The Definitive Glossary of Pro Pickleball Words and Phrases

The PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball have a new rulebook, which includes an extensive glossary. Here are 70 pickleball words and phrases you need to know.

The PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball have a new rulebook, which the UPA-A just made public.

From serving rules to paddle challenges to player behavior, the new 71-page framework introduces structure, clarity, and, in some cases, real consequences to on-court player conduct.

It also provides an extensive glossary of pickleball-related terms and their definitions as they pertain to pro play in MLP and on the PPA Tour.

• What's the difference between a hindrance and a distraction?
• What's an Orange Card and a Blue Card, and what's the penalty if a player receives one?
• How does the UPA-A define player profanity? (Spoiler alert: it doesn't.)

If you've ever wondered what certain pickleball words or phrases mean, this glossary might provide the answer.

• Abstention – A temporary, declared inability of a player to participate in live play while remaining an eligible team member.
• Act of Volleying – The full sequence of a volley: arm swing, contact, follow-through, and resulting momentum.
• Adaptive Player – A player using a wheelchair or assistive equipment; such equipment is considered part of the body.
• Appeal – A request for a ruling from an authority or opponent (in self-officiated play).
• Ball in Play – The rally period from serve contact until the ball becomes dead.
• Break in Play – A temporary stoppage during authorized timeouts or game transitions.
• Carry – An illegal hit where the ball is prolonged or pushed on the paddle face.
• Challenge (Video Challenge) – A formal request for video review to confirm or overturn a call.
• Coach – A person providing information that could give a competitive advantage.
• Coaching – Any communication (verbal, nonverbal, electronic) from outside a player’s partner that aids performance.
• Concede – Voluntarily giving a rally to the opponent.
• Court – The area within baselines and sidelines, including the lines.
• Dead Ball – A ball no longer in play.
• Detriment – A self-called violation resulting in loss of a rally for fairness.
• Distraction – Non-standard actions that disrupt an opponent’s ability to play.
• Double Bounce – Ball bounces twice before being returned.
• Ejection – Removal from tournament play; player may remain at venue.
• Expulsion – Removal from tournament and venue for the remainder of the event.
• Factual Determination – A ruling based on observed events.
• Fault – A rules violation that ends the rally.
• First Server – The player who begins service after a side out in doubles.
• Flow of the Game – The steady progression of play with minimal delays.
• Forfeit – Loss due to lateness, behavior, or rule violations.
• Foul (Orange Card) – A penalty adding one point to the opponent.
• Groundstroke – A shot after the ball has bounced.
• Head Referee – Oversees officiating and final rule interpretations.
• Hindrance – External interference not caused by a player.
• Imaginary Extension – Projection of a line beyond its endpoint.
• Lead Referee – Manages a match and has final on-court authority.
• Left/Odd Court – Left service area; used when score is odd.
• Let Serve – A serve that hits the net and lands in the correct service box.
• Line Call – A player’s call of IN or OUT.
• Live Ball – From score call to when the ball becomes dead.
• Mark (Blue Card) – A warning that can escalate into penalties.
• Momentum – Continued motion after striking the ball.
• Multiple Hit Stroke – More than one contact in a single motion.
• Net System – The net and supporting structures dividing the court.
• Non-Volley Zone (NVZ / Kitchen) – The 7x20 ft area near the net where volleys are restricted.
• Overhang – Visual extension of the ball over a line without touching it.
• Overrule – Reversal of a prior decision.
• Paddle Head – The hitting surface (excluding the handle).
• Preventive Refereeing – Proactive guidance to prevent violations.
• Permanent Object – Fixed object that could interfere with play.
• Plane of the Net – Imaginary extension of the net in all directions.
• Playing Surface – Court plus surrounding play area.
• Profanity – Offensive language or gestures.
• Rally – Continuous play after the serve.
• Ready for Play – Players are positioned and prepared to resume play.
• Receiver – Player positioned to return the serve.
• Replay – Restarting a rally without awarding a point.
• Re-established – Regaining legal position outside the NVZ before volleying.
• Referee Crew – All officiating personnel.
• Retirement – A team/player stops play, awarding the match to opponents.
• Right/Even Court – Right service area; used when score is even.
• Roaming Referee – Floating official assisting across matches.
• Rule Interpretation/Application – Applying rules to a situation.
• Second Referee (2R) – Assists the Lead Referee.
• Second Serve – In doubles, the team’s second serving opportunity.
• Second Server – Partner who serves after the first server.
• Serve – The shot that starts a rally.
• Service Court – Area where serves must land.
• Serving Area – Space behind the baseline for serving.
• Side Out – Transfer of serve to the opposing team.
• Starting Server – First server at the beginning of a game.
• Video Review Referee – Reviews footage for challenges and rulings.
• Volley – Hitting the ball before it bounces.
• Warning – Notice of a violation without immediate penalty.
• Withdrawal – A player/team removes themselves from an upcoming match.

You can check out the new rulebook here.