Dink Shot In Pickleball – Why You Should Perform Dink Shots?

The divine charisma of a pickleball sport is that it is always so unpredictable irrespective of the skills of the players that are indulging in the match.

The game requires not just brawn but also your brains since the only way to outshine your rival is through survival of the fittest in terms of strategies and playstyle which is only possible if you throw in various tricks into the mix.

To top it off, when playing in higher leagues, things usually take an interesting turn considering the fact how thrilling and fast-paced the game can get, and in the heat of the moment, only a dink shot could save you as it is considered the safest way to slow down the tussle and keep your opponent on the toes.

If you barely have any idea what I am talking about, don’t be shy and scroll down below to learn more about what is a Dink Shot in Pickleball, because I believe every day you learn something new, so why not take a jab at this form of esoteric playstyle.

Understanding The Basics Of A Dink Shot

As the name suggests, a Dink shot is basically a slow impact shot that is performed with minimal effort by simply tapping the ball with your wooden paddle which ensures the ball lands in the kitchen zone across the net.

Dink shots are executed to neutralize a high momentum shot and can be challenging to deal with especially if your opponent is out of place or isn’t prepared for the shot.

Here is how you can perform a dink shot,

• Never hit the ball too hard and make sure the paddle follows a lower trajectory towards the kitchen zone of the opponent.
• Aiming for the Kitchen zone will always put an opponent out of place as it is usually quite harder to return especially if you consider its low momentum nature.
• Knowing the placement of your opponent is highly important otherwise you may be setting yourself up for a trap when performing a dink shot.

Now that you have a general understanding of Dink Shot, let me highlight scenarios when you should and shouldn’t perform a Dink shot.

Why You Should Perform Dink Shots?

Performing Dink Shot is an excellent strategy if timed correctly as it comes with its set of benefits,

1. Breaks Momentum

During Rallying, it is obvious things can get heated and the only way to control the momentum of the ball is through a well-timed Dink Shot. Not only does it surprise your opponent but it also gives you an edge so you can easily relocate yourself.

Slowing down a face-paced game will let you catch a breath so you can easily manage countering the shots.

In simpler and more profound words, dink shots are extremely helpful for both professional and casual players as they prevent fatigue after going through tedious rallying sessions.

2. Confuses Opponent

As mentioned above, sometimes brains outshine the brawns, Your opponent might have all the skills and reflexes in the world but they can never predict a ball being hit right near in the kitchen zone if you have them captivated in the rhythm.

However, not all the glitters are gold here, in order to successfully bamboozle your opponent you need to create a sense of predictability by disguising your rhythm and executing a dink shot when he/she expects the least.

3. Counters High Arching Shots

High Arching Shots can give anyone headaches especially if you are standing closer to the net and the only way to counter is through a well-timed gentle tap from your paddle. Make sure you hit the top of your wooden paddle and aim its trajectory directly across the net, so your opponent never makes it in time to counter it.

When You Should Avoid It?

Let’s find out.

1. Mind the Gap

If you are still in the initial phases or getting into the game, I would advise you to steer clear of dink shots because this form of strategy is only effective when you are confident and have gained some level of experience.

Your accuracy and precision of the shot correlate to the type of Dink shot you are going to execute, so make sure you are mindful of the distance, your stance, and your placement in the court.

Otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain because I have seen plenty of instances where a poor dink shot usually results in a fault as it hits a permanent object in the court.

2. During Attack Phase

You don’t always have to be on the backfoot or on the defensive side to achieve a score, sometimes being aggressive can turn the tables around. Rather than holding back through dink shots, stay vigilant and execute brutal attack shots to wear out your opponent.

When your Attack phase is initiated, avoid performing Dink Shots altogether and focus on aiming at the legs of your opponents to attain a point. 

3. During Moderate Winds

A Golden rule of thumb is whenever you are playing outdoors, you need to ensure that every shot you commit must be according to the strength as well as the direction of the wind.

You might have played a session where bursts of wind have been extremely against your shot, so make sure you avoid performing Dink shots altogether.

4. Incorrect Timing

The right form of strategy at the right time makes a world of wonders however, failure to achieve the correct timing backfires horribly which may introduce a domino effect. 

You may have some interest reading about drop shot pickleball, as it’s also important for a good gameplay.

Bottom Line

Slow and Steady wins the race, sometimes the best way to approach a brutal attack shot is through a mild yet gentle tap which is known as a Dink Shot. On the flipside, Patience is the key to achieving perfection in this game, however, excess of everything is bad so make sure you only perform Dink shots in moderation.

With that being said, I hope you now have an idea “What Is A Dink Shot In Pickleball”, Feel free to spread the knowledge among your peers because sharing is caring!