Pickleball Dink Drills for Beginners
Pickleball dink drills for beginners to improve your game.
1. The Wall Dink Drill (Solo)
If you’re struggling to find a practice partner, the wall is your new best friend!
How to do it:
- Stand about 5–6 feet away from a wall.
- Imagine the net is about 34 inches high, so mentally mark that height on the wall.
- Gently dink the ball off the wall, aiming to keep the ball below that imaginary net line on the return.
- Keep the ball low, soft, and consistent.
- Start with 10 consecutive dinks, then work up to 50 in a row without losing control.
Focus on:
- Soft hands.
- Controlling the height of your shots.
- Compact, gentle swings.
2. Crosscourt Dink Rally (With a Partner)
This is the absolute classic dink drill, and it’s surprisingly fun once you get going.
How to do it:
- Both players stand at the Non-Volley Zone (kitchen) line, on opposite sides of the court.
- One player dinks crosscourt to the other’s kitchen.
- Keep the rally going crosscourt only, no straight-ahead shots.
- Aim for 20 dinks in a row without error, then try increasing the number as you improve.
Why crosscourt?
- You have more court space to work with.
- It forces you to move slightly and adjust your positioning.
- It’s great for practising precision.
3. Up and Back Dinking (With a Partner)
This is all about controlling your footwork and resetting into position.
How to do it:
- Both players start at the kitchen line.
- One player takes two steps back and dinks from there.
- After a couple of shots, they move back up to the kitchen line and continue dinking.
- Swap roles so both players practise dinking from different distances.
Focus on:
- Adjusting the power of your dink based on your distance from the net.
- Keeping control of the shot, even from mid-court.
- Moving your feet, not overreaching.
4. Target Dinking (With Cones or Markers)
This one is perfect if you want to improve your accuracy.
How to do it:
- Place cones, small towels, or markers in the opponent’s kitchen area.
- Your goal is to land your dink as close to the target as possible.
- Start with 5 shots per target, then move the targets around to different areas.
Try aiming for:
- Short dinks that just clear the net.
- Angled dinks that pull your opponent wide.
- Deep kitchen dinks that land near the NVZ line.
5. Pressure Dink Drill (With a Partner)
Time to add a bit of game-like pressure!
How to do it:
- Both players dink at the kitchen line.
- After 10 dinks, either player can speed the ball up or hit a harder shot.
- The other player must defend and return to dinking.
- Reset and repeat.
Why this works:
- It teaches you to stay ready for attacks.
- You’ll practise transitioning from dinking back to defence.
- Helps simulate real match scenarios.
⭐ Pro Tips for All Dink Drills:
- Soft grip = soft shot. Hold your paddle loosely for better touch.
- Stay low. Bend those knees and keep your centre of gravity down.
- Move your feet. Don’t reach out wildly—adjust your position for each shot.
- Stay patient. The goal isn’t to “win” the drill; it’s to develop consistency and control.
Final Word
If you dedicate just 15–20 minutes to these dink drills every time you play, your soft game will skyrocket. You’ll find yourself confidently holding your ground at the kitchen line, outlasting your opponents in dinking duels, and setting yourself up for those beautiful put-away shots
