How to Hit Easy Pickleball Dink Shots Like a Pro

Why Easy Pickleball Dink Shots Win More Rallies Than Power Ever Will

Easy pickleball dink shots are soft, controlled shots hit from the kitchen line that arc just over the net and land inside your opponent’s Non-Volley Zone (also called the Kitchen), forcing them to let the ball bounce and hit upward — which is a weak position to be in.

Here’s the quick version of how to hit one:

Get low — bend your knees, feet shoulder-width apart
Relax your grip — aim for about 3-4 out of 10 pressure
Open your paddle face slightly — around 10-20 degrees
Push from your shoulder — not your wrist
Aim cross-court — more net clearance, more room to land safely
Keep the ball low — no higher than the top of the net on its arc

That’s the core of it. Everything else is refinement.

If you’ve ever stepped onto a pickleball court and tried to overpower your way to a win, you already know how that story ends. Power works — until it doesn’t. Skilled players don’t flinch at hard shots. What they struggle with is a patient, well-placed dink that forces them into an uncomfortable position.

Dink rallies can stretch to 20-30 shots or more at competitive levels. The point isn’t won by hitting hard — it’s won by staying patient longer than your opponent can.

The good news? The dink is one of the most learnable shots in pickleball, even for beginners. You don’t need athletic ability or a powerful swing. You need good positioning, a relaxed hand, and a little patience.

Explore more about easy pickleball dink shots:

Mastering the Fundamentals of Easy Pickleball Dink Shots

To truly master easy pickleball dink shots, we have to shift our mindset. In many racket sports, the goal is to hit the ball past the opponent. In pickleball, especially at the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) line, the goal is often to hit the ball at the opponent in a way that prevents them from attacking.

The dink is fundamentally a “push shot.” Unlike a drive or a serve, where you use a full backswing and follow-through, the dink is compact. We like to think of it as a gentle lift. Because the pickleball doesn’t bounce very high compared to a tennis ball, the dink forces your opponent to hit the ball while it is low, usually below the level of the net. This means they must hit the ball upward to get it back over, which sets us up for a potential put-away volley.

One of the best resources for understanding the “why” behind this shot is How to Dink and Why It’s Important For Your Success in Pickleball. It highlights how the dink levels the playing field, allowing players of all ages and physical abilities to compete effectively by using strategy over raw strength. For those just starting out, we also recommend simplifying-pickleball-shots-for-beginner-level to help build a solid foundation.

The Proper Grip and Stance for Easy Pickleball Dink Shots

Before we even touch the ball, we need to talk about how we stand and how we hold the paddle. Consistency in easy pickleball dink shots starts from the ground up.

The Athletic Stance: We want a wide base. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, with your knees bent. Think of yourself as a coiled spring. Staying low allows you to see the ball’s trajectory more clearly and prevents you from having to bend at the waist, which ruins your balance.
The Continental Grip: Most pros recommend the Continental grip (like holding a hammer). This allows you to hit both forehand and backhand dinks without having to shift your hand mid-rally.
Grip Pressure: This is where most beginners fail. If you grip the paddle too tight (a 9 or 10 out of 10), the ball will “pop” off the face too hard. We want a grip pressure of about 3 or 4. This “soft hand” absorbs some of the ball’s energy, giving us much better control over the depth of the shot.
Paddle Position: Keep your paddle out in front of your body at all times. If the paddle gets behind your hips, you lose the ability to “push” and end up “swiping” at the ball, which leads to errors.

For a deeper dive into these basics, check out our beginners-guide-to-pickleball-shots.

Step-by-Step Technique for Forehand and Backhand Dinks

Executing easy pickleball dink shots is about minimizing moving parts. The more you move your wrist or elbow, the more things can go wrong.

The Forehand Dink:

Prepare: As the ball approaches, move your feet so you are behind the ball. Do not reach.
The Lift: With a slightly open paddle face (angled up toward the sky), use your shoulder as a hinge. Keep your wrist locked and your arm relatively straight.
Contact: Meet the ball well in front of your body.
Follow-through: Use a very short, upward motion. Imagine you are lifting the ball over a small fence.

The Backhand Dink:

Turn: Slightly rotate your shoulders, but keep your chest facing mostly toward the net.
The Push: Use the back of your hand to lead the motion. Again, the power comes from the shoulder, not a flick of the wrist.
Two-Handed Option: Many players find more stability by using a two-handed backhand dink. This helps keep the paddle face steady during long exchanges.

For our senior players who want to ensure they are using techniques that protect their joints while remaining competitive, we’ve outlined specific tips in essential-pickleball-techniques-for-seniors.

Strategic Placement: Why Cross-Court is King

If you watch professional pickleball, you’ll notice that the vast majority of easy pickleball dink shots are hit diagonally (cross-court). This isn’t just a preference; it’s basic geometry and physics.

There are three main reasons why cross-court is the highest-percentage play:

Lower Net: The pickleball net is 36 inches (91 cm) at the posts but sags to 34 inches (86 cm) in the center. By hitting cross-court, your ball travels over the lowest part of the net, giving you an extra 2 inches of clearance.
Longer Distance: The diagonal distance from one kitchen corner to the other is roughly 30% longer than hitting straight ahead. This gives you a much larger “landing zone” for your ball. If you hit a straight dink a little too hard, it goes out or becomes a “pop-up.” If you hit a cross-court dink a little too hard, it still lands safely in the kitchen.
Wider Angles: Cross-court dinks pull your opponent out of position, opening up the middle of the court for your partner to attack.

Comparison: Cross-Court vs. Down-the-Line Dinks

Feature	Cross-Court Dink	Down-the-Line Dink
Net Height	Lower (86 cm)	Higher (91 cm)
Court Length	~30% Longer	Shorter
Risk Level	Low (Safe)	High (Aggressive)
Primary Goal	Patience & Setup	Surprising the Opponent
Usage Frequency	75-80% of the time	20-25% of the time

Advanced Strategies for Easy Pickleball Dink Shots

Once you are comfortable with the basic lift, you can start adding “pressure” to your easy pickleball dink shots.

Pinching the Corner: Instead of just hitting into the kitchen, aim for the “pinch” — the spot where the sideline meets the kitchen line. This forces your opponent to move laterally and can often lead to a weak return.
The Off-Pace Speed-Up: This is a “fake dink.” You start with the same motion as a dink, but instead of a soft lift, you use about 50% power to hit the ball at your opponent’s shoulder or hip. Because it looks like a dink, they often aren’t ready for the extra speed.
Neutralizing the Dead Dink: A “dead dink” is a ball that has no spin and bounces high. Don’t just tap it back. Use this opportunity to push the ball deep into their kitchen or aim for their feet to keep them on the defensive.
Resetting Pressure: If you get caught in a “firefight” (fast volleys) and you’re losing, use a dink to “reset” the rally. It slows the game down and forces everyone back into a patient dinking game.

Using the right gear can also assist with these soft-touch strategies. We discuss this further in mastering-the-soft-game-with-lightweight-pickleball-gear.

Common Dinking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even seasoned players make mistakes when the pressure is on. Here are the most common “dink killers” we see on the court:

Wrist Flicking: This is the #1 cause of pop-ups. When you use your wrist to “flick” the ball, you lose all control over the height. Keep that wrist “set and locked.”
Standing Too Tall: If your legs are straight, you have to reach down for the ball. This changes your paddle angle and usually results in the ball hitting the net. Stay low!
Over-Swinging: A dink is a push, not a swing. If your paddle goes behind your shoulder on the backswing, you’re hitting it too hard.
Impatience: Many beginners get bored during a dink rally and try to “win” the point with a risky shot too early. Remember: the dink is about waiting for the right ball to attack, not forcing it.
Grip Like a Hammer: If you hold the paddle too tight, you lose all “feel.” Imagine you are holding a small bird — firm enough that it won’t fly away, but soft enough that you don’t hurt it.

To stay safe and avoid injury while perfecting these movements, especially for older players, see our guide on safe-pickleball-techniques-for-seniors.

Beginner-Friendly Drills to Improve Your Soft Game

You don’t need to play a full game to get better at easy pickleball dink shots. In fact, 15 minutes of targeted drilling will improve your game faster than two hours of recreational play.

The Figure-8 Drill: You and a partner stand at the kitchen line. One person hits everything cross-court, while the other hits everything straight ahead. This creates a “figure-8” pattern. It forces you to move your feet and adjust to different angles constantly.
Dink-Dink-Boom: This drill builds patience. You must hit at least two unattackable dinks before anyone is allowed to “speed up” the ball. If you speed up a ball that wasn’t a pop-up, you lose the point.
Wall Dinks: If you’re alone, find a flat wall. Tape a line at 34 inches (net height). Stand about 7 feet back and practice hitting soft dinks against the wall. Aim for 50 in a row without a mistake.
The Kitchen Box Drill: Tape a 2-foot by 2-foot square in the corner of the kitchen. Try to land 10 dinks in a row inside that box.

For more exercises tailored to new players, check out senior-friendly-beginner-pickleball-drills and drills-for-senior-beginners-in-pickleball.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dinking

When should I use a dink versus a speed-up?

We should use easy pickleball dink shots whenever the ball we are receiving is low (below the net). Trying to speed up a low ball is very difficult and usually results in hitting the net or giving your opponent an easy “counter-attack.” You should only speed up the ball when it is “attackable” — meaning it has bounced high enough that you can hit it with a downward or flat trajectory.

How do I handle a high dink from my opponent?

If your opponent makes a mistake and hits a high dink, don’t just dink it back! This is your chance to be aggressive.

Volley it: If you can reach it out of the air before it bounces, do so. This takes time away from your opponent.
Aim at the feet: The hardest place to return a fast ball is at the shoelaces.
Don’t over-hit: You don’t need 100% power to win a point on a pop-up. 60-70% power with good placement is much safer.

What paddle is best for dink control?

While you can dink with any paddle, some are designed specifically for the “soft game.”

Polymer Cores: These tend to be “plusher” and absorb energy better than aluminum or Nomex cores.
Textured Surfaces: A carbon fiber or “gritty” face helps you put a little bit of spin on your dinks, which can make them harder for your opponent to read.
Weight: Heavier paddles (8.0 oz and up) actually provide more stability for dinking, though many beginners prefer lighter paddles for maneuverability.

For a detailed look at gear, read our lightweight-pickleball-paddles-a-guide-for-senior-beginners.

Conclusion

Mastering easy pickleball dink shots is the single fastest way to move from a “beginner” to an “intermediate” player. It’s a shot that rewards discipline, mental patience, and technical consistency over raw athleticism. By focusing on a relaxed grip, a shoulder-led lift, and the strategic advantages of cross-court placement, you’ll find yourself winning rallies that you used to lose to “bangers.”

At Voce Economia, we believe that pickleball is a game for everyone, and the dink is the ultimate equalizer. Keep practicing those drills, stay low, and remember: in the kitchen, patience is your greatest weapon.

Master your game with Voce Economia