250 Series: Skills & Drills Lab
Dinking & Ball Control
Takeaways & Training Tasks
Keep the momentum rolling with these quick steps:
- Refresh your memory with the 2 skills, 2 drills, and training video.
- Knock out the drills 2–3x before we meet again.
- Each time you play, pick one skill and make it your mission to use it often and on purpose.
Ready Position
- Paddle Up and out in front of you. Approx. net height.
- Elbow out in front of you - not tucked into your body.
- Feet shoulder width apart. Light bend in the knees
- Slight hinge forward from the hips- don’t get chest facing the ground
- Square up to the ball with toes, hips, shoulders and paddle.
Ball to Ball Dinking
- Players stand straight on at NVZ and underhand toss a compression ball or
pickleball to each other. - Emphasis on good ready position to receive the ball and good release
forward when tossing. - Do this straight on and cross court.
Improves ready position and dink control.
Dinking
- Contact Point: Out in front. Push through the ball.
- Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow into your shot.
- Body Positioning: Square up to the ball.
- Hands: Soft hand, continental grip, lay back wrist.
- Swing: Smooth even swing tempo, no backswing.
- Follow through:Â where you placed the ball
Dink Grinder
- Do BOTH crosscourt & straight on at NVZ.
- Start a cooperative dink rally to see how long it can keep going.
- Play 1 min round to see how many they can do without messing up. Repeat
to try to beat score.
Want More Pickleball Tips & Exclusive Content?
Join our Insiders List for expert coaching insights, drills, and strategies in our newsletter. Plus special updates and promotions delivered straight to your inbox!
Don’t miss out—opt in now!
