An oversized action leaves you unable to reset.
Start slowly with a compact action and reset after each ball.
OPEN COURT SKILL STUDIO
Dink: control the soft game
Let the ball bounce and move into comfortable spacing rather than reaching.
PICKLEBALL · 10 minutes focused practice
1. Let the ball bounce and move into comfortable spacing rather than reaching.
Diagrams explain direction, not prescribed joint angles. Orange shows the ball or movement direction. Adapt your stance to the incoming ball.
Step-by-step technique
- 1
Let the ball bounce and move into comfortable spacing rather than reaching.
- 2
Lower the paddle near the ball, relax your grip and open the face slightly.
- 3
Use a short smooth lifting motion to clear the net and land in the opposite non-volley zone.
- 4
Finish compactly and reset; wait for a genuinely higher ball before attacking.
Common mistakes & fixes
Chasing speed without checking placement or footwork.
Use a generous target and establish balance before contact.
Court drill
Start outside the kitchen line and cooperate on ten bounced dinks. Practise straight ahead, then crosscourt, recording your longest rally.
Self-check
Record target success, balance and recovery for each set; make the action repeatable before adding speed.
Match application
Build control in a cooperative rally before adding points; practise choosing a suitable shot, not attacking every ball.
