The dink is the shot that separates recreational players from players who've actually put in the reps. If you want to get better at pickleball faster, start here.
What a Dink Actually Is
A dink is a soft, controlled shot that lands in the non-volley zone (the kitchen). The goal is to keep your opponent from attacking. The best pickleball points are often won by stringing together long dink rallies and waiting for your opponent to pop one up.
The Three Things Most Players Get Wrong
1. Arm swing. A dink doesn't need your arm. It's a paddle face angle and slight push from your shoulder. Too much arm and you'll send it sailing. Practice with almost no arm movement until you feel the difference.
2. Too much wrist. Lock your wrist. The wrist is for power shots. For a dink, your wrist should be firm and your paddle face should be doing the work.
3. Standing too upright. Bend your knees and get low. You want your paddle at net height, not dropping down to it from above. Getting low gives you better control and better court vision.
Drills That Actually Work
The best drill for dinks: find a wall and practice soft cross-court dinks for 10 minutes before every game. If you don't have a wall partner, practice your paddle face angle by bouncing slow shots off the ground and catching them back on your paddle face.
Gear Note
A paddle with good touch helps with dinks. The High Roller Paddle's thermoformed carbon face gives you the control you need for soft game play without sacrificing power when you need to speed up.
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5 Common Pickleball Mistakes and How to Fix Them