A dink is a soft, controlled shot that lands in the kitchen.
If you want to win longer rallies, learn control, and outthink rivals, you need to understand what is a dink in pickleball. I’ve coached hundreds of players on this exact shot. In this guide, I’ll show you what is a dink in pickleball, why it matters, how to hit it, and how to use it to win more points with calm, clever play.
What Is a Dink in Pickleball?
A dink is a soft shot that arcs just over the net and drops into the non-volley zone, also called the kitchen. It keeps the ball low, which makes it hard to attack. You force your opponent to hit up, which gives you control.
When players ask what is a dink in pickleball, I say it is a chess move, not a smash. You use touch, not power. The goal is to reset pressure, force errors, or set up the next putaway. If you can answer what is a dink in pickleball with action, you will own the kitchen.
Why the Dink Matters: Strategy and Benefits
The dink slows the game when rallies get wild. It lets you move from defense to neutral, then to offense. By keeping the ball low, you remove your rival’s attack and open angles for you.
You also gain time. A gentle arc gives you a beat to reset your stance and plan the next ball. If you still wonder what is a dink in pickleball good for, think control, patience, and pressure without risk.
Mechanics of a Perfect Dink
Great dinks look simple. They come from clean form and a calm mind. Use this checklist.
- Grip: Use a continental grip. Hold the paddle like a hammer with a light, relaxed grip.
- Stance: Stay low with knees bent. Keep your weight slightly forward and your paddle out front.
- Contact: Hit the ball in front of your body. Use a short swing from your shoulder and a still wrist.
- Aim: Clear the net by a foot or less. Land the ball near the opponent’s kitchen line.
- Arc: Picture a gentle rainbow. No spin is fine at first. Add slice or roll later.
- Touch: Think soft hands. Let the ball meet the paddle face. Do not punch.
- Recovery: After contact, reset your paddle to ready at chest height.
If you want a fast test of what is a dink in pickleball done right, check your balance after the swing. If you are still steady, you likely did it well.
Types of Dinks You Should Know
There is more than one way to play a great dink. Mix these shots to create doubt.
- Straight dink: Soft and straight, cross net to the player in front of you.
- Cross-court dink: Longer distance and more margin. Aim to the opponent’s outside foot.
- Slice dink: Open the face and carve under the ball. It stays low and skids.
- Topspin roll dink: Brush up on the outside of the ball. It dips fast and can jam.
- Drop dink (reset): From mid-court or near the baseline, float it into the kitchen to reset.
- Lift dink: Add a touch more height to pull a rival off balance.
- Dead dink: Flat, no spin, body-targeted. It steals time.
Knowing these forms answers more than what is a dink in pickleball. It shows how to shape the rally.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even good players miss easy dinks. Fix the roots, not just the result.
- Hitting too hard: Loosen your grip pressure. Think 3 out of 10 on power.
- Contact too close to the body: Reach the ball in front. Move your feet early.
- Floating too high: Aim for a lower window. Picture the ball skimming the tape.
- Overuse of wrist: Keep the wrist quiet. Swing from the shoulder with a short path.
- Poor target choice: Stop aiming at lines. Aim to feet, hips, or open space.
- Standing tall: Bend your knees. Low body, low ball.
If you catch yourself asking again what is a dink in pickleball and why yours pop up, remember this: height control comes from knees and grip, not from last-second fixes.
Drills to Master Your Dink
You get good dinks by reps with intent. Try these simple drills.
- Wall dink: Stand 8 to 10 feet from a wall. Tap soft to a chest-high spot for 100 reps.
- Box targets: Place four cones in the kitchen. Land 20 balls in each box.
- Cross-court ladder: Dink cross-court 20 in a row. Each miss resets the count.
- Depth control: Alternate deep kitchen line and short near the net. Keep the net clearance small.
- Pressure drill: One player speeds balls at you, you must reset a dink on each touch.
These drills will turn your idea of what is a dink in pickleball into muscle memory.
Advanced Tactics at the Kitchen
Once you can place the ball, add plans and patterns.
- Move the mask: Dink to the outside foot, then to the middle, then back out. Make them cross steps.
- Bait and pounce: Float two neutral dinks, then fire a push dink to the hip to earn a pop-up.
- Hold and change: Keep the same swing, then change at the last inch. Add a tiny slice or last-second direction.
- Attack on pop-ups: If their dink sits high, speed-up to the shoulder. Then get back to neutral if blocked.
- Team sync: Call “mine” early. Stagger your ready positions to cover the middle first.
If you ask what is a dink in pickleball at the pro level, it is a trigger. One good dink pulls a weak ball. One weak ball invites a finish.
Gear and Court Conditions That Affect Dinks
Small gear tweaks change touch.
- Paddle core: Thicker cores (16 mm) add dwell time and control. Thin cores feel poppier.
- Paddle face: Raw carbon grips the ball for slice and roll. Fiberglass adds pop.
- Ball type: Softer balls sit longer on the face. Hard balls rebound faster and fly.
- Weather: Cold air deadens the ball. Heat and altitude make it fly and bounce higher.
- Court surface: Gritty courts bite more. Smooth courts skid.
If you are testing what is a dink in pickleball in wind, aim lower into the wind and aim higher with the wind. Use slice to cut through gusts.
Rules to Know About Dinking
A few rule basics shape how you dink.
- Non-volley zone: You cannot volley while in the kitchen or on its line. Let the ball bounce if you step in.
- Faults: Touching the kitchen line on a volley is a fault. Your momentum cannot carry you in after a volley.
- Double bounce rule: On serve and return, the ball must bounce once each side before you can volley. This sets up early dinks.
- Ball height: No rule on height, but a higher ball invites attacks. Keep it low to stay safe.
- Paddle position: You can reach over the net only after contact is made on your side without touching the net.
These basics support any clear answer to what is a dink in pickleball and how to use it without fouls.
Real-World Examples and Coaching Insights
In my first local final, I rushed and hit every dink a bit too deep. My partner whispered, “Breathe, soften, aim at toes.” We won the next five points with simple dinks to the backhand, then a tidy roll to the hip.
When I teach new players what is a dink in pickleball, I start with feel. We rally with no targets for two minutes, then draw a line in chalk and land balls near it. We count only low clearances. The energy drops, and control rises.
The best lesson I learned: if you lose a dink rally, do not add speed. Add shape, add depth, or add angle. That is the honest core of what is a dink in pickleball in match play.
Frequently Asked Questions of what is a dink in pickleball
What is a dink in pickleball compared to a drop shot?
Both are soft shots, but a drop shot comes from deeper in the court. A dink happens near the kitchen during close-range exchanges.
Where should I aim my dink most of the time?
Aim to the opponent’s feet or backhand. Mix in middle targets to cause confusion between partners.
How high should a good dink clear the net?
Clear by about 6 to 12 inches. Lower is riskier but wins more when you control depth.
Can I add spin to my dink?
Yes, slice helps the ball stay low and skid. A gentle topspin roll can dip fast and jam the paddle.
What should I do after I hit a dink?
Recover to ready with the paddle up at chest level. Stay balanced and expect the next ball to come back low.
How do I practice dinks alone?
Use a wall or a rebounder and set small targets with tape. Focus on light grip and a short, quiet swing.
Is it okay to attack off a dink?
Attack only when the ball sits above net height. If not, reset with another soft shot and wait for a better chance.
Conclusion
Mastering the dink gives you control, calm, and clear choices under pressure. With simple form, smart targets, and steady practice, you turn defense into offense without swinging hard. Start today with five minutes of wall dinks, then add one drill and one new tactic each week. Keep learning, share your progress, and drop a comment with your best tip or question so we can improve together.