What Is ATP in Pickleball? The Around-the-Post Shot Explained

ATP stands for Around The Post. It is a legal pickleball shot where you hit the ball around the outside of the net post instead of over the net. The ball does not have to travel above net height, and as long as it lands in bounds on your opponent's side, the rally continues unless the opponent fails to return it legally. It is one of the most satisfying shots in the game.

Here is exactly when an ATP appears and how to hit it.

What is an ATP in pickleball?

An ATP, or around-the-post shot, is when you strike the ball so it curves around the outside of the net post and lands in the opponent's court. Because the ball travels around the post rather than over the net, it can fly well below the height of the net and still be completely legal. There is no rule in pickleball that the ball must pass over the net, an around-the-post return is permitted, provided the other rally rules are followed.

When does an ATP happen?

An ATP opportunity almost always comes from a wide, sharply angled ball. When your opponent hits a shot with so much angle that it pulls you off the side of the court and the ball is bouncing away past the sideline, you get a window: instead of trying to lift it back over the net, you can take it low and send it around the post. The wider and lower the ball, the better the ATP angle.

How to hit an around-the-post shot

Follow these steps:

• Read the wide ball early. The moment you see a sharp cross-court angle pulling you out wide, start moving.
• Let it drift outside the sideline. An ATP works because the ball is already outside the court, level with or below the net.
• Get low and swing flat. Meet the ball out to the side with a level, controlled swing, not a lift.
• Aim around the post, into the open court. Target the space diagonally in front of you on the other side.
• Commit. Half-hitting an ATP sends it into the post. Trust the angle and follow through.

Is the ATP legal? The key rules

Yes, the ATP is fully legal. Three points to remember: you must hit the ball around the outside of the post, the ball does not need to travel above the net, and it only counts if it lands in bounds on the opponent's side. You also cannot touch the net or post while you play it. If your wide ball has bounced and you are stepping around the post to hit it, just keep your body and paddle off the net and post.

ATP vs Erne: different shots

An ATP sends the ball around the net post. An Erne describes a volley made by a player positioned outside the sideline beside the kitchen. They use different openings; neither is automatically a winning shot.

Wait for a wide ball to create a usable angle and check the space outside the sideline. If a barrier or adjacent court leaves too little room, play a controlled return instead of forcing the shot. See the pickleball terms glossary and kitchen rules for the related vocabulary. Rule reference: USA Pickleball's official rulebook.

Frequently asked questions

What does ATP mean in pickleball?

ATP stands for Around The Post. It is a shot hit around the outside of the net post rather than over the net, and it is legal as long as it lands in bounds.

Is an around-the-post shot legal in pickleball?

Yes. There is no rule that the ball must go over the net. If it goes around the post and lands in the opponent's court, the rally continues unless the opponent fails to return it legally.

Does the ball have to go over the net height on an ATP?

No. Because it travels around the post, an ATP can be lower than the net and still be a legal, winning shot.

When should you try an ATP?

When a sharply angled cross-court shot pulls you wide and the ball is drifting outside the sideline, low and away. That is the ideal ATP setup.

Keep reading

• Pickleball Court Zones Explained: Kitchen, Service Courts and Lines
• Pickleball Transition Zone: How to Move Through No Man's Land
• What Does 0-0-2 Mean in Pickleball? Score Call Explained