How to Hit Aggressive Dinks in Pickleball Like a Pro

Main Points

• Aggressive dinks are most effective when taken out of the air and aimed deeper to push opponents back.
• Shallow dinks are used to neutralize aggressive opponents or when pulled off the kitchen line.
• Key technique: finish on the same side of the body for consistent topspin dinks.
• Avoid excessive wrist use—focus on shoulder, paddle angle, and knee bend.
• Common mistakes: not bending knees, letting the ball come too close, overusing wrist.
• Two-handed backhand dinks offer more consistency, control, and deception than one-handed versions.
• Critical form tip: keep paddle face above the hand, bend knees, and rely on the non-dominant hand.

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Summary

This video breaks down how to hit aggressive dinks in pickleball and why mastering this shot can give you a huge advantage at the kitchen line. The key principle is understanding when to attack and when to defend with your dink placement. Aggressive dinks taken out of the air and aimed deeper force opponents off the line, keeping them hesitant and on their heels. On the other hand, shallow dinks are best when you need to neutralize an opponent who is pressing forward aggressively. By mixing depth and placement, you gain the ability to control rallies at the net.

Technique is essential for executing these shots consistently. For aggressive forehand dinks, finishing on the same side of your body is critical. This avoids the common mistake of crossing over the body, which leads to errors. Instead, players should rely on shoulder rotation, knee bend, and paddle angle to generate topspin. Overusing the wrist is one of the most frequent errors amateurs make, especially on dinks. Proper form includes keeping the wrist locked but relaxed, staying low with bent knees, and leaning forward to contact the ball at its apex.

The video also highlights the evolution of the two-handed backhand dink, a shot that has become increasingly popular at higher levels of play. Using two hands makes the shot more repeatable, controlled, and deceptive. Key fundamentals include keeping the paddle face above the hand, bending deeply at the knees, and allowing the non-dominant hand to generate most of the stroke. Mistakes to avoid are relying too much on the dominant hand, failing to get low enough, and lifting the head too soon. The result of correct form is a backhand dink with topspin and sidespin that runs away from the opponent, making it difficult to handle.

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Tags: Backhand Dink | Dink | Drill | Forehand Dink | James Ignatowich | tanner.pickleball