- Serve: The initial shot hit by a player to begin a rally.
- Fault: Any violation of the rules that results in a loss of serve or point.
- Double bounce: When both the serving team and the receiving team let the ball bounce once before playing it.
- Volley: Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces on the ground.
- Dink: A soft shot hit just over the net with the intention of making it difficult for the opponent to return.
- Lob: A high-arcing shot hit over the opponent's head to force them to move back and reset.
- Smash: A hard, overhead shot hit with force and speed to end a rally.
- Kitchen: The non-volley zone, a 7-foot area on either side of the net where players are not allowed to volley the ball.
- Drop shot: A shot hit with backspin to make the ball drop quickly and close to the net.
- Side-out: When the serving team loses the serve and the other team takes over the serve.
- Let: A serve that hits the net and lands in the proper service court, resulting in a replay of the serve.
- Foot fault: A fault that occurs when a player steps into the non-volley zone before making contact with the ball.
These are just a few of the many terms used in pickleball, and understanding them can help players communicate and strategize on the court.