Dinking, a fundamental skill in pickleball that involves a soft, controlled shot played at the net, is crucial for setting up offensive plays and extending rallies. However, it’s also a skill fraught with common errors, especially among beginners.
Pickleball pro player and coach Will East delves into the three most prevalent mistakes players make when attempting to dink and offers expert advice on how to correct them.
1. Hitting Instead of Pushing the Ball
The primary mistake many players make is approaching the dink with too much aggression, resulting in the ball popping up and giving the opponent an easy shot. Will’s advice is simple yet transformative: imagine pushing the ball away rather than hitting it. This approach emphasizes control over power, keeping the ball low and difficult for opponents to attack.
To practice this, Will suggests a unique drill involving a bean bag. Placing the bean bag on your paddle, practice moving it back and forth to get accustomed to the sensation of pushing without relying on wrist action.
This drill encourages players to keep the paddle face open and use a gentle pushing motion, significantly improving the effectiveness of their dinks.
2. Too Much Wrist Movement
A “floppy” wrist can lead to inconsistent and uncontrollable dinks. To counter this, Will recommends a technique to stabilize the wrist by using the opposite hand. For right-handed players, this means using the left hand to physically limit the wrist’s movement during the dink.
This practice helps to maintain a firm wrist, allowing for better control and precision. The goal is to use your body’s motion to guide the dink, rather than relying on wrist flicks, which can lead to erratic shots.
3. Standing Upright During A Point
Another common error is playing the dink from too high a stance. Standing tall during a dink shot disconnects the player from the optimal hitting zone, leading to a lack of control and accuracy. Will emphasizes the importance of getting low to the ground, keeping your head level with the ball.
This position not only improves your ability to see and hit the ball but also enhances the precision of your shots. By maintaining a lower stance, players can better manage the pace and direction of the dink, making it a more effective tool in their pickleball arsenal.
Learn From a Pro
Check out Will demonstrate these common dinking mistakes and how to correct them easily.
Check out more videos and pro tips from Will:
- How to Hit Pickleball Topspin Dinks
- Mastering Defense Against Overheads in Pickleball
- Kitchen Line Play: Using Open and Closed Stances
- Strategic Pickleball Serve Insights from a Pro Player
Conclusion: The Path from 3.0 to 4.0
Will East’s guidance on correcting these common dinking errors is invaluable for players aiming to advance their game from a 3.0 to a 4.0 level.
By focusing on pushing rather than hitting, stabilizing the wrist, and maintaining a low stance, players can significantly improve their dink shots, making them a strategic weapon rather than a liability.
