Around The Post (ATP)
Pickleball's most jaw-dropping and virtually un-returnable shot. Exploit the geometric boundary around the net post to curl the ball inches above the ground directly into the opponent's open court.
Under USA Pickleball Official Rule 11.M, the ball is not required to travel over the top of the net. When an opponent hits an over-angled cross-court dink that carries outside the sideline, you have the legal right to run outside the net post and curl the ball around the side of the post at an elevation of only 4-10 inches (10-25cm) above the court surface. Because the trajectory bypasses the net tape entirely and enters a completely unprotected angle, the opponent's chance of returning a clean ATP is near zero.
Pro Blueprint for Executing the Around The Post (ATP)
Channel: PrimeTime Pickleball • Angle calibration and footwork tutorial
Spot the opponent's over-angled dink tracking wide outside the sideline; avoid rushing an airborne volley.
Sprint into the corridor behind the net post, patiently allowing the ball to sink down toward ankle height.
Sweep the paddle face horizontally, wrapping around the outside edge of the ball into open court.
1 Biomechanics & Post-Bypassing Geometry
Patience for Low Contact (Ankle Height)
Ankle HeightThe most common mistake when attempting an ATP is striking the ball at the apex of the bounce. You must wait patiently for the ball to drop down to ankle height (6-8 inches / 15-20cm), where the clearance angle around the net post is at its maximum.
Outside Footwork & Spatial Freedom
Outside Net PostYour outside foot must plant firmly outside the line of the net post. Once your body is situated in the outer corridor beyond court boundaries, you are liberated from Kitchen NVZ rules and can swing freely.
Horizontal Side-Wrap Swing Plane
Side Slice / DriveUnlike a conventional low-to-high dink, the ATP swing path travels horizontally from outside to inside, brushing across the outer circumference of the ball to impart curling spin that hugs the post tightly into the court.
The Zero-Post-Contact Rule
Fault FreeYour body, paddle, and apparel must never touch the net post, cable, or net fabric. The ball must also navigate cleanly around the post without making contact with any net hardware.
⚠️ 3 Technical Errors That Ruin an ATP Opportunity ▼
Hitting while the ball is at net tape height gives you a microscopically narrow angle around the post, smashing the ball directly into the steel post or sailing it long. Fix: Let the ball drop to 6-8 inches off the ground.
The ATP only requires directional touch into the open court. Crushing the ball at 100% speed often causes it to spray wide past the sideline. Fix: Use a firm, controlled horizontal guide.
If the opponent dink does not bounce past the sideline, attempting to swing around the post is physically impossible. Fix: Exercise discipline and return a standard dink.
🏋️ DUPR Rating Improvement Drills (ATP Execution) ▼
Partner feeds sharp angled balls bouncing wide of the sideline. Move into position outside the post, wait for the ball to drop to ankle level, and smoothly curl 20 consecutive balls into the opponent Kitchen corner.
Play competitive cross-court dink games. If either player dinks so wide that the opponent executes a successful ATP, the player who gave up the wide angle is penalized minus 1 point.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Rules & Techniques) ▼
Can you execute an ATP using a Backhand?
Yes! The Backhand ATP is extremely common when opponents dink sharply to your backhand sideline (left side for righties). The mechanics remain identical: wait for the ball to drop low and brush the outer edge around the post.
What happens if the ball clips the net tension cable or post hardware?
If the ball touches any part of the net post, cable, or support structure, a fault is immediately called on the striker, and the rally is lost.