Shots & strokes
Reset
A soft shot hit from a defensive position to neutralize an attack — usually landed in the kitchen so opponents can't follow up.
A reset is the defensive equivalent of a drop: when an opponent attacks and you're scrambling, the reset is a soft, controlled shot that takes pace off the ball and drops it into the opponent's kitchen. Done well, it neutralizes the attack and restarts the point as a dink rally.
Resets are the most underrated skill in pickleball. The ability to reset under pressure is what separates a 4.5 player from a 5.0.
Related terms
Dink
A soft shot hit from near the kitchen, arcing just over the net into the opponent's kitchen. The fundamental soft-game stroke.
Drop
A soft, arcing shot that lands in the opponent's kitchen — typically the third shot, used to safely move the serving team to the kitchen line.
Kitchen
The 7-foot zone on either side of the net where players cannot volley the ball. The defining strategic feature of pickleball.