Once you’ve nailed the basic dink, it’s time to upgrade from “keeping the ball in play” to using the dink as a weapon. The best players don’t dink just to be safe—they dink with purpose, forcing their opponents into bad positions and opening the court for a winning shot.
1. Change the Depth
- Shallow Dink: Land it just over the net to force your opponent to lift the ball, setting up your attack.
- Deep Kitchen Dink: Push the ball toward the back edge of the kitchen to force them off-balance and make them hit on the move.
Pro Drill: Alternate one short dink, one deep dink—your opponent never settles into rhythm.
2. Use Crosscourt Angles
The crosscourt dink travels over the lowest part of the net and gives you more space to work with.
- Aim for their backhand if possible—it’s usually weaker.
- Create sharp angles that pull them wide, opening up the middle of the court for your next shot.
Pro Tip: Watch their feet—if they overcommit to the sideline, fire your next dink to the middle gap.
3. Add Disguise
Predictable dinks are easy to counter. Keep your opponent guessing:
- Maintain the same paddle preparation for every shot.
- At the last second, choose to go short, deep, or even turn it into a flick for surprise pace.
Pro Tip: Slightly change your wrist angle at contact for a soft roll or slice without changing your swing.
4. Target Their Feet
Hitting at the feet—especially when they’re moving—is one of the most effective ways to force errors.
- If they step back after hitting, send the ball low toward their toes.
- If they’re rushing forward, drop it short so they have to hit upward.
5. Dink to Set Up the Attack
The dink isn’t always the finishing shot—it’s the bait.
- Draw them out wide with two or three crosscourt dinks.
- When they pop one up, attack with a controlled volley or speed-up.
- Make sure your attack is high-percentage—don’t force it on a low ball.
6. Stay Mentally Patient
Advanced dinking battles can last 20–30 shots. The winner is usually the player who stays composed, not the one who swings first.
- Breathe and stay relaxed between shots.
- Play high-percentage placements until your opportunity comes.
Drill to Master It:
Three-Target Dink Drill – Place three cones:
- Just over the net (short)
- Far kitchen corner (deep)
- Wide crosscourt (angle)
Practice hitting each target in sequence to develop precision under pressure.
Bottom Line:
Advanced dinking is about control, deception, and patience. By mixing depth, angle, and tempo, you can dismantle even aggressive opponents—without hitting a single “big” shot.
