Master the Kitchen with the Dink

Understand the pace, play for your opponent’s mistakes, and win kitchen court battles with consistent dinks.

What Is a Dink in Pickleball?

The Impact of a Soft Shot

A dink is a soft, controlled shot that arcs gently over the net and into the opponent’s non-volley zone (a.k.a. the kitchen). Unlike powerful shots that force opponents into a scramble, dinks slow the game down, drawing opponents in and prompting them to hit a high, defensive ball that can easily be attacked.

How to Perform a Proper Dink

Finesse over force
  • Begin in a position close to ready, down near the kitchen line.
  • Maintain a loose grip on the paddle, holding it out in front of your body with a neutral grip.
  • Guide the motion with your shoulder, keeping the wrist stable and the motion as minimal as possible.
  • Get in front of the ball, and make contact below the height of the net.
  • Raise slowly from low to high, making a gentle curve over the net.

When you finish your stroke, you want to be pointing toward your target. So follow through slightly, with your paddle perpendicular to the ground, and then, as the paddle clears the ground, rotate it to the horizontal position, with the paddle angle flat, so the paddle ends up parallel to the ground.

Common Mistake

Flicking the Wrist

Leads to inconsistent shots and accidental pop-ups

Many players try to help the shot with wrist action, causing overhits or errors. Use a smooth motion from the shoulder. Lock your wrist and keep your paddle face steady throughout the stroke.

Standing Too Tall

Reduces control and makes you an easy target
If you dink upright, you’re off-balance and unable to react to counterattacks. Stay low with knees bent and weight forward on the balls of your feet to stay agile and stable.

Hitting Too Hard

Turns a defensive shot into an unforced error

The dink is not about power, it’s about control. Relax your grip pressure (think 3–4 out of 10) and keep your swing compact. Let the ball gently fall off the paddle.

Dinking Strategy: Patience is Power

Be patient and look for the perfect opportunity

A dink is not a point-winning shot; it’s a point-setting shot. In this sense, it is like a serve: If done correctly, it will give you an advantage in the next exchange. In this case, when it is hit with as much control as a serve, and with the same velocity one would use to serve underhand in pickleball, the dink will sit in the kitchen for a moment.

Dink Variations in Advanced Form

Put spin, angles, and deception into your soft game
  • Topspin Dink: Brush underneath the ball and add not only topspin but also some unpredictable bounce!
  • Side-spin Dink: Hold your paddle as if to do a forehand, but angle it just a bit so that you hit the ball on the right side (for a right-hander) and cause it to curve away from your opponent.
  • Sharp Crosscourt Dink: Hit the ball so that it goes crosscourt but dives just inside the sideline, and you have a strong variation that basically is a good dinking shot.

Keep your opponent guessing; make them work. Hearing them grunt is good. Hearing no noise is even better.

Exercises to Enhance Your Dink

Skill Repetition cultivates touch and court awareness
  • Kitchen-to-Kitchen Dinking: Engage a partner in a rally using only dinks and focus on consistency.
  • Target Dinks: Place cones in the kitchen for aiming and work on specific placements.
  • Random Feed Drill: Have a partner feed dinks to you at varying heights and speeds.
  • Dink and Attack Drill: Mix dinks with occasional attacks.

Your Pickleball Technique Toolkit

Backhand

The shot on your non-dominant side

dink

A soft shot with a big impact

drills

Repetition with intention

drive

A fast-paced, offensive shot

drop

A soft landing that sets you up for success

flick

A sudden, aggressive shot from a neutral position

Forehand

Your go-to shot for control and power

Lob

High shot to move opponents backward

Overhead

Powerful smash to finish the point

punch volley

A quick, compact volley that redirects pace

Reset

Soft shot to slow play and regain control

Return

Deep shot to push opponents back

roll

A topspin-heavy shot designed to dip quickly and kick high

serve

The first shot that sets the tone

spin

Control the ball’s bounce, flight, and direction

transitioning

The space between defense and offense

Frequently Asked Questions

A dink is a soft, controlled shot that arcs gently over the net and lands in the opponent’s non-volley zone (the kitchen). It’s designed to slow the pace and set up opportunities for attack.

Dinks force opponents into awkward positions, often resulting in high, defensive returns. This creates chances for you to finish the point with a stronger shot.

Start near the kitchen line, use a loose grip, guide the paddle with your shoulder, and make contact below net height. Swing gently from low to high and follow through toward your target.

Use a relaxed grip, about 3 to 4 out of 10 in firmness. This helps maintain control and prevents overhitting.

Flicking the wrist, standing too tall, and hitting too hard. These errors lead to pop-ups, poor balance, and unforced errors.

Wrist flicking causes inconsistent shots and accidental pop-ups. Instead, use a smooth shoulder-guided motion with a locked wrist.

Stay low with bent knees and weight forward on the balls of your feet. This improves balance, control, and reaction time.

Not usually. The dink is a point-setting shot, much like a serve. It’s used to gain control of the rally and create openings for more aggressive plays.

  • Topspin Dink: Adds bounce and unpredictability
  • Side-spin Dink: Curves away from the opponent
  • Sharp Crosscourt Dink: Lands near the sideline with precision

  • Kitchen-to-Kitchen Dinking: Focus on consistency
  • Target Dinks: Aim for cones or spots in the kitchen
  • Random Feed Drill: Practice reacting to varied feeds
  • Dink and Attack Drill: Mix soft shots with surprise attacks

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