If you’ve been playing pickleball for a while, you’ve probably heard that dinking is the secret sauce to advancing your game. But for many players—especially those around the 3.0 to 3.5 skill level—dinks seem to have a frustrating side effect: they often get returned as fast drives, leading to intense hands battles that can quickly spiral out of control.
So, what’s the deal? Why do some dinks just invite attack, while others force your opponents to play softer shots?
Why Are My Dinks Getting Driven Back?
One of the most common frustrations shared by players is the feeling that their dinks are always being returned as hard drives. The issue often comes down to the height and placement of your dink shots. When a dink bounces too high, it becomes an “attackable” ball, meaning your opponent has the opportunity to slam it right back at you—turning your careful dink into a mini panic situation.
So how do you ensure that your dink stays unattackable? Let’s look at some tips that the pros swear by:
1. Keep the Dink Low and Controlled
The number one reason dinks get driven back is because they’re simply bouncing too high. A good dink should stay low, ideally forcing your opponent to either reach or hit it at a challenging angle.
A great tip is to make sure the apex (the highest point) of your dink is actually on your side of the net, not as it crosses over. This means the ball will be descending as it crosses the net, keeping the bounce low and making it much harder to attack.
2. Target the Backhand Foot
Placement is everything. Many pickleball players struggle more with their backhand shots, especially when trying to return a low dink. Aim your dink to land at your opponent’s backhand foot.
This can make it more difficult for them to attack effectively, increasing the likelihood that they’ll respond with a soft dink instead of a hard drive. It’s all about making it harder for them to comfortably engage in an offensive return.
3. Add Some Spin, but Keep It Simple
Adding topspin to your dink can help it stay low and challenging to return, but this can be tricky, especially for players at the 3.0 to 3.5 level. A little topspin can help push your opponents away from the net and prevent the ball from bouncing up too high. However, if you’re still building confidence in your control, focus on just hitting a solid, consistent dink without trying to add too much complexity.
There’s a lot of debate among players, but the general consensus is that until you’re comfortable with spin, keep things straightforward—just hit flat and low.
4. Be Patient and Keep Them Moving
A lot of players make the mistake of getting impatient with their dinks, leading them to speed things up at the wrong time. The key to good dinking is patience. Crosscourt dinks are great for keeping your opponent moving and for staying in control of the rally. Aim for the first half of the kitchen and switch between targeting different parts of the court—make your opponent move to the sideline, then back to the middle.
This variation forces them to constantly reposition, making their returns less predictable and less aggressive.
5. Stay Ready to Counter the Drive
Even with all the precautions, any dink can potentially be attacked, especially if your opponent is feeling bold. If you notice that your dinks are still being driven back, it’s time to prepare for the counter. Seasoned players often advise that, instead of being reactive, you anticipate the speed-up. This means softening your grip, keeping your paddle out in front, and being ready to either block or counterattack when the ball comes flying back at you.
One tip that many players overlook is positioning: you don’t always need to hit the incoming drive. Sometimes, the best move is to step out of the way and let the ball fly past you, particularly if it looks like it’s going to go long.
When you get into the mindset of expecting a drive, you can also make a point of baiting your opponent into risky shots—often, they’ll start making mistakes and hitting the ball out of bounds.
Player Experiences: The Struggle and the Solution
Many players around the 3.5 level report struggling with how often their dinks get attacked, and it’s easy to feel like there’s something wrong with your shot when that happens. The truth is, even a great dink can be attacked by someone who’s ready for it. The trick isn’t to try and create a “perfect” dink but to consistently hit shots that make it less appealing for your opponent to drive.
Recording your games can be a game-changer here. A lot of the feedback from experienced players suggests watching your own matches to see exactly what’s happening.
Is your dink bouncing higher than you thought? Are you giving away obvious tells that allow your opponent to anticipate the shot?
These insights are incredibly valuable, and video doesn’t lie—it’s the ultimate coach.
A Few Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Wrist Curl and Overactive Backswing: Many players make the mistake of curling their wrist or using too much backswing, which results in the ball popping up. The solution? Hold your paddle in a relaxed, “laid-back” position and use a simple lift from the shoulder to guide the dink over. By reducing wrist movement, you gain more control, making it easier to keep the dink low.
- Dinking Without Intent: Simply hitting a dink isn’t enough; you need to dink with a purpose. If you’re just dinking to dink, your opponent will see that as an opportunity. Instead, dink to a difficult position—either force your opponent to stretch for it or make them uncomfortable by targeting their backhand or hitting at sharp angles.
- Stopping the Follow-Through: Another common issue is players trying to stop their follow-through, which can lead to inconsistency. Instead, focus on having a smooth, controlled follow-through that allows the ball to softly descend over the net.
The Path to Better Dinking
The transition from getting your dinks attacked all the time to controlling the point with strategic dinking can feel slow, but it’s the core of moving up in skill. As you improve, you’ll start to see how every dink can serve a purpose—not just as a way to slow the game down, but as a tool to wear down your opponents, open up gaps, and eventually create opportunities to win the point.
Ultimately, the dink is more than just a shot—it’s a mindset. The more you embrace it as part of your strategy, the more you’ll start to see your opponents struggle to keep up. And who knows? You might just find yourself in a position where their only option is to dink back, giving you full control of the game.
