Pickleball Drilling with Intent: Pickleball coach Jarrett Chirico is sharing key tips on improving the game with offensive and defensive dinking strategies. In a new instructional course, he explains how understanding these two shots can give players the edge during games.
In his course, Pickleball Drilling with Intent, Chirico walks players through drills that help improve their dink shots, footwork, drops, positioning, and more. Dinking, a soft shot typically played near the net, can either be used offensively or defensively depending on the situation.
Understanding Offensive vs. Defensive Dinking
The court’s kitchen area is crucial for pickleball players, with the front half being the defensive zone and the back half the offensive zone. In a defensive situation, when facing pressure from an opponent’s deep shot, players should aim to dink high and short, landing the ball in the defensive zone. This tactic reduces the risk of being attacked by the opponent, as they will have difficulty returning a ball from that position.
On the other hand, when players are in an offensive position, they should dink lower and longer into the back half of the kitchen. This forces the opponent to move quickly, often breaking their posture, which can lead to mistakes such as popping the ball up, allowing for an easier attack.
Drill for Practicing Dinking Strategy
Chirico suggests a simple drill where players alternate between offensive and defensive dinking. In this drill, one partner focuses on dinking to the back half of the kitchen, while the other works on dropping the ball into the defensive zone. The key is controlling the ball’s pace and ensuring it lands in the right spot, whether short or long.
When practicing these pickleball techniques, it’s crucial to adjust the dink based on the opponent’s positioning. If the opponent hits a deeper ball with no pace, players can take the opportunity to dink long and move forward. However, when under pressure from a well-placed shot, players must decelerate and drop the ball short to reset the point.
Strategic Importance of Dinking
Chirico emphasizes that successful dinking isn’t about power but about controlling the pace and positioning. Dinking low and long pressures opponents, forcing them to break their posture, while dinking short and high provides a reset when facing strong attacks. This technique allows players to stay in control of the game, even under pressure.
News in Brief: Pickleball Drilling with Intent
Pickleball coach Jarrett Chirico shares essential tips on offensive and defensive dinking in his instructional course, Pickleball Drilling with Intent. He explains that dinking, a soft shot near the net, can either reset the point or set up an attack depending on the situation.
In defensive dinking, players should aim for short, high shots to reduce opponent attacks, while offensive dinking requires low, long shots to force mistakes. Chirico emphasizes controlling the pace and positioning rather than relying on power, and practicing these techniques can help players improve their skills and stay competitive.
