Dinking Strategy: Win More Points at the Kitchen Line
Dinking is not just "hitting it soft" — it is a strategic weapon that controls the tempo, creates openings, and forces your opponents into uncomfortable positions. Here is how to turn your soft game into your biggest advantage.
Why dinking wins games
At the 4.0+ level, points are won and lost at the kitchen line. The player who controls the dink rally controls the point. Dinking accomplishes three things:
- Neutralizes power players — they cannot hit hard from below the net
- Creates attackable balls — patient dinking eventually forces a high ball you can put away
- Exposes positioning weaknesses — cross-court dinks pull opponents out of position
The four dinking patterns
1. Cross-court dinks (your bread and butter)
Cross-court dinks travel a longer distance over a lower part of the net, giving you the highest margin for error. Use these 60-70% of the time. Aim for your opponent's feet or the sideline to stretch them.
2. Down-the-line dinks (surprise weapon)
Use these 10-15% of the time to catch your opponent off guard. The net is higher in the center, so you need more arc. Best used when your opponent is shading cross-court.
3. Middle dinks (split the defense)
Aim at the gap between your opponents. This creates confusion about who takes the ball and can force a weak return. Especially effective in doubles when opponents are not communicating well.
4. Speed-up out of a dink (the finisher)
After 4-6 patient dinks, look for a ball that sits slightly above net height. Use a compact punch-volley to speed it up at your opponent's body (specifically their right hip if they're right-handed). The key: do not telegraph it — same backswing as a regular dink.
Pro tips
- Watch the ball, not your opponent. You will react faster and make cleaner contact.
- Keep your paddle up between dinks — the ready position is paddle at chest height, not hanging at your side.
- Add backspin occasionally. This keeps the ball low after the bounce and makes it harder to attack.
- Move your feet, not your arm. A good dink is hit from a stable, balanced position with minimal arm swing.
- The shake-and-bake: one partner dinks cross-court, the other poaches the expected cross-court reply with a volley put-away.
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