Strategy · Advanced

Around-the-Post (ATP) Shot in Pickleball Explained

By STRYKX Coaching 5 min read Reviewed Jul 2026

Player hitting an around-the-post shot outside the pickleball net

The short answer

An around-the-post (ATP) shot is struck when the ball has bounced wide of the court and the player hits it around the outside of the net post rather than over the net, as long as the ball stays below the height of the net post at all times. It's a legal, if rare, way to win a point on a ball that's traveled wide.

Key takeaways

ATP shots go around the net post, not over the net.
The ball must stay below the top of the net post throughout its path.
It's legal even though it doesn't cross over the net in the traditional sense.
The opportunity arises when an opponent hits a ball unusually wide.

What an around-the-post shot is

An around-the-post shot, or ATP, happens when the ball has traveled wide of the sideline — often from an opponent's mishit or an aggressive angled shot — and a player chooses to hit it around the outside of the net post rather than attempting to go back over the net. It's a rare, spectacular-looking shot that only comes up when the ball has landed unusually wide.

The legality of the ATP

The shot is legal as long as the ball travels below the height of the net post at all points during its flight — it does not need to clear the net itself, since it isn't crossing over the net at all. If the ball goes above the height of the post, the shot is not legal.

When the opportunity arises

ATP opportunities come from a ball hit unusually wide — often the result of good court coverage or an aggressive angled shot forcing an opponent's return well outside the sideline. It connects loosely to positioning discussed in singles strategy and court coverage, since covering wide angles is what puts you in position to see this opportunity at all.

A shot to recognise, not force

The ATP isn't a shot you can set up intentionally — it depends entirely on your opponent hitting the ball unusually wide. The value in understanding it is recognising the opportunity when it happens rather than instinctively hitting the ball out of bounds because it looks unreturnable.

Cover the
wide ball

Good court coverage is what puts you in position for shots like this. See the full guide to singles strategy and positioning.

Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

What does ATP mean in pickleball?

ATP stands for around-the-post, a shot where a player hits the ball around the outside of the net post rather than over the net, used when the ball has bounced unusually wide of the court.

Is the around-the-post shot legal in pickleball?

Yes, as long as the ball stays below the height of the net post throughout its flight. It doesn't need to cross over the net, since it's traveling around the post entirely.

When can I hit an around-the-post shot?

Only when the ball has traveled wide enough of the sideline that going around the post is physically possible — typically from an opponent's wide or mishit shot.

Why don't players attempt ATP shots more often?

Because the opportunity depends entirely on the opponent hitting an unusually wide ball, it isn't something you can set up deliberately — it's a shot to recognise and execute when the situation happens to arise.