Advancedstrategy

The Erne: setup, timing, and threat value

The Erne looks spontaneous but it's premeditated. Jordan Briones shows how pros engineer it two or three balls in advance, and why the threat of an Erne is often more valuable than actually pulling the trigger.

Watch: Learn How To Set Up And Execute The ERNE in Pickleball 😲 - Jordan Briones Pickleball
9 min
Watch “Learn How To Set Up And Execute The ERNE in Pickleball 😲 - Jordan Briones Pickleball” Selkirk TV · captions

Key takeaways

  • Engineer the Erne by pushing your previous dink wide into the sideline corner. You create the angle rather than waiting for it.
  • Start your lateral move before the ball crosses the net; any hesitation leaves you stranded mid-lane.
  • You must not be touching the kitchen or its lines when you volley: either establish both feet outside it first, or jump it cleanly and land outside. That's the line between a legal winner and a fault.
  • Even when you don't pull the trigger, the Erne threat forces opponents to shift their dink target, opening lanes.
  • The backhand Erne on the left sideline (for a righty) is dramatically underused and almost impossible to anticipate.

Drill to try

Have a partner feed 10 wide crosscourt dinks. Run the full lateral foot movement and landing pattern at half-speed before adding a swing. Nail the footwork clean before you ever think about the shot.

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