Pickleball Dink Strategies for Seniors: Older pickleball players looking to improve their game can learn from how professionals pickleball dink. A new lesson breaks down three easy strategies that focus on flat, simple dinks instead of tricky spins. Using footage from the Professional Pickleball Association, the lesson explains how to hit smarter shots, reduce errors, and win more rallies.
Why Flat Dinks Work
Many amateur players believe they need to use spin dinks, like topspin or underspin, to be effective. But pros often use flat, neutral dinks, which are easier to control and lead to fewer mistakes.
“Now, there’s nothing wrong with spin dinks, but they’re not the only way to have an effective dinking,” the coach said.
In one men’s pro rally shared from a Professional Pickleball Association event, 42% of the dinks were flat, showing how common this style is at the top level. Tyson McGuffin, known as one of the best defenders in the game, uses flat dinks often and rarely misses.
Clear Examples From the Pros
The footage also includes a women’s pro match. Players in that game used simple, controlled dinks, even on the final point.
“So, you can clearly see how even the pros use a flat neutral dink as part of their dink strategy,” the coach explained.
While some local players may call these “dead dinks” or “dumb dinks,” the video urges players not to listen to that.
“Don’t get caught up in them because even the pros use those dinks as part of their play,” the coach said. “And no offense to your friends who are calling them dead dinks, the players against whom those pros are competing against are way better than anybody at our local courts. So if they can hit the dink that way, so can we.”
Three Pro Dinking Tips
The first key tip is about net height. Many beginners try to skim their dinks over the net. This adds risk and causes errors. Instead, give your dink a safe margin above the net.
“When the pros dink, they do not needlessly risk the net,” the coach pointed out.
The second tip is about target zones. Instead of hitting directly at the other player, aim for a spot on the court. Dinking to the player’s danger zone can lead to attacks.
“If instead you’re dinking to a spot on the court that is outside of my danger zone, your dinks will be much more effective,” the coach explained.
In a demo, the coach and a partner named Paul showed the difference. Paul hit dinks to the center of the court, which the coach couldn’t attack. But when Paul hit toward the coach, it gave him a chance to attack.
“Now, he’s risking it. Right? That was a good one. But if he gets it high enough, boom, then I’m able to attack the ball,” the coach said.
The third and final tip is about simplicity. Many players try to add spin to every dink. But pros often keep it basic.
“So, if you’re hitting every dink like this with a top spin or trying to cut it or under spin it, consider adding a lot more flat open dinks like that, which is exactly the same way that the pros hit a lot of their dinks,” the coach added.
What This Means for Older Players
These strategies are especially helpful for players over 50. Simple dinks reduce the chance of making mistakes and help control the game better. With practice, these tips can help players feel more confident in dinking and enjoy longer rallies.
By following these three easy strategies, older players can improve quickly without needing complex skills or fast footwork.
News in Brief: Pickleball Dink Strategies for Seniors
A new lesson for pickleball players over 50 shares three key tips to dink like the pros. It focuses on using flat dinks, targeting smart zones, and keeping shots simple. Pro footage from the Professional Pickleball Association shows how these moves help reduce errors and improve control during rallies.
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