7 Fixes to Stop Popping Up Your Dinks in Pickleball

Main Points

• Use a soft grip, about a 3 or 4 out of 10, to stay relaxed and control the ball better.
• Keep the wrist out of the dink and drive the motion from the shoulder and elbow.
• Avoid poking at the ball. Use a smooth, even push instead of sudden acceleration.
• Adjust paddle face angle so the ball does not sit too open and fly high.
• Keep backswing small and do not let the paddle drift behind your body.
• Make contact in front of the body, ideally between the feet and well ahead of the torso.
• Use active footwork to get behind the ball and stay in position for controlled dinks.

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Summary

This video breaks down seven common reasons dinks pop up and shows how to fix them quickly. The focus is on improving control at the kitchen line so you can keep the ball low, reduce errors, and put more pressure on your opponents.

The first fixes center on grip, wrist action, and swing path. A soft grip helps keep the paddle relaxed, while keeping the wrist quiet prevents flipping the ball upward. The video also stresses the importance of a smooth, even push instead of jabbing or poking at the ball, which often creates unwanted pace and pop-ups.

Paddle face angle is another major factor. If the face is too open, the ball can float high, so players need to learn how to control the angle and contact the ball more cleanly. The video also points out that a big backswing usually causes trouble, especially on a short shot like a dink, where compact mechanics work much better.

The final fixes are contact point and footwork. Getting to the ball early, keeping it in front of the body, and moving the feet to stay balanced all help prevent late contact and wrist compensation. When the feet are set and the paddle stays in front, dinks become more consistent and much harder for opponents to attack.

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Tags: Athena Pickleball | Backhand | Defense | Dink | Drill