What is a Bert in Pickleball?

Introduction: What is a Bert in Pickleball?

The Bert in Pickleball is the sibling shot to the more famous Erne, but with one major difference: in a Bert, you cross over your partner’s side to intercept the ball. Timing, communication, and footwork are crucial—get it wrong and you leave your side of the court completely exposed. But get it right, and you’ll leave your opponents stunned and scrambling. In fast-paced UK pickleball matches, where dinks and resets dominate the rhythm, a surprise Bert can be an absolute game-changer.

If you’ve spent any time around competitive pickleball courts in the UK recently, you might have heard the term “Bert” being thrown around during doubles games. Maybe you’ve seen a player suddenly sprint across the Kitchen, leap past the net post, and smash an unsuspecting volley—and wondered, “What on earth was that?” Well, welcome to the wild world of the Bert. The Bert is a strategic, aggressive shot where a player crosses over in front of their partner to poach a ball, usually flying over the Kitchen, and finishing the point with an airborne volley. It’s flashy, high-risk, and absolutely thrilling when pulled off properly.

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The Anatomy of a Bert: How and Why It Happens

To understand the Bert properly, it’s important to break down when and why players attempt it. In typical Kitchen rallies, players are dinking cross-court, trying to create openings. The Bert happens when a player spots a dink that’s slightly too high and predictable, and instead of waiting passively, they aggressively cross in front of their partner, leap outside the Kitchen, and smash a winner.

When the Bert is Perfect:

✔ High, predictable cross-court dinks – A soft ball drifting toward your partner’s Kitchen corner.
✔ Slow opponents – Rivals who are sluggish to react to quick attacks.
✔ Good communication – When your partner knows you’re coming across and stays out of your way.
✔ Element of surprise – The best Berts catch opponents completely flat-footed.

At advanced UK club tournaments, a successful Bert sends a message: “We’re not waiting for you to make a mistake—we’re taking the point.” It’s an aggressive mindset that fits particularly well in doubles matches where momentum swings are crucial. However, mistiming a Bert or failing to communicate with your partner can result in a wide-open court and an easy point for the other team.

🔥 Key takeaway: The Bert is all about reading the play, committing 100%, and catching opponents off guard with a bold attack.

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Footwork and Timing: Executing a Clean Bert

Pulling off a Bert isn’t just about charging recklessly across the court. It demands perfect footwork, balance, and timing. Players in the UK who practise Berts know that the smallest misstep—touching the Kitchen on the jump, hesitating before crossing, or mistiming the shot—can turn a potential highlight reel moment into an embarrassing fault.

Steps to Execute a Bert Correctly:

✔ Anticipation – Read the opponent’s body language and the trajectory of the dink early.
✔ Explosive First Step – Launch quickly across the court as soon as you recognise the opportunity.
✔ Jump or Step Outside the Kitchen – You must cross the Kitchen without touching it unless the ball bounces first.
✔ Compact Swing – Keep your swing short and sharp to control the volley.
✔ Stick the Landing – After the volley, recover back into play if the rally continues.

Good Bert execution relies on practice and planning, not panic. Many UK doubles teams now run specific drills where one player practises recognising and reacting to Bert opportunities, while the partner practises staying back and covering the exposed court after the poach.

🔥 Key takeaway: Explosive movement, sharp anticipation, and total commitment make the Bert a devastating attacking move when executed well.

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Communication and Risk Management When Attempting a Bert

No matter how tempting the opportunity looks, attempting a Bert without communicating with your partner is a disaster waiting to happen. In UK pickleball, strong doubles teams treat the Bert like a planned offensive play, not a rogue move.

Communication Essentials for the Bert:

✔ Pre-Match Planning – Agree who is allowed to poach and under what conditions.
✔ Verbal Cues – Quick shouts like “Me!” or “Go!” signal your partner to hold position.
✔ Trust and Cover – Your partner needs to trust you’re making the right move and be ready to cover the court space you leave open.
✔ Don’t Overuse It – The Bert works best when it’s unexpected—overdo it, and opponents will start baiting you into traps.

If the partnership trust isn’t strong, a mistimed Bert leads to wide-open court gaps and lost points. Smart UK teams use the Bert as a surprise attack, not a standard play. A few well-timed Berts can shatter an opponent’s confidence, but forcing it when it’s not on can undo all your hard work.

🔥 Key takeaway: The best Berts happen when both partners plan, signal, and cover smartly—trust and communication are everything.

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Final Thoughts: Bert Boldly, Bert Smartly

The Bert is one of pickleball’s most electrifying shots. It’s not just a flashy show-off move—it’s a legitimate offensive weapon that can shift momentum, unsettle opponents, and create highlight moments. Whether you’re competing at a UK regional tournament or enjoying a Saturday smash session with friends, mastering the Bert adds another dynamic layer to your doubles game.

Key Takeaways:

✔ The Bert involves crossing over your partner to poach a ball outside the Kitchen line.
✔ Timing, footwork, and anticipation are critical to pull it off cleanly.
✔ Clear communication with your partner ensures the court stays covered after the attack.
✔ The Bert is most effective when used sparingly and strategically to surprise opponents.
✔ In UK pickleball, mastering advanced moves like the Bert separates bold, aggressive players from the cautious pack.

👀 Enjoyed this read? Fancy levelling up your game even more? Keep reading Dink Quest for the best pickleball tips, drills, and news in the UK!

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