Not sure what dinking is in Pickleball? In this article, you will learn about a dink, five steps in a winning dink, and when is the best time to dink.

If you have evolved from a sport like a tennis game, and you are just starting to play Pickleball, you will notice the tendency to play a challenging game at Pickleball is almost a norm. And that is not a big deal because Pickleball is a fun game and is equally popular among kids and adults.

However, dinking is a part of the strategy to win a point in Pickleball. Mostly you will use a dink against a player who smashes better than you.

What is Dinking in Pickleball?

A dink is a short drop shot that initiates from the non-volley line that goes over the net and lands into the non-volley zone. And it has its unique approach in how to score a point from the dink.

When players learn Pickleball, they learn to hit the ball hard and continually hit the ball hard and never really know that the soft game exists. But once they confront a player that knows the smooth match, then they are, they find themselves at an extreme disadvantage immediately.

Why Do You Need The Dink In Pickleball?

There are many reasons, but the most important is that it neutralizes an opponent used to play a challenging game.

It helps the person that is dinking control the player that wants to hit hard. It neutralizes his shot. Therefore he has to play the soft game with you.

If a ball comes to your opponent and is actually in the non-volley zone if that opponent hits it hard, it's going to either go into the net or, if it clears the net, it's probably going to go out of bounds.

It's complicated to hit a hardball from a low position in the non-volley zone.

Five Steps To A Wining Dink

1. Patience is the key

One thing that dinking does take, though, is a lot of patience. You may dink four, five, six times before you set the point up to make a winner. Patience is critical because, without it, people will tend to rush and hit the ball into the net or hit it high to where the opponent can smash it back to them.

2. Bend at the Knees

First of all, to dink and take the pace off the ball, you want to bend at the knees, not at the waist. Bending at the knees allows you to get your center of gravity lower and point the paddle's leading edge towards the net at about a 45-degree angle. This is the best position from where you can get the ball over the net.

3. Swing From the Shoulder

While playing the dink, you want your wrist to be stiff at your elbow, and you use your shoulder to play the dink and the entire shot through to the follow-through.

4. Watch The Ball & Follow Through

And when you have done just that, it's essential to watch the ball until it hits the center of your paddle. Keep yourself in a ready position to anticipate any response (a dink or an aggressive groundstroke) from the rival. And then you complete the stroke with excellent follow-through.

5. Return to Ready Position

One last thing to consider in dinking is when you finish your dink, and it's imperative to bring your paddle back up into the ready position. You don't know if your opponent will dink back to you or perhaps hit a slap shot. And with your paddle ready, you will be able to handle either one. So, keep working on your dink. It will give you a very positive and new dimension to your game.

When Is The Perfect Time To Dink?

While Serving Your Third Shot

The perfect time to start dinking is as the third shot while serving. When you have served your first shot, your opponent will try a return as the second shot in the rally and run in the direction of the net while you are still at the baseline.

Your opponent has a lead, but if you play the dink, which lands at his feet or in the non-volley zone. It would allow you to rush in the direction of the net without being scared of a smash coming back at you.

While Returning a Dink

If you attempt to respond to a perfectly-placed and played dink with an aggressive shot as a return, it could cause trouble for you. A smash is a tough shot to try, and the best approach in response to a dink is by dinking, as far as probability goes.

Usually, it leads to a dinking battle for 3-4 shots and, as a result, ranks the playing field. So, your opponent has given you that extra inch, and you have a chance to get back to smash the ball or play an aggressive groundstroke.

When Your Opponent Is Very Tall

If you are playing against a very tall player, it might become challenging to beat him by making him stretch or allowing him to hit a smash. Instead, play a dink to force your opponent to bend low and take the smash out of the game.

If a taller player loses position, bending from a much-elevated position to return a dink is difficult and levels the terms. As a result, it makes returns more challenging for a tall player.