Erne

An erne is a shot where a player runs around the outside edge of the kitchen, often near the sideline, to volley the ball out of the air from a position beside the zone rather than behind it. Because the player's feet never touch the kitchen or its line during the volley, the shot is legal even though it is hit much closer to the net than a standard volley.

The shot is used to attack a ball that would otherwise land safely in the kitchen for an easy dink, turning what looks like a defensive situation into an aggressive putaway. It requires good footwork and timing, since the player has to read the shot early enough to get around the kitchen before the ball arrives.

A common mistake is clipping the kitchen line or the zone itself mid air or on the follow through, which is still a fault even if the player was outside the zone at contact. Because it is a lower percentage, higher risk shot, most players save it for a clear opportunity rather than trying it on every short ball.