Rules, Scoring & RegulationsReference #07 · V2.6 Facet Verified

How must a player establish foot positioning to execute a legal Erne shot?

Core Takeaway: A player must establish both feet completely outside the sideline before striking the ball, or jump from outside the kitchen and land completely out of bounds without touching the kitchen.
Dink Digest Intelligence DeskVerified 2026-09-20
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Technical Analysis & Specification

Named after Erne Perry, who popularized the maneuver in 2010, the Erne is an aggressive poaching shot where a player moves outside the sideline adjacent to the kitchen to volley a ball that is about to cross the net. Under Rule 9.B and 9.H, because the non-volley zone stops at the sideline boundaries, the territory outside the sideline adjacent to the kitchen is considered regular in-bounds playing area. A player may either jump over the corner of the kitchen and land safely in out-of-bounds territory, or run around the sideline and set their feet completely outside the court before volleying. Touching any portion of the kitchen line or interior surface during the leap is an immediate fault.

Structured Technical Metrics

rule Number:9.H
sideline Clearance Required:Minimum 3 feet
jump Mechanic:Must take off and land outside NVZ
Topic Tags & Keywords
ernefootworkpoachingrulesextra-sideline-clearance

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