Dink Placement Strategy: All Your Options, Analyzed
Last Edited
Nov 20 2024
Category
Instruction
It may be more satisfying for some pickleball players to hit a clean, hard winner down the line. But mastering dink strategy and dink placement is your fast track to leveling up your game.
Let’s break it down with four proven tactics to dominate the NVZ (Non-Volley Zone).
1. Move It Around
Predictability is your enemy. The amateur favorite—the cross-court dink—is often overused, and opponents love it because they know it’s coming.
The fix? Constantly mix up your dink placement. Aim to make your opponent guess every time.
Why It Works
- Forces opponents to move, increasing their chance of errors.
- Creates openings for aggressive plays like speed-ups.
Drill It
Mark six zones behind the kitchen line (use cones, tape, or chalk). The rule: no repeating a zone back-to-back. If you hit the same spot twice, you lose the point. It’s a simple way to turn practice into placement precision.
2. Middle Dinks: Control the Chaos
Ah, the middle. It’s where partnerships go to either flourish—or implode. By targeting the middle of the court, you exploit confusion between opponents. Even seasoned teams can hesitate on who should take a well-placed middle dink.
Why It Works
- Reduces the chance of sharp-angle attacks by cutting down available space.
- Encourages opponents to pop up the ball or hit softer returns.
Pro Tip
Use middle dinks early to feel out your opponents' ability to communicate. If you sense any awkwardness in the return, continue to target the middle, then switch it up to the player weakest at the kitchen line.
Continue to take control of the point by identifying those weaknesses.
3. Divide and Conquer
Sometimes, the best strategy is splitting opponents wide apart.
This method shines when you want to create gaps or force uncomfortable defensive positions. Begin with a wide dink, then sneak one down the center to exploit the chaos you’ve created.
Why It Works
- Opponents must cover more ground, increasing the likelihood of missteps.
- Opens up the middle for a decisive speed-up.
4. Expose the Weak Link
Not all players are created equal, and that’s okay—unless they’re on the other side of the net.
Identify the player struggling with nerves or inconsistent shots. Then, direct your dink placement to keep the pressure on them.
Why It Works
- Forces errors from the weaker player, giving you control.
- Creates opportunities to exploit low-confidence moments.
Caution
Don’t overuse this strategy. Keep your placements varied to prevent your target from adjusting or regaining composure, or from their partner from coming in to put pressure back on you.
Visualize These Strategies
Watch the below video from Catherine Parenteau to visualize these strategies in action:
Avoid Dead Dinks at All Costs
A dead dink is one that hangs too high or lands too short, practically begging for a speed-up. A well-placed dink should land in the pressurized zone—a few inches from the net, staying low enough to force your opponent to hit defensively.
The moment you notice your dinks becoming dead dinks, recalibrate your paddle angle or switch to a safer slice.
Read Next: Blocks vs. Counters in Pickleball: Scenarios for Each
The best dink strategists aren’t just reactive—they’re deliberate. Every shot is calculated, aimed at either forcing an error, setting up a partner, or creating a chance to attack.
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