Hi, I’m Russ Lombardo, PCI-Certified Pickleball Coach. Let’s look at a few simple techniques so you'll know how to dink like a pickleball pro.

But first, let's talk about why dinking even matters.

So What's The Big Deal About Dinking?

Continuously hitting the ball from baseline to baseline is just another version of playing tennis, but on a smaller court. The points are made at the Kitchen, and the best way to get those points is to keep dinking into your opponent's Kitchen until they make a mistake, such as hitting it into the net, or popping it up so you can slam it back down into their side of the net. It doesn't matter if you're playing indoors or outdoors, or playing in Cary, Durham, Raleigh, Apex, or Morrisville; it takes a lot of patience to keep waiting for that mistake to be made. So, the better you are at dinking, the longer you can sustain the dinks. And the longer you can dink, the higher the chance your opponent will make a mistake. So be patient while dinking. Let's now learn how to dink like a pickleball pro.

What Are The Seven Simple Tips To Help You Dink Like A Pickleball Pro

Now let's cover the few basic techniques to help improve your dinks.

1. Get low. Bend your knees, stay balanced, and get ready at the kitchen line. This will also allow you to shuffle your feet to the ball quicker, instead of reaching for the ball, which gets you off balance.

2. Shape your swing like a hockey stick. Keep your arm straight, bend your wrist into an L-shaped position, then lock it in place. Pivot from your shoulder only.

3. Push through the ball. Don't just tap the ball. Push through the ball with control. You're not actually hitting the ball; you're gently pushing it over the net. Your grip should be loose and soft. On a scale of 1 (very loose) to 10 (extremely tight), your grip should be about 2-3.

4. Swing low to high. Use a smooth, pendulum-like motion to guide the ball over the net. Bend your knees so you can hit from under the ball, giving you a smooth low-to-high movement.

5. Rotate your shoulder only. Let your shoulder do the work. Keep your wrist firm and still, and your elbow straight. It feels somewhat robotic, but it'll give you a more consistent, even, and gentle swing.

6. Don't flip pancakes! Maintain a firm grip and avoid flipping or flicking your wrist. That would cause you to hit the ball in random directions and add extra pace to the ball, which you don't want to do. You're not flipping pancakes here.

7. Keep it short. Make short, controlled swings with very little follow-through. After you hit a dink, your paddle should end up about waist-high. Any higher, and you'll hit it too far or pop it up. Any lower, and you won't make it over the net.

In Summary

Remember: soft hands, a firm wrist, and a controlled swing. Practice these fundamentals, and you'll be dinking with more confidence in no time. Better dinks, better games!