Pickleball is equal parts physical ability and tactical ingenuity.
Your ability to understand and tackle the various strategies of the game is as important as your fitness level! And — of these many plays — none are as important as the multipurpose dink shot. It’s as much a gameplay choice as a symbol of the sport. “Dinking” has become synonymous with the pickleball court, yet it remains an elusive skill for some.
But don’t worry! We’re here to teach the basics of the dinking game. So, keep scrolling to learn more!
What Is a Dink Shot?
Let’s start with the basics.
A “dink” is a soft shot, hit after the bounce, that flies low and lands within the opponent’s non-volley zone. Dink shots often occur near the net. They’re hard to return and even harder to master.
Nonetheless, beyond behind a very important shot, a dink is a must-know tactic. It’s an all-around tactic that functions as both an offensive and defensive shot. A well-timed dink shot can make or break a close match, forcing both teams to reevaluate the state of the court.
The Utility of Dink Shots
A dink is a controlled shot. A winning dink pulls both teams forward, beyond or near the non-volley zone line, while applying pressure to the opposing team.
As offensive shots, a dink lowers the likelihood of the opponent hitting that return. In the mad dash to the net, the other team is bound to make a mistake. Beginners are an easy target for a good dink, as the unexpected play throws the newcomers off-balance.
A dink can also be a defensive shot. In this scenario, the limits the opponent’s volleying options. Again, much of the strategic advantage comes from the dink shot’s ability to draw teams forward and into that non-volley area.
The Basic Dink Shot Process
So, with that in mind, how does one perform the perfect dink shot?
The first step to mastering anything in pickleball is practice. Spend time understanding the mechanics of a dink shot. Familiarize yourself with your paddle and spend plenty of time on solo or doubles drills. Master the basics first, then move to advanced tactics.
Once you’re confident in your abilities, follow these five steps:
- Assume Ready Position: You’ll want a low, athletic stance. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart. This firm, steady stance ensures proper balance and prevents falls.
- Watch the Ball: While volley-based dink shots exist, most dinks happen after a bounce. Good dinking happens when a player anticipates where the ball lands before it hits the ground, allowing them plenty of time to position themselves for the hit.
- Check Your Stance: Double-check that stance. Focus on your hands and wrists. A dink shot requires “soft hands,” meaning you’ll want a relaxed grip. At the same time, keep your wrist tense.
- Move Forward: Avoid cross-stepping or turning your body. Instead, take lateral steps and keep your chest parallel to the kitchen line.
- Swing: The final step is the most important and hardest to master. Maintain a loose grip to absorb the majority of the ball’s energy. At the same time, lock your wrist and use a pushing motion to lift the ball over the net. A proper dink shot should fly low and true, barely clearing the net before touching down.
Tips to Master the Soft Shot
Whether you’re using it as a defensive or offensive shot, the dink requires control and experience. Even a tiny bit too much power turns an otherwise perfect dink shot into a more aggressive shot, eliminating its tactical advantages. As with anything on the pickleball court, practice makes perfect. More importantly, perfect practice makes perfect.
In other words, you want to master the correct technique.
Essential Technical Details
Most of the dinking game is driven by a low stance and proper paddle grip.
Keep your grip loose and your wrist straight.
A firm grip is a great way to put more power behind shots. However, a dink is a soft hit. By using a looser grip, you let the paddle absorb most of the incoming energy. At the same time, a firm wrist transfers the energy of the dink’s distinctive pushing motion into the ball.
And, yes, we did say to push the ball. Hitting it does little more than continue the game as it had been before. You want to keep the ball low and urge it over the net rather than swinging for your opponents.
Together, these details ensure the perfect dink.
If you still need some help, check out the video below! Steve Paranto is a pickleball pro with plenty of handy technical tricks.
3 Drills to Improve Your Dink Shots
And finally, let’s talk about pickleball drills.
We’ve rounded up three amazing dink-centric drills to help you master this tricky hit. These practice sessions will reduce your pop-up risk and help you polish your skills. More importantly, they’ll help you beat other pickleball players with your amazing, technically perfect dinks!
1. The Positioning Drill
We’ll start with a simple drill that can be done at home or on your local pickleball court. You’ll need cones (or any other large, visible objects) or chalk. Using these items, form a straight line.
There are no fancy steps to follow. Move up and down the line while maintaining a low, dink-ready posture. Keep your knees bent and your paddle (or at least your paddle hand) in front of your chest. Focus, too, on your orientation. You want your chest to stay forward and parallel to the line you’ve drawn.
You can also use the same setup to practice your hitting technique. In this version, you want to move forward and back, swinging as if you’re dinking. Stay ahead of the line, thinking of it as the kitchen line, to practice your pickleball court positioning.
2. The Solo Technical Drill
Our next drill is a bit more involved.
You’ll need ample space to move and a net or net-like object. Any large, sufficiently empty space with hard flooring works. Alternatively, you can hit up your local pickleball court. You’ll want to stand within the non-volley zone. (If you’re not on a court, stand seven feet or less away from your net.)
Once you’re ready, perform a drop serve. However, instead of hitting it as usual, practice your dinking technique.
Of course, this can also be done with a partner. In this case, you’ll hit shots back and forth, perhaps even engaging in a friendly dink battle! For added challenge, have your partner hit the ball from different depths. This will help you practice refining the speed of the game to your liking. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of how much force it takes to take the ball over the net.
3. The Targeted Dinking Challenge
Finally, you can find a friend and have a dink-off!
Get cones, targets, or tape. Lay out targets on the court and have your partner serve a shot. Your goal is to practice accurate dink shots. And, yes, you can swap sides to give your partner a chance to practice.
This exercise focuses on control and pressure. It’s not enough to perform a successful dink, after all. You must also aim for the right spot. Most pickleball players aim for an opponent’s feet or spike the ball down the middle of the court. However, consistent play doesn’t mean consistent victory. Unpredictability keeps your opponent guessing and increases your win percentage.
Like our second drill, targeted drills also give you a chance to understand the amount of force needed to clear the net. This may also be a great time to practice the dink volley!
Learn Even More About Pickleball
The dink is just one of many pickleball strategies. It’s a good shot to know, but it’s far from the only “advanced” technique you’ll use.
Don’t fall behind! Stay ahead of your competition by learning more about America’s fastest-growing sport with Pickle Goddesses. Our blog is filled with tips and tricks, so don’t be afraid to browse our posts for more guides.
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