What Is a Dink in Pickleball?

Quick Answer: A dink is a soft shot hit from at or near the kitchen line that arcs over the net and lands in the opponent’s non volley zone. It is played deliberately low so the other team cannot attack it. Dinking is how points are built once all four players reach the net.

The shot exists because of one rule. You cannot volley a ball while standing in the non volley zone, so a ball that lands in that zone has to be hit after it bounces, from a low position, which makes it very hard to smash.

Why does the dink exist at all?

Because the kitchen turns a soft shot into a safe shot.

The non volley zone extends 7 feet back from the net on each side. A ball that lands inside it forces your opponent to let it bounce or to retreat, and either way they are hitting up from below net height. Nobody can drive a ball upward with much force and keep it in. The dink weaponizes that geometry.

Our explainer on why the non volley zone is called the kitchen covers the rule in full, and when you can and cannot step in answers the question that follows it.

What separates a dink from a drop?

Where you are standing when you hit it.

A third shot drop is hit from the baseline or the transition area, travelling a long way to land soft. A dink is hit at or near the kitchen line, travelling a short way. They share a purpose, keeping the ball unattackable, but the mechanics differ because the distances differ. Our guide to the third shot drop covers the longer version.

How do you actually hit a dink?

Low to high, with the shoulder, from a soft hand.

• Grip pressure low. Around three or four out of ten. A tight hand sends the ball long. See what grip to use.
• Contact out in front. Let the ball drop to a comfortable height and meet it ahead of your body, not beside your hip.
• Push, do not swing. The stroke comes from the shoulder with a quiet wrist. Wrist flicks are the main cause of dinks that sail.
• Paddle face slightly open. Enough to lift the ball over the net, not enough to launch it.
• Knees, not back. Bend your legs to get low. Bending at the waist wrecks your balance and your next step.

Where should a dink land?

In the kitchen, and usually crosscourt.

Crosscourt is the safer target for two reasons. The net is lowest at the center, 34 inches at the middle compared with 36 inches at the sidelines, so a crosscourt ball crosses the lower part. The diagonal is also the longest distance on the court, which gives you more room for error.

That does not make crosscourt automatic. Dinking at your opponent’s feet, or at their backhand, or straight down the middle to create confusion between partners, are all legitimate patterns once you can control depth.

How long should a dink rally last?

As long as it takes for someone to make a mistake, which is the point.

Beginners often treat dinking as a stalling tactic and get bored, then attack a ball that was never attackable. That is how most recreational points end. Patience is not passivity here. You are waiting for a ball that rises above net height, and only then do you speed it up.

Impatience in a dink rally costs more close games than any missing shot does. Counting to eight before even considering an attack is a simple way to build the patience the exchange requires.

When should you attack instead?

When the ball comes up above the height of the net.

That is the trigger, and it is the only reliable one. A ball at net height or lower has to be lifted, and lifting hard is how balls land three feet out. A ball above the net can be driven down. Wait for it.

What are the most common dinking mistakes?

Standing too far back, hitting too hard, and reaching instead of moving.

Players who hover a step behind the kitchen line get caught by balls landing at their feet. Players who swing rather than push send dinks deep. And players who reach sideways instead of stepping lose balance for the following shot. Fix the footwork first and the shot usually follows.

Frequently asked questions

What is a dink in pickleball? A soft shot hit from at or near the kitchen line that lands in the opponent’s non volley zone, played low enough that it cannot be attacked.

Is a dink the same as a drop shot? No. A dink is hit near the kitchen line. A third shot drop is hit from the baseline or transition zone with the same intent.

Can you volley a dink? Yes, if you are standing outside the non volley zone and the ball has not landed in it. Many dinks are taken out of the air on purpose to take away time.

Why dink crosscourt? The net is 34 inches at center and 36 inches at the sidelines, so a crosscourt ball crosses the lowest point, and the diagonal gives you the most court to work with.

How low should a dink be over the net? Low enough that your opponent has to hit up. A few inches of clearance is plenty when you are in balance.

Why do my dinks keep going long? Usually grip pressure or a wrist flick. Soften the hand and push from the shoulder instead of swinging.

Do I have to dink to win at the rec level? Not always, but the higher the level, the more points are decided in dink rallies, because drives get returned.

The dink is not a defensive shot. It is the shot that decides who gets to attack first. To find a coach who can build your soft game, browse our pickleball coaches directory.

Written by the Pickler Junction Team.