7 Pro Dinking Strategies That Win More Points at the Pickleball Kitchen

Main Points

• Most pickleball points are won through consistent, patient dinking rather than aggressive attacks
• Crosscourt dinks should be your default because they offer more margin, a lower net, and more reaction time
• Down-the-line dinks are higher risk and should be used intentionally to finish points, not randomly
• Height control is critical; different dinks require different margins over the net
• Pros dink to move opponents, not just to survive rallies
• Disguising your dinks keeps opponents guessing and prevents anticipation
• Middle dinks can create confusion and force communication errors
• Attacks should only happen on the right ball: above net height, in front, balanced, and with a plan
• Long dinking rallies build pressure and lead to free points when opponents get impatient
• Common dinking mistakes include rushing attacks, aiming too low, and changing direction under pressure

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Summary

This video breaks down why dinking is the foundation of winning pickleball points at the kitchen, especially as competition levels increase. Many players struggle because they view dinking as passive or boring, but the reality is that patience and precision consistently outperform raw power. Poor dinking leads to early attacks, pop-ups, and lost hand battles, while solid dinking slows the game down and forces opponents into mistakes.

A major emphasis is placed on crosscourt dinking as the default pattern. The lower net, increased court space, and added reaction time all make crosscourt dinks safer and more effective. Rather than hitting the same shot repeatedly, players are encouraged to vary depth, pace, and spin while staying crosscourt, using down-the-line shots selectively to finish points once pressure has been built.

The video also dives deep into height control and decision-making. Different dinks require different margins, and many errors come from trying to hit shots too perfectly. Players learn how to move opponents side to side, disguise intent through consistent mechanics, and use the middle of the court strategically. Attacking is framed as a reward for good dinking, not a default option, with clear criteria outlined for when a speedup is actually effective.

Finally, the video highlights the mental side of dinking. The willingness to stay patient longer than an opponent often leads to free points, as most rallies end due to impatience rather than brilliance. By avoiding common mistakes and trusting a repeatable, high-margin dink, players can dramatically elevate their kitchen game and win more points without swinging harder.

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Tags: Dink | Kitchen | Michael Loyd | Pickleball Hub | Strategy