Learn the soft game from the ground up with this comprehensive guide to mastering the dink shot—the most important skill in pickleball.

How to Master the Dink Shot: Complete Guide for Beginners

The dink shot separates pickleball from every other racket sport. While tennis rewards power and ping-pong rewards spin, pickleball rewards patience—and the dink is the ultimate expression of patient play.

If you're new to pickleball, the dink might seem simple. Hit the ball softly over the net so it lands in the kitchen. How hard can that be?

Very hard, it turns out. The dink looks easy but requires precise technique, proper positioning, and mental discipline. Master it, and you'll win points you had no business winning. Ignore it, and you'll stay stuck at the beginner level indefinitely.

This guide will take you from dink disaster to soft game success.

What Is a Dink?

Definition: A dink is a soft shot hit from the kitchen line (or just behind it) that lands in your opponent's non-volley zone (the "kitchen").

Purpose:

• Keep the ball in play during soft exchanges
• Force opponents to hit upward (eliminating their attack)
• Set up opportunities to attack when they make mistakes
• Maintain control of the point at the net

Why It Matters: The dink is the foundation of pickleball strategy. Points at the advanced level are won and lost through dinking exchanges. If you can't dink, you can't compete.

The Dink Mindset

Before we talk technique, we need to talk mentality. The dink requires a specific mindset that beginners often struggle with.

Patience Over Power: The goal isn't to hit winners. It's to wait for your opponent to make a mistake. The best dinkers are willing to exchange 10, 20, or 30 shots before attacking.

Acceptance of the Grind: Dinking can be boring. It's repetitive. It doesn't produce highlight reels. But it's how games are won at every level above 3.0.

Trust in the Process: Hit good dinks and trust that eventually your opponent will make an error or pop the ball up. Don't force attacks.

The Mechanics of a Good Dink

Grip

Recommended: Continental Grip

• Hold the paddle like you're shaking hands with it
• The base knuckle of your index finger on the second bevel
• This grip works for both forehands and backhands

Why it works: The continental grip keeps the paddle face neutral, making it easier to hit soft shots without accidentally adding power.

Alternative: Eastern Grip

• More comfortable for tennis converts
• Good for forehands but requires adjustment for backhands
• Can add unwanted topspin if not careful

Stance and Positioning

The Ready Position:

• Paddle out in front of your body
• Elbows slightly bent
• Knees slightly bent (athletic stance)
• Weight on balls of your feet
• Eyes on your opponent's paddle

Position at the Kitchen Line:

• Toes within 6 inches of the line
• Don't stand back "just to be safe"
• If you're behind the line, you can't volley effectively

Balance:

• Stay low throughout the exchange
• Don't straighten up between shots
• Keep your center of gravity stable

The Stroke

Minimal Backswing:

• Take the paddle back only 6-12 inches
• Think "block" rather than "swing"
• Less motion = more control

Contact Point:

• Hit the ball in front of your body
• Not beside you, not behind you
• The farther in front, the better

Paddle Face:

• Open slightly (facing up) for higher trajectory
• Too open = ball goes too high
• Too closed = ball goes into the net
• Adjust based on where you want the ball to land

Follow-Through:

• Short and controlled
• Guide the ball to your target
• Don't stop abruptly—smooth motion
• Follow through toward your target

The Four Types of Dinks

1. The Cross-Court Dink

When to use it:

• 80% of your dinks should be cross-court
• Lower net in the middle
• Longer distance = safer trajectory
• Forces opponent to hit backhands

Technique:

• Aim for the opposite corner of the kitchen
• Use a slight angle on your paddle face
• Keep it low—just over the net

Target:

• Your opponent's feet or the sideline corner
• Make them reach or move

2. The Straight-On Dink

When to use it:

• When you're pulled wide and can't go cross-court
• When opponents are stacked (same side)
• To change the rhythm
• When you see an opening

Technique:

• More precise placement needed
• Shorter distance = less margin for error
• Hit with conviction—don't baby it

Target:

• The middle (create confusion)
• The opponent's body (harder to handle)
• The sideline (pull them wide)

3. The Backspin Dink

When to use it:

• When you need the ball to stay low
• On defensive shots
• When opponents are crowding the net
• To make the ball harder to attack

Technique:

• Brush down and under the ball
• Open paddle face
• Gentle brushing motion
• Don't chop at it—brush it

Effect:

• Ball stays low after bouncing
• Harder for opponents to hit aggressively
• Can cause the ball to skip

4. The Topspin Dink

When to use it:

• Aggressive dinking
• When you want the ball to kick forward
• On higher balls that you can attack slightly
• To change pace

Technique:

• Brush up the back of the ball
• Closed paddle face
• More aggressive motion
• Still soft, but with spin

Effect:

• Ball jumps forward after bouncing
• Can catch opponents off guard
• Harder to control—use sparingly

Common Dinking Mistakes

Mistake 1: Popping the Ball Up

• Cause: Hitting too hard, paddle face too open
• Fix: Soften your grip, close paddle face slightly, push rather than swing

Mistake 2: Hitting Into the Net

• Cause: Hitting too soft, paddle face too closed, not getting over the net
• Fix: Aim higher, open paddle face, push through the ball

Mistake 3: Dinking Too High

• Cause: Excessive motion, trying too hard
• Fix: Quiet hands, minimal backswing, let the ball come to you

Mistake 4: Standing Too Far Back

• Cause: Fear of the kitchen line
• Fix: Get to the line! You can't volley effectively from two feet back

Mistake 5: Trying to Do Too Much

• Cause: Impatience, wanting to hit winners
• Fix: Accept that dinking is about waiting, not attacking

Mistake 6: Not Watching the Ball

• Cause: Looking at opponents or where you want to hit
• Fix: Eyes on the ball until it hits your paddle

Mistake 7: Gripping Too Tight

• Cause: Tension, trying to control the ball
• Fix: Looser grip (3-4 out of 10), let the paddle do the work

Dinking Drills for Beginners

Drill 1: Wall Dinks

• Stand 10 feet from a wall
• Dink against the wall continuously
• Focus on control, not power
• Try to keep the rally going for 20+ shots

Drill 2: Kitchen Line Exchange

• You and partner stand at the kitchen line
• Dink cross-court to each other
• Count how many consecutive dinks you can hit
• Goal: 50+ exchanges

Drill 3: Straight-On Dinking

• Same as drill 2, but dink straight ahead
• Harder than cross-court—builds precision
• Focus on consistency over placement

Drill 4: Dink and Move

• Dink cross-court, then move laterally
• Partner feeds to your new position
• Practice dinking from different angles
• Builds footwork and adaptability

Drill 5: Dink to Targets

• Place cones or targets in opponent's kitchen
• Try to hit specific targets
• Start with large targets, make them smaller
• Builds accuracy

Drill 6: Pressure Dinking

• Play games to 5 points
• Only dinks allowed—no attacks
• Winner is the last person to make a mistake
• Builds patience and consistency

Reading Your Opponent

Signs they're about to make a mistake:

• Reaching or stretching for the ball
• Paddle position changes (preparing for a big swing)
• Footwork breaks down
• Getting impatient or rushing
• Hitting harder than necessary

When to attack: Wait for the ball to be:

• Above net height
• In the middle of your strike zone
• At a comfortable distance
• When your opponents are out of position

When to keep dinking: Everything else. If you're not sure, dink.

Advanced Dinking Concepts (Preview)

As you improve, start thinking about:

The Dink Battle: Who's winning the soft game exchange? If you're hitting better dinks, keep dinking. If they're hitting better dinks, look for a way to change the rhythm.

The Reset Dink: When you're under pressure, hit a soft dink to neutralize the point and start over. It's defensive, but smart.

The Attack Dink: A dink with extra pace that forces a weak response. Not quite an attack, but aggressive dinking.

The Fake: Show one target, hit another. Use your eyes and body to deceive opponents.

The Path to Dinking Mastery

Week 1-2: Focus on basic mechanics. Just get the ball over the net and into the kitchen consistently.

Week 3-4: Add targets. Start aiming for specific spots—corners, feet, middle.

Week 5-6: Add spin. Practice backspin and topspin dinks.

Week 7-8: Add pressure. Play competitive dinking games where mistakes cost points.

Ongoing: Dink every day, even if just for 10 minutes. The soft game requires constant maintenance.

Final Thoughts

The dink is pickleball's great equalizer. A 70-year-old with good dinks can beat a 20-year-old with poor dinks. Power, speed, and athleticism matter less at the kitchen line than technique, patience, and consistency.

If you're serious about improving, dedicate yourself to the soft game. Practice your dinks daily. Study how the pros dink. Learn to love the grind of a 30-shot dink exchange.

The dink isn't glamorous, but it wins games. Master it, and you'll be a threat at any level. Ignore it, and you'll never reach your potential.

Welcome to the soft game. Now get dinking.