7 Reasons You Pop Up Dinks (and how to avoid them)

 

Mastering Dinking: Avoiding Common Mistakes to Elevate Your Pickleball Game

Seven Key Techniques to Prevent Dink Pop-Ups and Improve Your Performance

Dinking is an essential skill in pickleball, a strategic play that keeps the ball low and forces your opponent into awkward shots. Despite its apparent simplicity, many players struggle with dinking effectively, often resulting in pop-ups that provide easy opportunities for opponents to attack. 

Kyle Koszuta, ThatPickleballGuy, will delve into seven common mistakes that lead to popped-up dinks and provide actionable steps to correct them. By refining your stance, grip, swing, wrist movement, ball approach, balance, and target selection, you can enhance your dinking game and maintain control over the court. Let’s explore these techniques to help you become a more formidable player.

1. Tall Stance (0:04)

A tall stance is a common mistake among pickleball players, especially during dinking exchanges.

• Athletic Stance: Ensure your feet are shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. This keeps you ready to move quickly in any direction.
• Height Comparison: Keep your body lower than your opponent's. This helps maintain a lower center of gravity and better balance.
• Consistent Posture: Maintain this stance throughout the game, not just during dinks. It’s crucial for all aspects of play.

Summary

Maintaining a low and athletic stance is crucial for effective dinking. It enhances your balance, allows for quicker movements, and reduces the chances of popping up the ball. Always aim to be lower than your opponent to stay in control.

2. Tight Grip (0:59)

Holding the paddle too tightly can lead to less control and more pop-ups.

• Relaxed Grip: Hold your paddle with a light grip, about 3 out of 10 in terms of tightness.
• Absorbing Impact: A looser grip absorbs the ball’s impact better, providing more control.
• Gentle Approach: Think of holding a baby bird—firm enough to keep it secure but gentle enough to avoid harm.

Summary

A tight grip on the paddle causes the ball to bounce off uncontrollably. Adopting a lighter grip allows for better absorption of impact and more precise control, preventing unwanted pop-ups.

3. Big Swings (2:39)

Big swings are ineffective for dinking and often result in mishits and pop-ups.

• Compact Movement: Keep your paddle in front of you with minimal backswing and follow-through.
• Controlled Swings: Focus on small, controlled movements rather than large, sweeping swings.
• Ready Position: Finish your swing back in front of your body, ready to respond to the next shot.

Summary

Big swings generate too much momentum, making it difficult to control the ball’s speed and direction. Smaller, controlled swings help keep the ball low and unattackable by your opponent.

4. Too Much Wrist (4:50)

Excessive wrist movement can lead to inconsistent shots and loss of control.

• Neutral Wrist: Keep your wrist neutral, using your shoulder as the primary hinge.
• Controlled Movements: Direct the ball using shoulder movements rather than wrist flicks.
• Practice Restraint: Advanced players might add wrist action for spin, but beginners should avoid it until they master control.

Summary

Over-reliance on wrist movements makes it harder to control the ball. Using your shoulder as the main pivot point helps maintain consistency and accuracy in your dinks.

5. Not Taking (Enough) Balls Out Of The Air (6:28)

Failing to take balls out of the air limits your ability to control the pace and position of the game.

• Maintain Ground: Stay close to the kitchen line to take more balls out of the air.
• Steal Time: By hitting balls in the air, you reduce your opponent’s reaction time.
• Avoid Short Hops: Taking balls in the air prevents the difficult short hop shots that often lead to pop-ups.

Summary

Taking balls out of the air allows you to control the tempo and keep your opponent off balance. It also helps avoid the tricky short hop shots that often result in errors.

6. Off Balance Dink Placement (9:17)

Dinking while off balance can lead to weak shots and easy put-aways for your opponent.

• Safe Zones: Identify and aim for safe zones, especially when you are off balance.
• Middle Focus: When off balance, aim for the middle of the court or your opponent’s backhand to minimize risks.
• Recover Position: After hitting an off-balance shot, quickly regain your position and balance.

Summary

Knowing where to place the ball when off balance is crucial. Targeting safe zones helps maintain control and prevents your opponent from exploiting weak shots.

7. Wrong Targets (10:32)

Choosing incorrect targets can lead to frequent pop-ups and missed opportunities.

• Crosscourt Dinks: Focus on crosscourt dinks to utilize the longer distance and create more space for errors.
• Training vs. Game: While down-the-line dinks are great for training, prioritize crosscourt dinks during actual play.
• Adjust Targets: Continuously assess and adjust your targets based on your opponent’s positioning and weaknesses.

Summary

Selecting the right targets ensures your dinks are harder to attack. Crosscourt dinks offer more margin for error and are generally safer, reducing the chances of pop-ups.

Guide Summary

Mastering the art of dinking in pickleball involves addressing several key areas: stance, grip, swing, wrist movement, ball approach, balance, and target selection. By maintaining a low stance, using a relaxed grip, avoiding big swings, controlling wrist movements, taking balls out of the air, placing off-balance dinks strategically, and selecting the right targets, you can significantly reduce the number of pop-ups and gain better control of the game. Practice these techniques regularly to enhance your overall performance and become a more effective and strategic pickleball player.

Time Code List

1) Tall Stance 0:04 2) Tight Grip 0:59 3) Big Swings 2:39 4) Too Much Wrist 4:50 5) Not Taking (Enough) Balls Out Of The Air 6:28 6) Off Balance Dink Placement 9:17 7) Wrong Targets 10:32

Mastering the Art of Pickleball: An Instructional Guide to Improving Your Dink Game

Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Pickleball Dinks

1. What is the primary reason for keeping a low stance while dinking? a) To appear more intimidating
b) To move more easily and be in an athletic position
c) To avoid getting hit by the ball
d) To distract the opponent

2. What happens when you grip your paddle too tightly? a) The ball will absorb the impact
b) You will have better control
c) The ball will ricochet off the paddle
d) Your swings will become slower

3. What is the recommended grip pressure on a scale of 1 to 10 while dinking? a) 1 out of 10
b) 3 out of 10
c) 5 out of 10
d) 7 out of 10

4. Why should you avoid taking big swings while dinking? a) It makes the game more exciting
b) It is harder to control the ball softly
c) It confuses the opponent
d) It uses more energy

5. What part of the body should primarily control the dink? a) Wrist
b) Elbow
c) Shoulder
d) Fingers

6. When should you use your wrist to add topspin to a dink? a) When you're just starting out
b) As you progress to a more advanced level
c) When your opponent is far back
d) Only during practice

7. What should you do if you find yourself hitting short hop dinks? a) Hit the ball as hard as possible
b) Let the ball peak and then hit it
c) Move further back
d) Switch to using your wrist more

8. Why is it beneficial to take balls out of the air during a dink exchange? a) It allows you to rest between shots
b) It steals time from your opponent
c) It looks impressive
d) It makes the ball bounce higher

9. When are you most likely to lose control of the ball during a dink? a) When you grip the paddle loosely
b) When you use too much wrist
c) When you use your shoulder
d) When you keep your stance low

10. What should you focus on when dinking crosscourt? a) Hitting the ball as high as possible
b) Aiming for the middle of the court
c) Taking the ball out of the air
d) Using big swings

11. What is the primary goal of dinking in pickleball? a) To show off your skills
b) To force your opponent into a mistake
c) To end the rally quickly
d) To maintain a fast-paced game

12. How can you prepare for a counterattack after dinking? a) By taking a big follow-through
b) By keeping your paddle in front of you
c) By standing up tall
d) By gripping the paddle tightly

13. What is a sign that you are using too much wrist in your dink? a) The ball goes exactly where you aimed
b) You have consistent control
c) The ball pops up too high
d) The ball stays low and controlled

14. How should you handle being pulled off balance during a dink exchange? a) Attempt a risky shot
b) Aim for your opponent's backhand
c) Hit the ball as hard as possible
d) Stand up tall and reset

15. Why is it not recommended to dink down the line frequently? a) It makes the game less challenging
b) It increases the risk of the ball being attacked
c) It requires more energy
d) It confuses your opponent

Answer Key:

1. b) To move more easily and be in an athletic position
2. c) The ball will ricochet off the paddle
3. b) 3 out of 10
4. b) It is harder to control the ball softly
5. c) Shoulder
6. b) As you progress to a more advanced level
7. b) Let the ball peak and then hit it
8. b) It steals time from your opponent
9. b) When you use too much wrist
10. c) Taking the ball out of the air
11. b) To force your opponent into a mistake
12. b) By keeping your paddle in front of you
13. c) The ball pops up too high
14. b) Aim for your opponent's backhand
15. b) It increases the risk of the ball being attacked