How to Dink Like a Pro: Control, Spin, and Precision

Main Points

• Demonstration of three main dink types: short-hop (off the bounce), out-of-the-air, and step-back dinks.
• Emphasis on proper technique: use the shoulder as a lever, keep the elbow tucked, and avoid excessive wrist use.
• Explanation of neutralizing dinks vs. pressurized dinks depending on the game situation.
• Adding spin variations: lift dinks, push dinks, top spin, and slice for more purposeful and aggressive play.
• Concept of “treat the ball like a baby”—gentle touch with only 10% contact to control placement.
• Breakdown of the kitchen into shallow/neutral zones and pressurized zones for targeted practice.
• Strategy tip: only be aggressive with dinks if you meet the SLY acronym (Stable, Location, Yellow zone).
• Using crosscourt forehand dinks to disguise speed-ups and keep opponents guessing.

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Summary

The video covers three primary dink scenarios: short-hop dinks off the bounce, dinks taken out of the air, and step-back dinks for added time and control. For short-hop dinks, the focus is on using the shoulder rather than the wrist, keeping the elbow tucked, and making gentle contact with the ball—just “kissing” it rather than slapping. When taking dinks out of the air, players can choose between neutralizing shots for control or adding topspin and slice to create more pressurized balls that push opponents back. The video also explains how the kitchen can be divided into a shallow neutral zone and a deeper pressurized zone, helping players target their shots more intentionally.

In addition to technique, spin variety plays a big role in advanced dinking strategy. Lift dinks, push dinks, top spin, and slice variations are demonstrated, showing how players can change the pace and feel of exchanges. The importance of disguising shots is also emphasized, especially when rolling crosscourt forehand dinks that can look identical to speed-ups up the line.

The overall lesson is that purposeful dinking goes beyond simply keeping the ball in play. By understanding when to neutralize versus when to apply pressure, using the correct mechanics, and incorporating spin effectively, players can win more dink battles and set up offensive opportunities.

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Tags: Dink | Drill | Strategy | Tyson McGuffin