A dink is a soft shot hit from near the kitchen line that arcs just over the net and drops into your opponent's kitchen. It looks harmless, but it's the shot that wins more points at intermediate and advanced levels than any smash. Here's what a dink is, how to hit one, and when to use it.

What Is a Dink?

The kitchen, officially the non-volley zone, is the 7-foot area on each side of the net. You can't volley the ball while standing in it, so players set up just behind the kitchen line and trade soft shots that bounce inside it. Those soft shots are dinks.

A good dink clears the net by a few inches, lands low in the kitchen, and bounces up below net height. That forces your opponent to hit up on the ball, which is exactly what you want.

Why the Dink Works

Pickleball rewards the player who hits down on the ball. When your dink stays low, your opponent can't attack it without risking the net or popping the ball up. The exchange of dinks, often called a dink rally or dink battle, is a test of patience. The first player to hit a ball too high usually gives the other side a chance to speed it up and win the point.

The dink also neutralizes power. A hard hitter can't do much with a ball that sits at their shoelaces.

How to Hit a Dink

Get Low

Bend your knees instead of your back. Staying low keeps your eyes closer to the ball and your paddle face steady.

Relax Your Grip

Hold the paddle loosely. A tight grip sends the ball long. A soft grip absorbs pace and gives you more touch.

Lift From the Shoulder

Use a short, smooth swing that comes from your shoulder, not your wrist. Keep the paddle face slightly open and push the ball up and over the net with a gentle follow-through.

Contact the Ball Out Front

Meet the ball in front of your body. Late contact makes it hard to control height and direction.

Aim for the Kitchen, Not the Line

Give yourself margin. A dink that lands a foot or two inside the kitchen is safer than one that tries to clip the line.

Types of Dinks

• Crosscourt dink: Travels diagonally over the lowest part of the net and gives you the longest court to work with. It's the most common dink in doubles.
• Straight-ahead dink: Goes directly in front of you. It's shorter and riskier but useful for changing the pattern.
• Topspin dink: Brushed up the back of the ball so it dips and kicks forward after the bounce.
• Slice dink: Hit with backspin so it skids and stays low.
• Attackable dink: A dink that bounces too high. Your opponent can speed it up, so this is the one to avoid.

Dink FAQ

Gifts for the Player Who Loves the Soft Game

Know someone who could dink all day? Browse our pickleball gifts for the player at the top of your list. For something off the court, check out our other gifts. And if you're the one who earned it after a long dink battle, treat yourself to something from our gifts for you collection.