Key takeaway: An ATP (around the post) is a legal pickleball shot where you hit the ball around the outside of the net post instead of over the net. It's allowed as long as the ball lands in bounds on your opponent's side — there is no rule that the ball must travel over the net or reach any minimum height. The shot only becomes available when a ball is hit wide enough to pull you outside the sideline, giving you a clear path around the post. The secret is patience and control, not power: let the ball drop low, use soft hands, and commit early.
What does ATP mean in pickleball?
ATP stands for around the post. Instead of sending the ball back over the net, you swing it around the side of the net post so it travels back into your opponent's court at a sharp, low angle. Because the net posts sit outside the sidelines, a ball that lands wide gives you the room to go around rather than over.
It's one of the most satisfying shots in the game — and it is completely legal. Under the official rules, the ball does not have to pass over the net or clear it at any height. As long as your shot lands in the correct court, an ATP counts. Your opponent often has no answer, because the ball can dip below net height and still be a winner.
When is an ATP "on"?
You can only hit an ATP when your opponent gives you the angle. Look for these signals:
- The incoming ball is wide. A cross-court dink or drive that pulls you well outside the sideline is the classic set-up.
- The ball is dropping, not rising. Make contact as it falls, ideally at or below the height of the net.
- You have a clear lane around the post. If the ball is close to the net or coming straight at you, the ATP isn't available — take the normal shot instead.
Rule of thumb: the wider and lower the ball, the more the ATP opens up. If you're chasing a ball already past the sideline, your brain should be shouting "around, not over."
How to hit an ATP: step by step
1. Read it early and move
The biggest mistake is hesitating. By the time you've decided to go around the post, you should already be moving. Commit the moment you see the wide ball, and run around the outside of the post so your body is on the far side of it.
2. Let the ball drop
Resist the urge to take it early. The lower the ball, the better your angle back into the court. Contact at or below net height is ideal — that's what lets you send it flat or slightly downward.
3. Soft hands, short swing
An ATP is a finesse shot, not a bomb. Too much power sends it long or wide. Use a compact, controlled swing and let the angle do the work. A little topspin or underspin helps you steer the ball and keep it from sailing.
4. Aim across, not down the line
Because you're already outside the court, your target is back across the net line into open space. You don't need to thread a needle — the geometry is on your side. Guide it in.
5. Recover
Assume it comes back. Reset your feet and get back toward the kitchen line so you're not caught out of position if your opponent scrambles to it.
How to defend against an ATP
If you've hit a ball wide and your opponent lines up an ATP, don't lunge toward the net post. Instead, cover the middle and the open court where the angle will send the ball, and stay low. Better still, avoid giving the shot away in the first place: keep your dinks and drives tighter to the middle so you never hand your opponent that wide, looping angle.
Common ATP mistakes
- Going for it when it isn't on. If the ball isn't wide and low, the ATP is a low-percentage gamble. Take the safe shot.
- Swinging too hard. Power is the enemy here. Control wins.
- Taking the ball too high. Wait for the drop — height kills your angle.
- Deciding too late. Indecision means you arrive flat-footed. Commit early.
Practise it the right way
Feed yourself wide, low balls near the sideline and rehearse running around the post with soft hands. Once the movement is automatic, you'll start spotting ATP opportunities in live play that you used to let go by. Like the Erne or the third-shot drop, it's a shot that separates confident players from cautious ones. A paddle with a grippy, textured surface makes the spin-controlled ATP far easier to land — worth keeping in mind when you choose your gear.
FAQ
Is an ATP legal in pickleball?
Yes. The around-the-post shot is fully legal. The rules do not require the ball to travel over the net or clear any minimum height — it only has to land in bounds on your opponent's side of the court.
Does the ball have to go over the net on an ATP?
No. On an ATP the ball goes around the outside of the net post, not over the net. It can travel below net height and still be a winning shot.
When can you hit an ATP?
Only when the incoming ball is hit wide enough to pull you outside the sideline, giving you a clear angle around the post. It's easiest when the ball is also dropping low.
Do you need a lot of power for an ATP?
No — the opposite. An ATP is a finesse shot. Use soft hands, a short controlled swing, and a touch of spin. Too much power usually sends the ball long or wide.
What's the difference between an ATP and an Erne?
An Erne is when you move around or jump across the corner of the kitchen to volley a ball near the net, staying on your own side. An ATP sends the ball around the outside of the net post back into the court. Both exploit wide angles, but they're different shots.
Gear up with AIXO
Ready to put this into practice? AIXO paddles cover every level – same bold looks, three carbon builds:
- AIXO Ghost Ultra Noir – T700 carbon, the perfect first serious paddle
- AIXO Scorpion Country Club – 3K carbon, USAPA approved for league play
- AIXO Reaper Insane Bolt – 18K carbon, thermoformed pro performance
Or browse the full AIXO rackets & paddles collection.