Common Dinking Mistake Pickleball Players Make: James Ignatowich is helping pickleball players improve their dinking skills. In a new video, he explains how to hit a backhand sliced dink the correct way. He says many players are using too much wrist and swinging the paddle in a curved motion, which causes mistakes.
Instead, James Ignatowich teaches players to hold the paddle at the same angle and keep the wrist still. He believes this helps with control and consistency on the court.
Keeping the Paddle Still and the Wrist Quiet
James Ignatowich sees many people trying to swing the top of the paddle toward the ball. They often use a lot of wrist and a looping motion. But he doesn’t agree with this style.
“I see a lot of players trying to hit the ball by swinging the top of the paddle toward it, using a wristy, arcing motion. But I don’t think the paddle should swing like that. Instead, it should stay at a consistent angle, with almost no wrist movement at all.” – (James Ignatowich)
Why Power Isn’t Needed for This Shot
James Ignatowich explains that wrist action is useful for fast shots like flicks or speed-ups. But not for slices. Sliced dinks are not meant to win points—they are used to reset the game and return to a neutral position.
“The reason for that is, you use the wrist in pickleball generally to get power. So if you’re hitting a flick or a speed-up, you can use your wrist all day—and I teach that 100% of the time. But on a slice, it’s all about just making it to the spot that you want to hit it to, because slices are not aggressive shots.” – (James Ignatowich)
Let the Bigger Muscles Do the Work
According to James Ignatowich, the key to good dinking is using bigger body parts. He says to use the legs, arms, and shoulders—not the wrist. This helps players make better and more accurate shots over and over again.
“Slices are just shots to be used to get back to neutral. You’re not going to see too many players hit slices for winners. So when you hit the slice, you want your wrist to be completely fixed, and you want it to come entirely from your arm. That’s all it is.” – (James Ignatowich)
“Just like what I talked about before—I’m trying to teach you guys to be hitting shots with your shoulders and arm, using your big muscles. So not just your arm—you’re going to use your legs, shoulders, the big muscles—but not your wrist.” – (James Ignatowich)
Better Dinking Starts with Better Form
James Ignatowich warns players that it’s hard to dink well if they use the wrong technique. He says that relying on the wrist or moving the body too much can lead to bad shots.
“That’s how you get good at dinking. It’s very tough to make 50 good dinks in a row if you’re going using the wristy, arcing motion, or if you’re popping up your body.” – (James Ignatowich)
What It Means for Pickleball Players
This advice can help players at any level improve their game. By focusing on control instead of power and using strong, steady muscles, players can make smarter choices on the court.
Ignatowich’s lessons may help many players dink better, stay in rallies longer, and become more confident during matches.
News in Brief: Common Dinking Mistake Pickleball Players Make
Pickleball player James Ignatowich shares how to hit a better backhand sliced dink. He says to avoid wristy, arcing swings and instead use a steady paddle angle with no wrist movement. His tips focus on control over power, using big muscles like shoulders and legs for better consistency on the court.
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