Dinking 101: Why the Soft Game Wins Points (and How to Dink Better)

October 21, 2026

Watch a good doubles match and you will see long rallies of soft, low shots at the net. Players call them dinks. They look gentle, but they are where a lot of points are won and lost. Here is why the soft game matters, the two dinks to learn first, and the mistakes that give points away.

What is a dink?

A dink is a soft shot hit from near the net that drops into your opponent's kitchen, the non-volley zone. The aim is a ball that lands low and short, so your opponent has to hit up.

You will not find the word "dink" in the official USA Pickleball rulebook. It is a players' term. The rule that matters while dinking is about where you stand when you volley, which we cover below.

Why the soft game wins points

Power is hard to use against a ball that stays low. When your dink lands in the kitchen and stays below the net, your opponent cannot attack it safely. They have to lift it.

That is the whole game plan: keep the ball low and be patient until someone pops one up. Then the player at the net can attack. If you are the one popping it up, read why am I popping the ball up in pickleball?

Dinks often follow the third shot drop. The drop gets your team to the net, and the dink rally starts once everyone is there. For moving up and covering the middle as a pair, see our doubles strategy guide.

The cross-court dink

The cross-court dink travels diagonally, to the opponent across from you.

Why it works: the ball crosses the middle of the net, which is lower than at the sidelines (34 inches versus 36), and has a longer path, so you have more room for error.
How: face the target, keep your paddle out in front, and use a short, smooth lift from your shoulder, not your wrist.
When: as your default dink, especially when you are under pressure.

The down-the-line dink

The down-the-line dink goes straight ahead, to the player in front of you.

Why it works: it changes the angle and can catch an opponent leaning cross-court.
The trade-off: it is a shorter shot and crosses a higher part of the net, so there is less room for error.
When: use it to mix things up once you are steady cross-court.

The kitchen rule while dinking

You are allowed to stand in the kitchen. The rule is about volleying:

All volleys must be started outside the non-volley zone (rule 11.A).
If your momentum after a volley carries you into the kitchen, or into anything touching it, even after the ball is dead, it is a fault (11.A.1 and 11.A.2).
If you have stepped in, both feet must be fully back outside before you volley (11.A.3).

So if a dink bounces in the kitchen, you can step in and hit it. If you want to take it out of the air, make sure you are outside the line. For the full picture, see our kitchen rules guide.

Common dinking mistakes

Swinging too big. A long backswing adds pace you do not want. Keep it compact.
Using your wrist. Flicking makes your depth unpredictable. Lift from the shoulder.
Standing up tall. Bend your knees and get low so you can lift the ball gently.
Trying to win every dink. A good dink is often just a safe one. Wait for the high ball.
Too much down the line. It is the riskier dink; use it as a surprise.
Volleying with a toe on the line. The line is part of the kitchen. Check your feet.

Gear for a softer touch

Touch comes from practice, but a control-minded paddle helps.

The Mademoiselle has a T700 carbon fiber face and a 16mm core that Mint describes as giving "a controlled, measured response", with a textured grit surface for spin. Its listing calls out "delicate drops and controlled resets".
The Monsieur has the same T700 carbon fiber face, a 16mm core and a textured grit surface.
For a simpler control option, the Movemint I RED pairs a T300 smooth carbon fiber face with a 16mm polypropylene core and an enlarged sweet spot.

Drill with plenty of balls: a Cannonballz 40 Hole Outdoor 10-Pack for outdoor courts or a Cannonballz 26 Hole Indoor 10-Pack for the gym.

A simple dinking drill

Stand at the kitchen line with a partner, cross-court. Dink back and forth and count how many you can keep low in the kitchen. Then switch to down the line. When it feels easy, try to move each other around.

FAQ

Can I stand in the kitchen to hit a dink? Yes, if the ball has bounced. You just cannot volley from inside the kitchen or while touching its line.

Should I dink cross-court or down the line? Cross-court is the safer default. Down the line is a useful change of angle.

Is dinking only for advanced players? No. Beginners benefit too, because a patient soft game cuts down on easy errors.