The Erne; In-Game Breakdown of Pickleball’s Coolest Shot

You guys loved last week's match breakdown, so we're back with another one! Today I talk about how to erne, specifically with 9 times I did it during my last Tuesday Night Pickleball match.
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[@williamstevenson755]

Kyle- thank you very much for breaking down these shots. That tomahawk erne was off the chain! Please keep these breakdown vids coming.

[@thatpickleballguy]

More coming :)

[@djcausey1]

Bert read: crosscourt opponent head down back foot AND your partner is behind you which allows you the space to do it

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes!

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Doing a Bert: It a happened to me on Monday; my partner was in the back-field, and like you I drifted across the line and pouched the ball by the kitchen. I didn't need to cross the kitchen-sideline but I understand what you mean. The opponents felt powerless to do anything! Hitting it sooner than they expected threw them off their game.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Nice!

[@QuinnVaughn-f6m]

3rd erne example going middle resulted in you landing your foot on the line but the ref didn't catch it... @5:45

[@ignitemarketing4191]

Came to say the same

[@thatpickleballguy]

oops :)

[@braddaddis371]

You can’t find this stuff anywhere else! So good. I would love a video on the Burt!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching! I will keep that in mind!

[@sgshaw1952]

I think the "tell" on the Bert is that your partner's drop is into your opponent's feet on the backhand side. She can't take it cross court.

[@inshalijaz1]

Amazing content Kyle and love watching how you explain your game highlights with amazing and convenient editing graphics...

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@BillyBob-jn4bu]

Love watching highlights of you playing, keep it up

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Impactology]

The "bert" love it! Maybe when it's a high ball towards your forehand side and your teammate is still back.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@madrum]

I think your strategy of running around backhand dinks, when you can, means you’re looking for your forehand a lot, which easily translates to looking for ernes. I’m going to drill those kinds of setup shots tomorrow and start building the habit. Thanks!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Love to hear it!

[@pooleparty18]

I freakin love ❤️ your videos! Run the youth league in North Phoenix. I have 50 students ages 7-18 and I refer them to your videos all the time! Thank you for your content!

[@thatpickleballguy]

That is awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@speedrrracer]

I think the erne at 12:55 is probably an example of a bad decision in most cases, but you're exploring the limits of what to erne/when to erne, and if you don't cross the line you'll never find out where the line is and as you said, it was working this game, so in a game like that, when you're crossing the line into bad decision territory will be different than other games where the opposition has the middle locked down tightly.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Exactly! To know your limits you have to explore and push your limits. Sometimes you have to get outside of the comfort zone to see what you can do!

[@keelanramsey848]

Killer breakdown as usual. I look very forward to the Friday morning e-mails from you! Keep the content coming. You should publish your calendar somewhere of your upcoming matches.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@hothair5156]

Being tall with a huge reach helps too!!!

[@thatpickleballguy]

big help!

[@anwarsadat6825]

Thanks.

[@thatpickleballguy]

You're welcome!

[@bryandbaker]

I’ve tried a couple of Berts in tournament play but have missed them all so far, so I’m pretty sure I need your upcoming video to improve my triggers. But what I’m looking for is all the same triggers you list for the Erne but predicated on my partner’s court position being 3 or more feet off the line and me just in front of her.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Love to hear you've tried it! Keep working at it!

[@mikestrommen6916]

I really appreciate this video. The head down Ernie is my favorite shot in PB now. I’ll send you an example of one from my match with Jerry. Let me know what you think.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gabrielafasnacht3914]

Didn't know it had a name :) Left hand player goes for the ball when the ball is cross-court and up. The partner is lagging and a bit, slow getting to the NVZ. Am I right?

[@PowerlinehealthProducts]

Got to learn more about the BERT :)

[@fvolpim]

You should definitely try the "rainbow" shot :) (it is used in beach tennis). It works in pickleball too

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for this! Will keep that in mind.

[@spencerpowell482]

Great vid man!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@UGatorBaitF]

Haha, awesome video! You’d think they would have quit hitting that outside shot from middle so light and high… but they should have hit it shallower and wider… then would have loved for you to get an ATP on top of it!! Hahah, just great, you were pouring it on, definitely gets in the head… no one likes to get Ernied. Adrienne should break that habit soon lol 😂 keep going to it until they stop I guess 👍👍💪💪

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@1Parchman]

Maybe the Bert should be based on your partner's location to cross and cover behind you and wnen you know that your opponent will have to lift over the high point of the net for a straight drop and doesn't have the cross court angle or think that you are going to move and leave the cross out open. delay and timing of the move is important lke all the best and ernies?

[@vkosek]

Thanks for the consistently awesome content Kyle...those Ernes are ridiculous. Possible trigger/read for Bert: Noting opponent tendencies in the points preceding. Opponent returning to your partner? Check Partner dropping line, not cross? Check (Harder for their left to go behind you as you come from your left) Quality drop that forces them to hit up? Check Opponent 4ths consistently going to partner (back up line)? Check All of those happening as a default pattern? Poach city. Also, I'd have to think this is an easier move when you're closing into a forehand. So, righty coming from left side, lefty coming from right. Maybe not necessary, but def harder to close on a backhand Bert.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for writing the script for my next video for me. 😂 Right on. Only alternative thought from me would be the last point. I think the right coming from right side. BEcause then, it's the same footwork as an erne. You just happened to be coming from the right side. More reach. Righty starting from left side, Like I did at the end. I'm still funky in the footwork. And reach is less if they don't hit it right up the line. My wrist has been bugging me, so been playing a good bit left handed. One thought I have, and am experimenting with, is on that bert, coming from left side going to right. Is to switch hands, jump off right foot, and bert with left hand. think this will give me more reach. I'll lose some power until I build more strength, but I'm optimistic about adding this in the next couple months.

[@vkosek]

@@thatpickleballguy Lol, yeah...sorry that was kind of a novel. I see what you mean about the footwork, and I agree - righty going R to L would be exactly like a righty hitting an Erne from the L side. The thing I described (and the one you did in the video) is really just an Uber-aggressive poach, right? The issue I can see with righty going R to L is getting your body all the way across the ball's path (ahead of the ball) to hit it with the "trailing" hand. Unless maybe you go backhand? And making it even harder, you can't hedge too far or start the move until it's late enough for the person hitting the 4th to not change their shot or read your move and go behind. Anyway, hope that wrist feels better and thanks again for all the great content. Keep up the great work!

[@jeffreinardy7570]

Bless you! (from keeper sneeze) 😁 Great breakdown! Never heard of the Bert, (very cool!) What Selkirk paddle were you using? Is it your Go To for doubles and do you use a different one for singles? Thanks!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Glad you enjoyed it! I use the Selkirk Power Air!

[@jeffreinardy7570]

@@thatpickleballguy Do you feel this gives you the control you desire at the kitchen? Obviously you are Light Years above my ability, but when dinking, it can be challenging to control the power. Thanks

[@cadenroyster1763]

You should really explain how to Erne on the right side. I always over extend on my backhand side when hitting a right side Erne (I'm right handed). Any advice would be awesome.

[@thatpickleballguy]

I will keep that in mind!

[@nolanhellard7103]

Strategy question. Would you ever notice an opponent’s tendency to hit an Erneable (new word) ball and wait to do it later in the match or is it always better to hit the Erne when you have the chance?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Oo interesting! I like this question. Without more than a few seconds thought here! This is my take: I want to do it early. It will essentially close off that area of the court, so they don't have as many targets. I like that. Also, If they have a habit to hit to that target where I can erne a lot, they'll make more errors bc they'll end up doing stuff they don't usually do because I've shut off that area. I think An Erne early sets me up for more success in different areas. Sure I might get less ernes later in the match. But I want to play chess while they play checkers. Something I'm working a lot on now!

[@JFox4587]

Do you find that your amazing Erne skills are an elaborate compensation for your lack of back hand aggression? (It’s a sincere question, not trying to bully you or anything lol) obviously most players have a better forehand top spin, and I’m wondering because I often compensate for my lack of backhand aggression by Erne-ing, so just wondering. You’re last Erne was very impressive btw, mostly because I don’t think that ball was a good opportunity but you made somethin outta nothing 😂

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yeah good question. For me, no, not for a lack of backhand. Mines decent enough. Any time I can apply pressure with an erne, or get closer to the net to strike. I'm taking it. An erne is often more threatening than my forehand.

[@JFox4587]

@@thatpickleballguy thanks for the reply! I need to learn backhand top spin

[@danieljimenez1883]

great breakdown but you how tall are you? 6'2+ would be my guess and that makes it incredibly easier

[@thatpickleballguy]

6’0 Of course, the split like erne is without a doubt easier if youre taller and more mobile

[@jasonwalker1959]

For the erne around 10:15, i think your move is dangerous. I think you'd be better of simply sliding straight left, parallel with the kitchen line while you hit. This way you could get back into position potentially.

[@thatpickleballguy]

I like that!

[@phyllisrosen7637]

Love all the videos but elated you’re doing a school!! Have paddle will travel! 😅

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@coreywillix]

1. Bless U (wicked sneeze) 2. Yes ur foot was on kitchen line, u suck. 3. Ok fine - getting 9 outa 9 Ernie Kills - even tho the ref missed the line step - kinda makes u Da Bomb's King's OG's Sugar Daddy 4. Freaking awesome content. Breaking down Pro Match play is epic. Gives.me.some skillz to train and develop. Keep it up, Bruh!! 😎

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@nuke2you]

You had a good idea where she was going to hit that ball by watching her paddle and where your partner placed that ball.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@Orefamilylawncare]

First

[@HarveyJackson1967]

🌟

[@CONSTITUTIONALGUARD-zc9nv]

As a short dude that was depressing to watch. Lol.

[@cecilsmith24]

So the game was named after the dog, and now you got plays based on Sesame street characters. Why do people take this game seriously? Don't get me wrong, love to play, but this game looks strange from outside.

[@thatpickleballguy]

why do people take anything seriously? 1.) it brings them joy 2.) being in community with other like minded people is important 3.) for some, it makes them money 4.) people dont wanna suck at something, so they work to get better. Golf. Chess, writing, just a different medium. You can love to play and take it seriously. Totally fine. My big questions with responses like this are 1.) why does it matter how it looks? 2.) why do people care so much about what others take seriously? Ive always looked at curling and thought, thats a bit strange looking. I dont get it (and i still dont). But i completely understand how someone could be obsessed with it, wanna improve at it, and take it more seriously than others.

[@cecilsmith24]

@@thatpickleballguy No I get that, it was a little tongue-in-cheek. That something as fun as pickleball can be as popular as it is and growing, with as much media and info as you could possibly want, but the starting and naming of things is so organic and just well received in the community as matter of fact. The history and naming is fun. What other sport has that?

[@thatpickleballguy]

@@cecilsmith24 true! Good points. Its super unique

[@pickleballtechniques]

You were in kitchen for sure!

[@thatpickleballguy]

usually am :)