The biggest mistake beginners make is treating a dink like a regular groundstroke. A dink is a push, not a swing.
The Pendulum Swing: Your paddle and arm should move as one unit from the shoulder. Do not snap your wrist or bend your elbow during the stroke. Think of your arm like a pendulum swinging low-to-high.
The Stance: Get low. Keep a wide base with your knees bent and your weight on the balls of your feet. If you just bend at the waist, your head drops, your balance shifts, and you will pop the ball up.
Paddle Angle (The “Open Face”): Your paddle face should be slightly open (tilted toward the sky) to create a gentle arc.
The Apex: The most critical part of a dink is the trajectory. The ball should reach its highest point (the apex) on your side of the net, so that it is already traveling downward as it crosses over the net into your opponent’s Kitchen.
Hold the Finish: After you make contact, freeze your paddle for a split second at the end of your follow-through. This keeps your stroke smooth and prevents jerky, erratic movements.
To get better at dinking, you have to hit thousands of them. Here are the two best ways to practice:
Don’t just play, compete and improve. Sign up for a local pickleball lessons to master your technique, or join a social league to test your skills in real match play.
