Dinking Strategies

Dinking is one of the most important and strategic elements in pickleball, especially at higher levels of play. It involves soft, controlled shots hit into the opponent’s non-volley zone (the kitchen). Dinking is more than just keeping the ball in play; it’s about setting up offensive opportunities, forcing your opponent to make mistakes, and controlling the pace of the game. Here’s an in-depth look at dinking strategies, including what, when, why, and how to use them, along with drills to improve your dinking game.

1. Basic Dinking Strategy: Consistent Cross-Court Dinks

What:

• A cross-court dink is when you hit the ball diagonally from one non-volley zone (kitchen) to the opposite non-volley zone on your opponent’s side. These dinks typically travel longer distances and have more margin for error, making them safer and easier to control.

When:

• Use cross-court dinks during neutral rallies when you’re trying to control the tempo and reduce errors.
• When you want to outlast your opponent in a dink rally, keeping the ball low and difficult to attack.

Why:

• The longer distance and lower trajectory allow for a safer shot with more time to react. Cross-court dinks also force your opponent to move laterally, which can create openings.
• The diagonal dink gives you a larger target area, reducing the chance of hitting into the net or out of bounds.

How:

1. Grip: Use a soft grip (light hold) to control the paddle and generate a soft touch on the ball.
2. Paddle Position: Keep your paddle out in front of you, with the paddle face slightly open to lift the ball gently over the net.
3. Swing: Use a short, compact swing with minimal backswing, focusing on a smooth, controlled stroke.
4. Contact Point: Hit the ball in front of your body and at knee level, giving it enough height to clear the net but still stay low.
5. Placement: Aim for the cross-court kitchen, focusing on keeping the ball low and near the sideline to make it harder for your opponent to attack.

2. Advanced Strategy: Change of Direction (Straight Dink)

What:

• A straight dink is hit directly in front of you, as opposed to cross-court. Changing direction in a dink rally can surprise your opponent and throw them off balance.

When:

• Use the straight dink after a series of cross-court dinks to catch your opponent off-guard.
• When your opponent is expecting a cross-court dink and is moving toward the sideline, leaving their straight side open.

Why:

• Changing the direction of your dink can break the rhythm of your opponent, forcing them to adjust quickly. It also allows you to target a weaker player or a specific side of the opponent’s court.
• Straight dinks require less distance, meaning they stay low and provide your opponent with less time to react.

How:

1. Grip and Paddle Position: Same as cross-court dinks—soft grip with paddle slightly open.
2. Swing: Keep the swing short and compact, with minimal movement to avoid giving away your change in direction.
3. Contact Point: Strike the ball in front of your body, aiming directly across the net in front of you. Focus on hitting the ball low, just over the net.
4. Placement: Place the ball low and near your opponent’s feet or near the sideline to make it difficult for them to respond with an aggressive shot.

3. Attacking Strategy: Aggressive Dinks

What:

• An aggressive dink is hit with more pace and depth than a typical dink, targeting the back of the kitchen line. This shot applies pressure on your opponent while keeping the ball low and difficult to attack.

When:

• Use aggressive dinks when you notice your opponent is backing off the kitchen line or when they’re out of position.
• After engaging in a soft dink rally, an aggressive dink can disrupt your opponent’s rhythm and potentially lead to a pop-up that you can attack.

Why:

• Aggressive dinks force your opponent to make quick decisions, increasing the likelihood of errors. It can also create openings for an offensive shot, such as a volley or smash.
• The added pace and depth make it harder for your opponent to maintain control over the point.

How:

1. Grip: Use a slightly firmer grip than you would for a soft dink to add a bit of pace to the ball.
2. Paddle Position: Keep the paddle in front of you but slightly more closed (flat) than in a typical dink to generate more forward momentum.
3. Swing: Use a slightly longer swing, but still maintain control. Focus on striking the ball with more pace but keeping it low.
4. Contact Point: Hit the ball at knee or waist height and aim for the back of the kitchen line. The goal is to push your opponent back while keeping the ball unattackable.

4. Disruptive Strategy: Dinking to the Middle

What:

• Dinking to the middle of the court is when you aim your dink between your two opponents, typically toward their feet. This strategy takes advantage of the indecision that can occur when both players are unsure who should take the shot.

When:

• Use this strategy when your opponents are not communicating well or when they are both positioned far from the middle of the court.
• When you’re trying to disrupt their rhythm and force them to move awkwardly.

Why:

• Dinking to the middle can cause confusion between opponents, especially if they’re unsure of their positioning or communication. It can lead to errors like pop-ups or missed shots.
• The middle is often the safest place to dink because it provides a larger target area, reducing the chance of hitting out of bounds.

How:

1. Grip and Paddle Position: Maintain a soft grip with the paddle in front, ready for a controlled shot.
2. Swing: Use a short, compact swing to control the pace of the shot.
3. Contact Point: Make contact in front of your body, aiming toward the middle of the court between your opponents. Keep the ball low to make it difficult for them to attack.
4. Placement: Focus on hitting the ball toward your opponents' feet or just in front of them in the middle of the court to create confusion.

Dinking Drills to Improve Your Skills:

1. Cross-Court Dink Drill

• Setup: Partner with someone and stand at the kitchen line on opposite sides, diagonally across from each other.
• Drill: Engage in cross-court dink rallies, focusing on consistent placement, control, and keeping the ball low.
• Goal: Maintain a rally of at least 50 dinks without missing. Focus on footwork and controlling the ball with minimal swing.

2. Target Dinking Drill

• Setup: Place targets (such as cones or markers) in specific areas of the kitchen, such as near the sideline, center, or back of the non-volley zone.
• Drill: Practice dinking to different targets. Start with a partner and alternate between soft dinks, aggressive dinks, and change-of-direction dinks.
• Goal: Improve accuracy and placement by aiming for the targets while maintaining control over the shot.

3. Dink-to-Attack Drill

• Setup: Begin a dink rally with a partner at the kitchen line. After several soft dinks, one player hits an aggressive dink, and the other player reacts by defending the shot and continuing the rally.
• Drill: Work on transitioning between soft dinks and aggressive dinks. The focus is on recognizing opportunities to attack while maintaining control of the ball.
• Goal: Develop the ability to transition from defense (soft dinks) to offense (aggressive dinks) within the same rally.

4. Dinking to the Middle Drill

• Setup: With two opponents on the other side, practice dinking to the middle of the court, aiming between the two players.
• Drill: Focus on hitting dinks toward the feet of your opponents and creating confusion. Have your opponents communicate as they attempt to return the shots.
• Goal: Practice disrupting your opponents' positioning and communication, forcing them into difficult returns.

Conclusion:

Dinking is not just about keeping the ball in play—it’s a tactical approach to controlling the point, forcing errors, and setting up opportunities to attack. By mastering cross-court dinks, change-of-direction dinks, aggressive dinks, and dinks to the middle, you can outplay your opponents strategically. Incorporating these dinking strategies and drills into your practice will improve your control, consistency, and ability to dominate the non-volley zone.