DINKING STRATEGIES

Here are dink strategies that you can employ when playing doubles.

There are many aspects of dinking. Bear in mind that most instruction is coming from the very best players. Their highly advanced skills form a style of play that differs from the majority of recreational players. At the best levels, there is a contest going on between the players trying to create a ball that they can attack, while also hitting well placed shots to protect themselves from attack.

Once you understand these strategies, you can practice to strengthen your weaknesses and be better able to identify your opponent’s strategies. Additionally, you will understand how to defend and mount your own attacks.

Dink Strategies for Doubles

“Dink responsibly, don’t get smashed”, is the first and most important aspect of dinking. The “Kitchen Game”, the “Dinking Game”, or the “Soft Game” requires a player to have the ability to hit the ball so it lands in their opponent’s kitchen. A defensive dink is best viewed as a drop shot. A drop shot, or in this case a dink, requires finesse, nice touch, soft hands, and good feel. Hitting the ball the required shorter distances for the kitchen game is a skill that many players have not developed. The main strategy is to place your shots in front of your opponent’s feet forcing them to hit up on the ball to clear the net. When your opponents are hitting up, then you should have the advantage. If they hit up on the ball too hard or too high, then you are given a ball that you can attack.
To be consistent is an important factor about dinking. This is where the term “Patience” is emphasized. I firmly believe that most players are thinking about how to end the point rather than extend the rally. Therefore, keep the ball in play and be ready for an attack from your opponents. If you have good volleys, you will have the advantage if your opponents are attacking balls that are below the level of the net. By having the patience and skills of a sound dinker, you can out rally your opponents.
Move your dinks around the entire kitchen, assuming both opponents are the same skill level. If one player is weaker and winning is the most important factor, then hit all balls to the weaker player. If you want to get better, then hit the majority of your dinks to the stronger player. If you are playing recreational games, then share the ball so all players are involved. Moving your dinks around will open up areas to attack. Each dink should have a purpose to move your opponents around which can get them off balance which will result in a return too high or an opening in their positioning.
Aiming for the feet of your opponents is a more aggressive shot designed to force your opponent into hitting a half volley. Many players have a big motion on a half volley which will get them to “pop up” a return.
Aiming to make opponents hit low volleys which will test their ability to hit a drop volley back into your kitchen. On the defensive side, learn to hit a drop volley on balls hit too low to attack. A drop volley is an important shot to develop to form a strong defense. When the ball is too low to attack, you are a better player if you hit a defensive shot which is called a reset. This places the ball in front of your opponent’s feet.
Hitting a lob is a very effective shot at most levels. You want to set up returning a dink just as if you are going to hit another dink. Just at the point of contact, open your paddle face and hit up on the ball so it goes over your opponent’s backhand side. If you aim over their backhand, a lob hit too low will be played as a high backhand and not an overhead smash. In order to hit an effective lob, you must hit the ball with the right height and pace.
Attacking and initiating a volley duel is a good strategy when you have the quicker hands and better volleys. Setup to hit another soft dink but instead hit a quick ball at your opponents to get them to hit a defensive volley. This ball will often be a ball that you can attack.
Attack by aiming for the right shoulder of right handed players is a great target against the vast majority of players. Most players will hit the majority of their volleys with their backhand, so when you want to challenge them, hit a shot at their right shoulder. A shot hit accurately to the right shoulder can be a very awkward spot and when it works, it is called a “chicken wing” because you have greatly restricted their returning shot.
Offensive dinks can be hit with topspin. The topspin allows you to hit the ball harder and the spin causes the ball to dip back into the court.

-You can use topspin to hit attacking drives at your opponents off of a dink.
-You can also roll the ball to hit angles off the court.
-A third option is to hit harder drives through openings in the positioning of your opponents.
-A 4th option is to hit a topspin lob from a dink.
Dink to your opponent’s backhands if they have attacking forehands that are beating you.
Dink cross court because this angle can have up to 24 feet versus 14 feet straight ahead. The extra distance can be beneficial in certain “match ups”.
Dink to the middle because it causes confusion between the 2 opponents.