probably the best Erne learning video... Well, except for the Erne learning video from Erne Perry. ;) Great special effects. :)

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks! glad it helped!!

[@bzbea1]

Best ernie video so far that I’ve seen!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it helped

[@chavonlarmond6987]

This is the video I needed!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Fantastic!

[@monganrallis]

Best Ernie instruction I've ever seen! Well done! Can't wait to get out there and try it.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching! Glad it helped!

[@SamsonThorne-ku8er]

Awesome stuff man. Doesn't get more descriptive than this

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ginjaninja3627]

Wow - amazing video. Fantastic editing. My one wish would be for more slo motion replays of the footwork. It's complicated and repeated slo mo would help.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback!

[@picklingaround]

Love the video! One of the best in the biz! One thing I do want clarification on is if I go and do an erne can any part of my body touch any part of the pole(including the feet) or is that a fault as well?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thank you! And yes thats a fault!

[@marxalenina]

There’s always something to learn and to laugh about here 😂

[@thatpickleballguy]

No doubt! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevegarry522]

Great video I have done about 150 Erne’s but the video taught me a new opportunity when the player crosses the centerline. I have not been looking for that one. Thanks.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it helped!

[@NegusXL]

Oh I’m about to go crazy at the courts, I knew there was a legal way to do this! Thank you!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Have fun!

[@terigiese1322]

SOOO HELPFUL!!!👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻😊

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad it helped!

[@PickleballWill]

Good stuff as always Kyle 🙌

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks pickleball will

[@brucemark]

Great job Kyle! Off to try some Erne's today :)

[@thatpickleballguy]

Let's go!!

[@jkeiffer]

Very fun and well done video. I've been playing for 6+ months and haven't even attempted an Erne yet. Looking forward to giving it a proper try now. ATP's are easy for me, but somehow the Erne takes more brain power for me for sure. One thing that you don't mention is what your partner should be doing to help!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Hey John, definitely give it a try. And yep, it's a good question about your partner. I debated adding that in here, but then thought it might make it more complicated. (not sure if I made the right call or not). Nonetheless, If I'm playing the right hand side, and your my partner playing the right side. And I go for an erne. You should slide over from the right side across the mid line toward the left side to cover me. Of course, occasionally they might hit a great dink back over and beat you. But more often than not, if the opponent does hit a shot I cant erne, It's going back to the middle. Not cross court. Hope that helps. let me know if you have follow ups!

[@ranadalaughlin7226]

Agree with Chospool- the video editing is a huge plus, makes it easier to understand- and enjoy!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-gr1zi3fg5d]

Great video. Could you cover some time the partner’s responsibility/positioning when you go for an Erne? Thanks

[@thatpickleballguy]

Typically they should slide over across the mid line and play big until the player returns (if the point doesnt end on the erne)

[@user-gr1zi3fg5d]

Thanks. I guess they will just have to be on their toes as there’s no way for them to know when you’re going? Is there some kind of communication you do?

[@Jonny-tsunami]

Great tips! 💪🏆👊

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks!

[@marylundblad]

Great video, production and editing makes everything so clear! Watching for ATP and Erne opportunities, practicing the footwork, and drilling the process; fingers crossed that I get to execute soon! Kyle, question for you - do you go for the erne, if your partner may not think to or know to slide over to cover??

[@thatpickleballguy]

thank you! Glad it was helpful. Yeah go for it. Even if your partner doesn't slide and you lose that point, that's not really the point (pun intended) at first. The point is to get reps at it so you continue to improve. Of course in tournament play, you want your partner to know to slide over! Because its more important to win points in tournaments than when you're working to improve in rec play!

[@annettee1605]

This content is so good!! 🙌🏻

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@danielcielmaee3642]

At a minute in you said you can’t jump with your foot on the kitchen line. As long as you don’t hit it while you are in the air and land first out of the kitchen completely(including lines) then it should be legal. Rules say you just have to have both feet touch the playing surface after entering the NVZ. And playing surface is defined as court and area around court.

[@thatpickleballguy]

yes thats true. When I said that, I was thinking about how many ernes are hit. A player jumps from outside the kitchen. Contacts the ball in mid, air and then lands outside. IF you contact the ball in mid air, you would have had to jump from outside the kitchen line, or it'd be a fault. What you said is true as well!

[@pickleballreviews]

Good stuff guys🤙

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@EddieDBama]

AWESOME!!!!

[@alohaleslie9407]

Thanks so much for a great Erne video. I would like to have seen some instruction for the less athletic, shorter leg/arm, or older players on how to move through the kitchen area. Not all of us are like you, Mr. Young, Athletic, Eagle leg/arm player. LOL Thanks again!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes, thanks for the message. That was my intent when talking about "level 1 footwork." It's the ability to run around the kitchen, instead of jumping through. So read 1 is the most likely scenario for you to get the Erne. I included read 2 and read 3 for players who do have a bit more athletic ability so everyone got something out of it they could use :)

[@alohaleslie9407]

@@thatpickleballguy Mahalo Kyle! Come play in Kona. We have a beautiful pickleball facility with lots of courts. :)

[@syedfawaz8090]

Awesome Video. One more thing regarding the ruling. - If you miss hitting the ball and cross the plane then it is a fault as well.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes it would be.

[@RichardABradley-ze9qn]

I mean it's also OK to step in the NVZ on the way to Erne as long as both feet touch down wide (with no contact of NVZ) before you strike the ball, but 3 problems: it's easier to read your move b/c you have to hit late, you can't reach as far in as when hitting while mid-air on the way over, and sometimes referees could make an error of calling a NVZ push off despite both feet being "established" outside before the ball is struck. I once saw a referee call a push off on an overhead despite multiple backsteps behind the NVZ before jumping. Natural human error, or maybe she believed you need to be stable on 2 feet outside the NVZ at some point before hitting(?). But if you run through the NVZ then as long as the last court surface touched by both your shoes was outside the NVZ, then whether you're balanced, still in motion, or landed on only one foot at a time, you can still volley legally... right? I don't know how referees judge a rolling/rocking step, e.g. if my heel is on the NVZ line and I rise to my toes which are outside the NVZ, then volley and remain out... but I wouldn't chance it.

[@apeoftheplanets]

give your editor a raise my g. fantastic vids

[@thatpickleballguy]

💯💯 guy is an absolute legend with the edits.

[@user-kn5du6xg1k]

Great, fun videos. Any chance of some slow motion videos after explaining some steps?

[@thatpickleballguy]

I should definitely do more of that!

[@Mr.DJones]

Nice meeting you at GRP, hope you won.

[@thatpickleballguy]

You as well!

[@SoNowWhat]

So here's an interesting question. Why do I have to avoid stepping in the kitchen? As long as my feet are outside the kitchen when I hit the volley, isn't that okay? Isn't the rule that you just can't be in the kitchen (or land there on your follow through after the volley) at the time you hit the Erne volley?

[@TheBoydTV]

yes, I believe this is the rule as well. You can literally walk right through the kitchen to hit an erne, as long as when you hit it both feet are established on the outside of the court.

[@Chorspool]

I believe it’s just safest to jump over it. Most of the time you would be in the air when making contact because it’s a split second decision, so rarely would you be able to take two steps (one in kitchen and one outside of it) in the same time that you could jump over it.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Agree here! typically not enough time (at higher levels for sure) to run through and get out in time) I jump the kitchen 95% of the time bc its most efficient. And id say 95% of the time, i make contact with the ball before i land.

[@briankillian5248]

Is there anything that says you have to be "firmly planted" on both feet before hitting the erne?

[@thatpickleballguy]

no, just have to take off outside the kitchen and land outside the sideline

[@AgimKaziu]

Why can't you step in the kitchen on your way to the outside of the sideline if before you contact the ball on the you are established outside of the kitchen/outside of the sideline?

[@thatpickleballguy]

You can! I debated mentioning that, but opted not too. The thing is, rarely do you have enough time to run through, re-establish both feet outside, then make contact with the ball. It's definitely possible and it definitely happens, just not as common! Also, if you're in a tournament play, there's a good chance you're putting the ref in a position to call a foot fault because it looks strange. And refs are human. They'll probably call a foot fault.

[@AgimKaziu]

@@thatpickleballguy Fair enough, thanks for the reply!

[@glenross3093]

What some players do when stepping through the kitchen is drag their trail foot on their way out which provides faster two feet contact outside of the kitchen.

[@gr8ful4dead]

Where’s the link for the video at the end?

[@thatpickleballguy]

ahhh apologies. I forgot to add it - here's the link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZmkeqJtmsuqr6M and it's also at the end of the video now as well!

[@dennispena4178]

It doesn't look like you cleared the side line on your last example (baseline 3rd shot drop)? I agree with all of the other comments regarding the educational as well as the entertainment value of your videos. I have been watching you since your video on the side of the road. I guess that's where your journey actually began. I learned about you from Danny Jensen. I met him at the private indoor court up in Scottsdale. I went to podiatry school with his dad, Jeff.

[@thatpickleballguy]

O wow!! Yep, dang that Danny and him forgetting to get gas!! hahah thanks for following along. And yeah, I may have been in the kitchen. OOps.

[@daviddelong7598]

can i step in the NVZ on my way to Ernie before my opponent hits the ball ?

[@thatpickleballguy]

No you cannot!

[@daviddelong7598]

@@thatpickleballguy ok wait. the old attorney in me is leaking out. I’m allowed to stand in the NVZ all day as long as I don’t hit a volley. If I step out of the NVZ before my opponent hits the ball I CAN hit a volley. I can step out of the NVZ back into the court or I could step out of the NVZ to the side. If my opponent hit a ball I can reach from outside the court and near the net, can I not play that ball?

[@billinhouston3291]

Pickleball in the 70's!! 4:14

[@TheLegit94]

Looks like your right foot was on the white line at 9:26 , assuming you'd lose the point there?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes

[@landontapp8192]

What paddle do you use?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Selkirk 002

[@jackandjose]

Great video! What about the Bert?

[@thatpickleballguy]

I didnt wanna go too crazy in this one video.😂 future video though, yes

[@jackandjose]

@@thatpickleballguy look forward to it!😀

[@vincentblackshadow1581]

Just to clarify, if the ball crosses the net you can break the plane to hit it. Sometimes the back spin will take a short ball back over the net in which case you have no option other than to break the plane to hit it.

[@thatpickleballguy]

If the ball bounces on one side, then the backspin, brings it back to the other side, you are correct, that's the only time you can break the plane BEFORE making contact. In this situation, you must make contact with the ball on your own side before breaking the plane to your opponents side. Does that help? If not, hit me with a follow up question!

[@Grain_Damaged]

You didn't mention the 3rd way to do a legal Erne: You are permitted to step into the kitchen, step out of bounds, then hit the ball.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Oo yes. Good Call!

[@Applefanatic1000]

Kyle, is it a violation to jump over the net while hitting an Erne?

[@everbard3071]

Is it a violation if I land in my opponent’s kitchen? Haha

[@thatpickleballguy]

Nope you're good to do that. I actually have an example on my instagram of me doing it. You just have to make sure you make contact with the ball BEFORE crossing.

[@claycc79]

Wow! you did not mention running through the kitchen and then reestablish outside the kitchen is legal. Here is the rule: Remember you must establish, or re-establish, your feet outside of the Kitchen, which could be accomplished by dragging your back foot if you run through the Kitchen or jumping over the Kitchen.

[@thatpickleballguy]

I considered adding it. But it happens so rarely inetionally left it out.

[@allansalzman1072]

Aren’t you allowed to actually run through the kitchen as long as both feet are outside before you hit the ball…the “two foot rule”?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes, you can! Just a more uncommon way to hit it.

[@allansalzman1072]

Not when you’re 57!

[@picklingaround]

When you say outside you do mean both feet contacting the ground outside the kitchen before contact with the ball right?

[@jimbruni699]

I saw Ben reach over and contact the ball back into the other side of the net. How is that legal then ?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Slow it down. Its very close but he makes contact on his side first

[@stevegarry522]

I think the shot he is referring to is the one with backspin which landed on Ben side and spun back over the net. Bend then reached over and hit it into the net on the opponents side.

[@jimbruni699]

Yep. What Steve said

[@jaycehezekia3346]

Why after buying 2, 003 project paddle you do not get a $77 gift card according to Relations manager Kelii Ferguson , we are a husband and wife customer , Kelii said no $77 gift card for second paddle review. after spending $333 twice , we felt robbed, all those out there think twice before spending your money

[@thatpickleballguy]

Hi i'm confused! Maybe I can help. What are you asking?