Imagine standing on a pickleball court, hearing your heartbeat in your ears—one point to win. If you're wondering why is dink used in pickleball, this is it!

Your opponent is strong and fast—someone who will never give up without a fight. You need a foolproof way of taking the win. One that requires less effort and gives excellent gains. What is the first thing that comes to mind? The dink shot!

The dink shot lands right over the net of your opponent's side, proving effective in slowing down your contender and scoring a point. The main goal is to hit the ball with an upward trajectory so that it lands in your opponent's No Volley Zone. If done right, that score is yours.

Being a shot filled with precision, it takes practice to master. Though it might seem difficult to handle at first, it turns out to be quite simple. And effective as well. It helps to prolong the game in order to frustrate the opponent. This, in turn, builds up the chances of them throwing back a bad shot.

The dink shot in pickleball proves to be one of the most useful ways of creating an opportunity for a win. It keeps the opponent on their feet and aims to let them respond negatively to it. After all, there is a reason that pickleball players use the shot so often.

Why is a Dink Used in Pickleball?

To put it simply, the dink shot is used in pickleball to help you deal with your opponent and have a longer game.

The dink shot uses a simple strategy:

•  Execution from kitchen line
• Landing in an opponent's no-volley zone
• Repeat

The chances are that if you start with a dink shot, your contender will follow - and that is what prolongs the game.

If your contender is weaker than you, the dink shot allows you to play on the offensive. If your opponent is stronger, it helps to create a defense. In both cases, it tests the patience of your fellow player. However, the precision and consistency of your shots matter.

It is also important to understand that the dink shot is not a scoring shot. It is one that helps to reach one. By slowing down the game, the chances of the opposite making a mistake increase. This results in a weak shot from them which can then be picked up as a winning one.

Dink Shot Technique

As mentioned earlier, this shot is all about precision. And to reach that precision, your position is important.

Position and Grip

You would want to start with only one or two inches behind your kitchen line. Nothing more than that. Your hand should grip your paddle well but lightly. After all, it is a soft shot.

Body Form and Movement

Keep your knees bent, and do not swing your arm behind your back to maintain that softness. You would want to take it slow. One way to do that is to keep your wrist locked and move your arm through your shoulder joint. Create a gentle push.

Remember to keep a margin of error above the net. Even though the ball should land a bit over the net, you would want to stay safe.

Response to a Dink

If you want to test the execution of your dink shot, notice your opponent's response. If they hit the follow-up shot higher, then you are doing great.

If they dink back, then you do the same. Hitting back higher carries a lesser chance of the ball staying in court. If you do not want to lose the point, you will have to be patient.

Best Time to Take a Dink Shot

The farther away your opponent is from the net, the better. And that is your chance to play the dink shot.

This gives you the leverage to play the shot effectively. And if your contender is not able to make it to the net, then it might turn into a scoring shot too.

So, if you are standing far from the net, choosing to go with a dink shot would not be the best idea. Your opponent will get the leverage in that case.

Practice More

You would want to practice this shot. It is not one that comes easy.

It is tricky to get the ball to land as close to the net as possible. Moreover, it might be impossible to get all the shots in one spot. However, practice can get you as precise as possible.

It will help you to take control of the ball, manage its speed, and also the force. If you are a player who plays strong shots, then it would take a while to manage this soft one.

In the end, it is all about being patient and having control of the ball. That is what makes the dink shot in pickleball unique. It tests not only the perseverance of the opponent but also yourself. Additionally, it helps slow down the pace of the game in order to look for a winning opportunity.