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How to Dominate with the Erne— From Kyle Koszuta

Hey guys, it’s Kyle from ThatPickleballGuy. We’re talking about the Erne, and I’m going to show you exactly how you can do it in recreational play and tournaments. So, when you’re on the court, your friends will be like, “Wow, that was sick!” and you’ll think the same. Let’s go!

One of the key things in pickleball is to be a threat on the court. You want to take away options from your opponent so they can’t place the ball in as many spots. The ability to execute an Erne takes away options from them.

We’re going to demonstrate different reads with the Erne. But first, let’s define what an Erne is. An Erne is when you run around, jump through, or over the kitchen to get closer to the net (Figure 1), allowing you to either put the ball away or gain an advantage in the point. The goal is to get closer to the net without violating the kitchen rules. As long as you land outside the sideline, it’s legal. You can’t jump with your foot on the kitchen line, and you can’t land with your foot on the sideline—those are illegal. But as long as you jump outside the kitchen and land outside the sideline, you’re good.

Key Rules of the Erne

Here’s one rule you need to keep in mind, which often confuses players: Can you cross the plane of the net? The ruling is this: If I make contact with the ball on my side of the net, I’m allowed to cross the net with my paddle or body on the follow-through. However, I cannot make contact with the ball on the opponent’s side of the net—that’s illegal. Additionally, if I swing and hit the net, it’s a violation, and I lose the point. So, you can cross the net, but your paddle cannot touch it, and you must get back to your side of the court.Three Main Reads for Executing an Erne

1. Head Down Back Foot Erne
   The key here is not where the ball is coming from but your opponents position. If your opponent receives a down-the-line shot and is caught on his back foot with his head down (Figure 2), that’s a trigger for me to execute an Erne. Why? If they’re on their back foot, they’re off balance, and the next shot is likely to be more lofty. When their head is down, they also loses peripheral vision, which gives me the opportunity to move in for the Erne.

When I prep for this, I ensure my footwork is ready. If I’m too far away from the sideline, I won’t be able to jump the kitchen, so I get closer to the sideline. There are two types of footwork:

• Level 1 Footwork: I run around the kitchen by stepping off my left foot, landing on my right foot, planting perpendicular to the sideline, and hitting the ball.

• Level 2 Footwork: I jump through the kitchen. As long as I jump from behind the kitchen line and land outside the sideline, I’m legal. I jump off my left foot and act like Superman for a second, landing outside the sideline.

2. Split Line Erne
   The split line Erne is less commonly taught but is incredibly effective if you have the athleticism for it. Here’s the trigger: When the opponent to your right crosses in front of the line, their most common dink will come to your corner (Figure 3).

When I see the opponent cross the line, I immediately consider an Erne opportunity. While it’s not always guaranteed, I use this moment to jump through the kitchen and gain an advantage by being closer to the net, where I can apply pressure.

3. Baseline Drop Erne
   In this scenario, I’m focused on if their third shot comes into my zone (What’s a third shot?). If it does, I execute an Erne. This tactic pressures my opponent and limits their drop options, making them more predictable and easier to anticipate.

If my opponents are in the backcourt and I see one of them cross the split line while moving toward the net, I immediately start looking for an Erne opportunity (Figure 4).

Pro Tip: Timing Your Erne

Here’s the biggest mistake I made when first learning the Erne: I moved too soon. If you go too early, your opponent will notice, and they’ll be able to place the ball where you can’t reach it. The trick is to wait until your opponent makes contact with the ball before you make your move. This ensures you have the element of surprise and can execute the Erne effectively.

To Wrap Things Up

That’s how you perform the Erne with three different reads. Go try it on the court!

Think you know pickleball inside and out? Challenge yourself with ThatPickleball IQ Test and see if you can score a perfect 10 out of 10! 

Later 👊🏻

Why Hitting Deep Overheads is Key— From James Ignatowich

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich, and today I’m going to walk you through how to hit a point-ending overhead. A lot of players struggle with finishing points on overheads, so let’s break it down.

One key factor in a successful overhead is getting the ball to bounce as deep as possible—especially when you’re not aiming for an angle. If the ball bounces within about three feet of the baseline, it becomes much harder for your opponent to return compared to a ball that bounces closer to the net. This is because the ball slows down a lot after bouncing, so to really put the overhead away, you want that bounce to happen deep in the court (Figure 1).

You also need to allow yourself a margin for error. Missing an overhead is the last thing you want, especially since you’re likely favored to win the point if you have the opportunity to hit one. So aim deep and give yourself some leeway in terms of width, knowing that depth is your priority.

When I try to finish points with overheads, I always target the deep part of the court because the deeper the ball bounces, the more it’s going to skid, and if it lands near the baseline, it won’t bounce up high—making it really tough to return.

For more tips. 

Testing the Proton Series One Type A Paddle— From Kip Lacey

Hey guys, it’s Kip. Got a cool new review to do—the new Proton Series One Type A. We’re starting to see Proton paddles a lot out at the courts, and they’re instantly recognizable. There are four or five different colors, and they all pop. You can see them from quite a distance away, so you know exactly what they are, and we’re starting to see more and more of them.

Pros Using Proton

At the pro level, Andrei Daescu is hitting it and has been for quite a while, and I believe they just signed Meghan Dizon. She’s been playing with it in the last few tournaments, so it’s cool to see the Proton paddles out there. This is a company out of Arizona, and they’ve tried something just a little bit different with this paddle as far as some of the structural components.

Paddle Features and Construction

The paddle has a familiar 15mm poly core, but the standout feature is its nanotech-treated carbon fiber face. Unlike a spray-on coating, the nanotech is embedded with the carbon, making it more durable. As we know, spray textures wear off, and even carbon fiber paddles collect dirt in their grooves over time, impacting performance if not cleaned regularly. Proton claims their nanotech surface will last longer, and they’ve used the same tech in their softball bats, which take serious impact. Pro players like Andrei and Meghan have reportedly used the same paddle without needing replacements, so the durability seems promising.

First Impressions

Out of the box, the paddle feels slick, but Proton promises great spin and extended dwell time. I was skeptical at first, thinking it wouldn’t spin well, but curious to test it out. Proton also claims it has the largest sweet spot on the market, which adds to the excitement. Though it’s not a Gen 2 thermoformed paddle, the carbon fiber-reinforced neck should add durability. It’s 16 1/2 inches long, 7 1/2 inches wide, and has a 5 1/2-inch grip circumference. At 8.66 ounces, it’s a bit heavy, and priced at $280. If the nanotech holds up, this could be a game changer in paddle technology.

Testing on the Courts

After testing it out, I noticed the paddle feels head-heavy, but accuracy was strong right away. Despite my initial concerns about spin, the nanotech surface started to feel more grippy as I played. It surprised me by delivering great spin and impressive dwell time. The sweet spot is indeed large, and it performed well both offensively and defensively, especially controlling shots at the net.

Final Thoughts

After a few weeks of play, the Proton Series 1 Type A really grew on me. While it’s slightly heavier than my usual paddles, that extra weight adds power—my serve speed increased to 51.4 mph on average. Accuracy and control are where this paddle excels, scoring a 10/10 in my book. The only downside might be the weight for some, but if you’re comfortable with it, this paddle is a winner. At its price point, I think we’ll be seeing more of this nanotech surface in future paddles.

Curious to hear your thoughts if you’ve tried it! View Proton at Pickleball Central

Check out my other paddle reviews here.