What Is a Dink in Pickleball? Dinking Strategy Guide for Beginners
What Is a Dink in Pickleball?
A dink is a soft shot that lands in the opponent’s non-volley zone (the kitchen). It is one of the most important shots in pickleball because it forces your opponents to hit up, giving you the advantage. Unlike a drive or a smash, a dink is about touch and control, not power.
The dink shot is what separates beginner players from advanced ones. If you master the dink, you will win more points at the net.
Why Is Dinking So Important?
In pickleball, the team that controls the net wins most rallies. The dink allows you to:
- Keep the ball low, making it hard for opponents to attack
- Force your opponents out of position
- Create opportunities for a winning put-away shot
- Slow down the game when you are under pressure
Almost 70% of points in professional pickleball are won at the net, and dinking is how you get there.
How to Dink: Step-by-Step
- Get to the kitchen line. After returning serve, move forward to the non-volley zone line
- Use a soft grip. Hold the paddle lightly — a death grip kills your touch
- Short backswing. Your backswing should be no more than 6 inches
- Contact the ball out in front. Meet the ball before it gets to your body
- Follow through gently. Let the paddle do the work — do not punch at the ball
Common Dinking Mistakes
Hitting too hard. A dink should barely clear the net. If your dinks are deep, ease up.
Popping the ball up. Keep your paddle face open slightly. A closed face sends the ball into the net.
Not moving your feet. Stay on your toes and adjust to the ball. A dink requires active footwork.
Dinking from too far back. You should be at the kitchen line, not back at the baseline.
Dinking Strategy: Cross-Court vs Down-the-Line
Cross-court dinks are safer because the net is lower in the middle. Most dinking rallies happen cross-court.
Down-the-line dinks are riskier but can catch opponents off guard. Use them sparingly.
The body dink: Aim at the opponent’s hip or shoulder. This forces an awkward return.
How to Practice Dinking
- Stand at the kitchen line with a partner and see how many consecutive dinks you can hit
- Start with cross-court dinks only, then add down-the-line
- Practice dinking while moving laterally — game situations are not stationary
- Use a target (like a towel) on the court to aim for
When NOT to Dink
While dinking is powerful, there are times to avoid it:
- When the ball is above net height — smash it instead
- When your opponents are both back — drop the ball into the kitchen instead
- When you have an open court — put the ball away
Master the dink and you will transform your pickleball game. It is not the flashiest shot, but it is the smartest.