Once all four players reach the kitchen line, most points turn into a patience contest. The dink is how you win it: a soft ball into your opponents' kitchen that keeps them hitting up until someone gives you a ball you can attack. Here's how to hit it, where to aim, and when to stop dinking and go.
The short answer
A dink is a soft shot from at or near the kitchen line that drops into your opponents' kitchen, low enough that they can't attack it.
- Toes just behind the line, knees bent, paddle out in front
- Loose grip and a short lift from the shoulder, not the wrist
- Peak on your side of the net, land in their kitchen
- Aim crosscourt and at their feet; attack only balls above the net
Why the dink wins points
Hitting hard from the kitchen line rarely works against good players: the ball is low, so you have to hit up, and anything hit up comes back down at your feet. A dink flips that around. Each good one forces your opponent to lift the ball, and sooner or later one of those lifts comes up too high. That's the ball you've been waiting for.
It takes away their attack
A ball that bounces low in the kitchen can't be driven. Your opponent has to hit up and stay soft.
It moves them around
Dinks to the sidelines, the middle and their feet pull opponents out of position and open gaps.
It wins the patience battle
Most kitchen points are lost, not won. The player who keeps dinking low the longest usually gets the first attackable ball.
It slows down bangers
Against a team that loves to drive, a steady diet of low dinks takes away their favorite shot.
How to dink, step by step
A dink is a small, controlled shot. The fewer moving parts, the more consistent it gets.
- 1
Set up at the kitchen line
Toes just behind the line, feet about shoulder width apart, knees bent. Being right on the line gives you the best angles and the least distance to cover.
- 2
Paddle out in front, grip loose
Hold the paddle in front of your body with the tip slightly down. Keep your grip light, around three out of ten. More on grip pressure.
- 3
Lift from the shoulder
Make a short, smooth pendulum swing from the shoulder with a firm wrist. No flicking: the wrist is where most bad dinks come from.
- 4
Bend your knees, not your back
Get low with your legs so your paddle meets the ball below net height with a slightly open face. Standing tall makes you lift too much.
- 5
Peak on your side of the net
Aim for the ball to reach its highest point before the net, so it's already dropping as it crosses and lands in the kitchen.
- 6
Reset to ready
After every dink, bring the paddle back up in front of you and stay balanced on the line. The next ball might be a speed-up.
Below the net, dink. Above the net, attack.
If you have to hit up to get it over, it's not the ball to speed up. Be patient and dink again.
Where to aim
- Crosscourt is your base. It's the longest dink, the net is lowest in the middle (34" vs. 36" at the posts), and it gives you the most margin.
- At their feet. A dink that lands near the kitchen line, close to your opponent's feet, is the hardest to attack.
- Mix in the middle and the sideline. Moving them left and right creates the gap or the high ball you're waiting for.
- Mind your clearance. Aim to clear the net by a few inches, not to clip the tape. A dink in the net loses the point; a dink an inch too high usually doesn't.
5 mistakes that give the point away
-
MistakeDinking too high.FixBend your knees and keep the swing short. If it sits up above the net, expect it back at your feet.
-
MistakeFlicking the wrist.FixSwing from the shoulder with a steady wrist. Small, repeatable, boring.
-
MistakeBacking off the kitchen line.FixStay on the line. Every step back gives them angles and makes your next dink harder.
-
MistakeAttacking a ball below the net.FixIf you have to hit up, dink again. Speed up only balls at or above net height.
-
MistakeGoing for winners with your dinks.FixA dink sets up the point; it rarely wins it. Aim for consistent and low, not for the line.
3 drills to build a better dink
Dinking is mostly reps and patience. These three drills build both:
Drill 1
Crosscourt rally
Both players at the kitchen line, diagonally across from each other. Dink crosscourt only, keeping every ball in the kitchen.
Goal20 in a row without a miss or a ball above the net.
Make it harder: switch to backhand-only dinks.
Drill 2
Feet targets
Put a towel or cone just inside your partner's kitchen line. Dink at it, then alternate middle, sideline and crosscourt targets.
Goal7 out of 10 land within a paddle length of the target.
Make it harder: your partner calls the target as you swing.
Drill 3
Skinny singles
Play half-court singles using only the kitchen. Dinks only, and any ball that bounces outside the kitchen loses the point. Games to 11.
GoalWin more points by patience than by attacks.
Make it harder: allow speed-ups on any ball above net height.
Does your paddle help?
For dinking, touch matters more than power. A stable face, a core that softens contact a little and a shape you can maneuver quickly at the net all help. Here's how power and control really work in a paddle.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dink in pickleball?
A soft shot, usually hit from at or near the kitchen line, that arcs over the net and lands in your opponents' kitchen. Because it bounces low, they have to hit up instead of attacking.
Should I dink crosscourt or straight ahead?
Crosscourt most of the time: it's the longest dink and goes over the lowest part of the net, so it's the safest. Mix in straight and middle dinks to move your opponents.
When should I stop dinking and attack?
When your opponent gives you a ball at or above net height that you can hit down or flat. If you have to lift it to get it over, dink again.
Can I step into the kitchen to hit a dink?
Yes. You can be in the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced. You just can't volley while you're in it or touching the line, so get back out before the next ball if you might volley it.
How high should a dink be?
Low enough to be falling as it crosses the net and to bounce below net height. Clearing the net by a few inches is plenty.
Forehand or backhand dinks?
Both, but many players find the backhand dink more compact and easier to keep low. Practice crosscourt dinks on both sides.
Want someone to watch your dinks? Ask a Royal Ambassador.
Your local Royal Ambassador is on court every week. Find yours to work on your kitchen game, try a few paddles, book a demo and get a good deal.
Find your ambassador