The dink is the ultimate equalizer in pickleball. By landing soft shots into the Non-Volley Zone, you force opponents to hit upward, resetting fast pace and creating tactical opportunities to attack high pop-ups.
Here are 7 core rules to master soft dink control at the net.
1. Bend Your Knees
Get low to track low bounces comfortably. Dropping your hips allows you to view the ball trajectory at eye level rather than bending over at the waist.
2. Use a Loose Grip (3/10 Tension)
Hold your paddle handle with soft grip pressure—around a 3 out of 10 scale. Loose hands absorb opponent power and soften contact impact.
3. Make Contact Out Front
Meet incoming shots ahead of your body plane. Early contact provides clean paddle face control and consistent drop placement.
4. Swing With Your Shoulder
Initiate the lifting stroke from your shoulder joint while keeping your wrist and elbow completely quiet throughout execution.
5. Keep the Backswing Compact
Eliminate long backswings. A short, compact stroke minimizes unforced errors and keeps you ready for fast speedup attacks.
6. Aim at Their Feet
Direct your dinks low toward your opponent’s shoe laces, forcing awkward contact points that prevent aggressive counter-attacks.
7. Stay Patient
Resist the urge to speed up low balls. Maintain quiet dink exchanges until your opponent popped up a ball above net level!