What Is A Dink Shot In Pickleball?

Learn what is a dink shot in Pickleball to enlighten yourself about its basics, purpose, advantages, and tips to master this shot.

Pickleball is one of those sports that is gaining popularity like crazy these days. What makes it exciting is that it is a blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis so if you love racket games you should try pickleball with your friends. If you are still learning to play pickleball and its techniques then you are in the right place.

There are several unique techniques you can learn to up your pickleball game, including the dink shot. If you are not familiar with this and are wondering what a dink shot is in pickleball, continue reading. We will explain everything to you, and you will not only learn the basics of this shot but also refine your technique to master the dink shot.

What Is A Dink Shot In Pickleball?

If you are a beginner, a dink shot might confuse you. Moreover, many beginners think the dink shot is a drop shot, both are pretty similar but different. So, what is a dink shot in pickleball?

A dink shot is a soft shot where players hit the ball on a bounce or out of the air at a higher angle. To hit a dink shot you must hit the ball from a non-volley or kitchen line. It is an amazing doubles strategy that will let you score more points especially when your opponents are near baseline.

What Is The First Rule Of Dinking In Pickleball?

Honestly, there is no rule for a dink shot in pickleball. However, you need to keep a few things in mind to hit a perfect dink shot. The purpose of a dink shot is to get your opponents in low-contact points.

The best thing about this is that you can hit it from any side of the court, from the sides, underhanded, whatever you are comfortable with. Your goal should be not to be attacked by your opponent on the next shot. Do not hit a dink shot from up as the opponent can smash it and win a point.

Dinking is not hard to learn. All you need is the skill to hit a shot that puts your opponent in a difficult situation. Always remember, while dinking you should hit the ball softly. Here are a few things you need to keep an account of while hitting a volley or ground shot dink.

Note the dink shot would be volley or groundstroke. A volley dink shot is to hit the ball out of the air while the ground shot is to hit the ball after the bounce. A volley hit travels farther than a ground shot because of the speed.

It is important to understand the dink shot and estimate the distance you want the ball to travel before you hit the dink shot. Based on the distance you will hit a volley or a ground shot. The thing you need to learn and practice is how the speed works in a dinking shot.

What Is The Purpose Of A Dink Shot?

Now you know what is a dink shot in Pickleball and before we get into the types of dink shots you can hit, don’t you want to know the purpose of this shot? A beginner player is always curious about what dink shot is about and why this great strategy is not given the attention it requires. Many think it is a defensive shot, however, if you master this shot you can put pressure on your opponent to make a mistake or deliver shots that are easier to hit.

In short, it can be used as a defensive and offensive shot depending on your game strategy. Whether you want to regain control of the game or put pressure on your opponents, a dinking shot is the best for this purpose. It can be your most effective weapon to be a pro pickleball player.

Cross-Court Dink

The dink shot in pickleball has three types which are strategic cross-court dink, tactical down-the-line dink, and unpredictable spin dinks. Let’s have a look at cross-court dink, how it is played, and how you can master it.

The dink-shot is hit at a high angle to the opponent’s court but it is not an easy shot. You can hit a cross-court dink in many ways but the most common one is underhanded or backhanded.

If you hit it while facing your opponent you will be able to see your opponent, the ball, and the net simultaneously. However, if your opponent is good at the dink shots it can put you in a difficult situation if he hits back at your kitchen sideline. A semi-blind shot is the best option to play these kinds of shots.

Furthermore, to beat your opponent your shot should land near the opponent’s sideline and the net. It is difficult to hit these shots but with a little practice, you can master it. Keep in mind, to not hit it too high because this way the opponent will keep on driving the ball back to you.

What Is A Dead Dink?

Till now you must have learned the basic strategy and technique of hitting a dink shot in pickleball, right? Many pro players rely on dead dink to score but not many beginners know what is a dead dink shot and how they can hit it. Worry not we will explain it to you.

So, a dead dink is a shot that has no pace or speed and it lands in the middle of the kitchen. It is an incredible shot that can help you survive the longest in the game but it has a disadvantage and that is your opponent can speed it up with a forehead roll, backhand roll, a higher flick, or a hard push. You should only hit a dead dink if you are a good player because handling a dead dink is not easy, especially if you are a noob.

Some seasoned players use this strategy to win a point by hitting a dead dink and letting the opponent speed it up because this is what the dead dink is about. Once it is sped, you can hit it back in the middle, which leaves no room for the other team to react or handle the dink shot properly.

Advantages Of Dink Shot In Pickleball

Undoubtedly, there is always a risk of a dink shot favoring your opponent. However, if you know how to hit a dink shot and how to handle it properly you will never lose a point with it. Some other advantages of dink shot are:

• As dink shots have no spin or pace, they are extremely useful against aggressive players. They are forced to play slow, hit upward shots, and limit their power play.
• Moreover, dink shots increase rally duration. For beginners, this can help test their endurance for long games, and master shot precision.
• Also, dink shots are shorter, and they will draw the opponent closer to the net, making opportunities for you to hit lob shots.
• A dink shot is the best option for learning control and finesse. With practice, it can help you improve your control over the ball.
• Furthermore, it is a great doubles strategy. It helps the team players make strategic moves by slowing the game.
• With a dink shot, you can exploit the weakness of your opponents.
• Moreover, dink shots force the opponents to mistakenly hit aggressive shots and favor you to win a point.

Things To Remember While Hitting A Dink Shot

If you want to learn how to hit a dink shot there are a few things you should remember while hitting a dink shot. Here are a few basics of a dink shot in Pickleball.

• You should know when to hit the dink shot. You can not hit a dink shot at every shot. The best time to hit a perfect dink shot is when you and your opponent are in the non-volley line of the court.
• Most players hit a dink shot in response to it. A dink shot is slow, and chances of hitting a volley or groundstroke against it are pretty low because many players hit it high to clear the net. Therefore, you should learn a good position and countershot to handle a dink shot because you can not always hit a dink shot against a dink shot.
• When all players are at the net, a dink is highly effective and a smart move. However, if this is not the case, you should not make the mistake of hitting a dink shot when the situation is different. The ideal position is when your team is at the net, and opponents are at the baseline. Your chances of winning the point will be much higher this way.
• Moreover, you should practice a lot to master the dink shot. You must have heard that famous saying, “Practice makes the man perfect.” So, to hit a perfect dink shot every single time, ensure you give enough time to practice.

Tips To Hit A Perfect Dink Shot

1. Grip On Paddle

The most important thing when hitting a dink shot is the grip. The ideal grip for hitting a dink shot is learning continental grip. This versatile grip will help you hit the ball both with forehand and backhand. Moreover, it can help you keep the dink shot low and slow. Simply put, this will favor you in all ways and put your opponent in a difficult situation.

2. Knees Position

Dinking is more about legs than hands. You must have seen many players bending their waist or arm while dinking and keeping their legs straight, but this is not the right position if you want to hit a perfect dink. The ideal position for dinking is bending your knees a little and keeping your back straight to get in a low position, then moving your feet to push the paddle forward.

In short, you don’t need always to use your hands to push the ball forward. Your energy from your legs and feet can do a pretty good job, especially if you are hitting a dink.

3. Contact In Front

Contact the ball from the front to hit the best shot. You should not be stretched out too far or jammed up too close to the ball and net. The optimal distance for a dink shot is about a foot or two.

4. Dink Volley If Possible

Hitting a dink in the volley is always the best idea, as after the bounce, it gets a higher contact point. You will either win a point at this shot, or the coming shots will be flatter and reduce the opponent’s recovery time, making them react faster and think less. In either case, the game will be in your favor.

5. No Backswing

Do not take your paddle too high or swing it too much if you are trying to hit a soft dink shot. The backswing contributes to a late contact which will not help you win a point.

6. Push, Not Swing

When you want to hit a dink shot you need to push the ball and not swing it. If you swing it too much, the ball will either sail out or sit too high, which will favor opponents to hit an attacking shot.

7. Use Your Whole Arm

Flicking your wrist is not enough to hit a dink; this is why using your whole arm is necessary. Use your whole arm to hit a soft and controlled shot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Dink Mean Pickleball?

A dink shot is a soft shot that makes your opponent’s next shot unattackable.

Why Is There So Much Dinking In Pickleball?

Some players hit dink shots in pickleball to extend the game. Moreover, these slower shots make the opponent react quicker and think less before hitting the next shot. This leads them to return difficult shots for them.

What Is The Difference Between A Dink And A Drop Shot?

The main difference between the two shots is the landing point. A dink shot is hit from a non-volley or kitchen line and a drop shot is hit from the baseline.

Conclusion

A dink shot can be game-changing if you master this shot in pickleball. Mind that it is a soft shot with no pace or spin, so you need to be very gentle when pushing your paddle to hit a perfect dink shot. In this article, we have explained what a dink shot in pickleball is in detail, from how to hit it to its advantages and expert tips to learn this shot quickly.

 

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