The 30-second version
- An ATP (around the post) is when you hit the ball around the outside of the net post instead of over the net — and it’s 100% legal.
- The ball can travel below net height on an ATP; there’s no rule it must go over the net.
- The chance appears when a sharply angled shot pulls you wide, outside the sideline, with the ball low.
- Let it travel wide, get low, and swing the ball back cross-court around the post.
Part of our guide to improving your pickleball game.
The around-the-post shot — the ATP — is one of the most satisfying and jaw-dropping shots in pickleball, and beginners are often shocked to learn it’s completely legal. Here’s how and when to hit it.
What is an ATP?
An ATP is a shot you hit around the outside of the net post, rather than over the top of the net. Crucially, the ball does not have to go over the net or clear any height — on an ATP it can travel well below the top of the net and even below the post, as long as it lands in bounds on the other side. It’s fully within the rules.
When does the ATP opportunity happen?
The setup is specific: your opponent hits a sharply angled shot (usually a wide cross-court dink or drive) that pulls you outside the sideline, and the ball is low and moving away from the court. Because you’re wide and the ball is low and angled, going over the net isn’t an option — but going around the post straight back at a sharp angle is.
How to hit an ATP
- Recognize it early — as the wide, angled ball pulls you off the court, read that an ATP is on.
- Let the ball travel wide enough that it’s past the net post and outside the sideline.
- Get low and move with the ball, staying balanced.
- Swing it back around the post, aiming cross-court into the open court. You can hit it flat or with a little topspin for control.
Common ATP mistakes
- Hitting it too early — trying to go over the net when you should let the ball travel wide for the ATP.
- Not getting low enough — the ball is usually low, so you have to bend.
- Aiming too fine — you have a big open court; hit it firmly cross-court rather than for the line.
The ATP mostly comes off sharp-angle dinks, so the better your dinking and angles, the more ATP chances you’ll both create and face.
Which levels this shot helps
This shot shows up on these rungs of the skill ladder:
Frequently asked questions
What is an ATP in pickleball?
ATP stands for “around the post.” It’s a shot where you hit the ball around the outside of the net post instead of over the net. It’s completely legal, and the ball can travel below net height as long as it lands in bounds.
Is the around-the-post shot legal in pickleball?
Yes, the ATP is fully legal. There is no rule that the ball must travel over the net — it can go around the post and even below the height of the net or post, as long as it lands in the opponent’s court.
When can you hit an ATP?
When an opponent’s sharply angled shot pulls you wide, outside the sideline, with the ball low and moving away from the court. Let the ball travel past the post, get low, and swing it back cross-court around the post.
Does the ball have to go over the net on an ATP?
No. On an around-the-post shot the ball goes around the side of the net post, not over the net, and it can be below net height. It only has to land in bounds on the other side.
Want a coach to fast-track it?
Reading a shot is one thing — grooving it under pressure is another. I run private lessons and clinics in Central Mass that drill exactly these shots. Your first session is half off.