Pickleball coach Mark Price introduced his advanced diamond dinking drill, designed to improve players’ dinks, drives, movement, and court positioning. The drill emphasizes semi-cooperative play, helping players practice realistic game scenarios while increasing their speed and accuracy on the court.
How the Diamond Dinking Drill Works
The drill starts with players exchanging dinks to the middle of the court. Mark Price dinks to the middle, and his partner, Mike, returns it to the middle. Mark then dinks crosscourt to move Mike toward the corner. Mike responds with a crosscourt dink back, forcing Mark to slide and reset to the center. The pattern continues, mimicking actual game movements and teaching players to recover quickly after aggressive shots.
Key Movements and Techniques
This drill focuses on controlled movement rather than trying to beat the opponent. Players are encouraged to push the ball crosscourt to move their partner and practice resetting to the middle. The drill increases heart rate and challenges players to react quickly, improving accuracy under pressure. Mark Price emphasizes avoiding early movement and responding to the ball’s direction to simulate real match situations.
Advanced Tips for Players
Mark Price suggests pushing your partner crosscourt to widen the court and create more realistic challenges. The player in a coaching role should aim for central placement, allowing the other player to practice resets effectively. Reversing roles helps both players refine their dinking, movement, and positioning. This drill is recommended after completing simpler drills like the clock face drill to maximize skill development.
Why This Drill Matters
The diamond dinking drill trains players to move strategically, control the ball, and maintain focus under fast-paced conditions. By practicing this drill, players improve their coordination, court coverage, and ability to respond to challenging shots in actual games. Consistent practice leads to better dinking, smarter movement, and stronger overall pickleball skills.
News in Brief: Pickleball Diamond Dinking Drill Techniques
Pickleball coach Mark Price shared his advanced diamond dinking drill, focusing on semi-cooperative play, movement, and crosscourt dinking. The drill helps players practice realistic game scenarios, improve recovery to the middle, and increase speed and accuracy. It is recommended for advanced players after simpler drills.
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