John Cincola’s Hinge Technique in Pickleball: In a recent Instagram video, professional pickleball player John Cincola provided a valuable lesson on how to improve your dink game by using the correct body mechanics—specifically, the concept of “hinges.” For many players, dinking properly can be challenging, especially when it comes to controlling the paddle face while reaching for low shots. Cincola’s breakdown on how to use the right hinges—knees over waist—provides an essential strategy for mastering the dink and avoiding common mistakes that can cause inconsistencies in the shot.
Cincola, known for his precision and technical approach to pickleball, emphasized that understanding and utilizing body hinges in the proper sequence is the key to improving your dinking technique. Through the video, Cincola explains how small adjustments in the body’s movement can have a big impact on the consistency and accuracy of your dinks. For players looking to elevate their game, Cincola’s insights provide a roadmap for better paddle control and lower, more consistent shots at the kitchen line.
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The Knee Hinge: The Key to a Stable Paddle Face
Cincola starts by outlining the first hinge that should be used in a dink: the knee hinge. This hinge, when executed correctly, has no negative impact on the paddle face, allowing players to control the height of their shots without altering their paddle position.
“The knees are the one hinge that, if done properly, isn’t going to affect the paddle face. It’s just going to raise and lower the height of the paddle.” – (John Cincola)
This makes the knee hinge the ideal movement for players looking to get down low for the dink, especially when handling low balls close to the net. By bending at the knees, players can maintain their paddle face alignment and keep the ball on a controlled trajectory.
Cincola demonstrates how bending at the knees allows a player to sink into a shot, lowering their body while maintaining proper paddle positioning. This body movement ensures that the paddle face stays stable, allowing for consistent contact with the ball.
Avoid the Waist Hinge: The Biggest Mistake for Paddle Control in Pickleball
Cincola doesn’t just teach what to do—he also highlights what to avoid. The waist hinge, while it may seem like a natural way to reach for a low ball, is one of the biggest mistakes players can make during a dink.
“If I use this hinge to get down for that low ball, you can see that my paddle face is dramatically affected. When I go down low using this, I’ve now changed the paddle face, and guess what? When I go back up, I’m changing it more.” – (John Cincola)
This misstep is especially problematic because it leads to an unpredictable paddle face, making it difficult to maintain control and accuracy in dinking exchanges. Cincola’s advice here is clear: never rely on the waist hinge to get low for a dink. Using the waist causes the paddle face to angle incorrectly, potentially leading to missed shots, errant returns, and loss of control during the rally.
Instead, players should focus on using their knees to lower their body and keep the paddle face stable throughout the shot. This will prevent unnecessary errors and allow for more controlled and consistent dinks.
The Importance of Proper Body Positioning in Pickleball
For Cincola, the key to successful dinking in pickleball lies in proper body positioning. By using the knees as a hinge, players not only lower their body in a controlled manner, but they also keep their upper body and paddle in an optimal position to make clean contact with the ball.
“This is what we want to use. We want to use those knees as the hinge, bend nice and low, because now I can get down to that ball without affecting my paddle face.” – (John Cincola)
The advantage of using the knee hinge, as Cincola highlights, is that it enables players to reach low shots without compromising the alignment of the paddle. Proper positioning allows for smoother, more fluid movements, keeping the paddle face stable and the ball consistently on target.
News in Brief: John Cincola’s Hinge Technique in Pickleball
John Cincola provides valuable tips for improving pickleball dinking by emphasizing the correct use of body mechanics, specifically hinges. He advises players to use a knee hinge to maintain paddle stability when reaching for low shots, ensuring consistent control.
Cincola warns against using the waist hinge, which can distort the paddle face and lead to errors. By mastering proper body positioning and the knee hinge, players can improve their dink accuracy and consistency, enhancing their performance at the kitchen line.
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