Pickleball Dink Serve: Right Way to Hit

By: Brandon Fritze

When setting yourself up for success, few shots are as valuable as the Dink serve.

This article will teach you how to perfect the pickleball dink serve and use it to increase your performance.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the details.

Pickleball Dink Serve

What is the Dink Serve in Pickleball?

The Dink serve is a soft serve designed to land in the kitchen or non-volley zone. It is a serve that requires a great deal of skill and finesse and is typically used by advanced players.

The purpose of the Dink serve is to force your opponents to hit a weak return and to put yourself in a position to win the point.

How to Hit a Dink Serve in pickleball?

The first step in executing a Dink serve is understanding the game’s rules.

  1. In pickleball, the shot must be hit underhand and you must hit the ball below the waist. The serve must also land in the diagonal service court.
  1. Once you have a good understanding of the rules, you can start practicing your Dink serve.
  1. To execute a Dink serve, you want to hit the ball with a very soft touch and put just enough spin on it to make it land in the kitchen.
  1. The goal is to make the ball land as close to the net as possible without going over. It will force your opponents to hit a tough shot and allow you to move forward and attack.

Key Factors to Keep in Mind Before Making a Dink Serve

When making a Dink serve, there are a few important considerations to make.

  1. First, you want to use a lot of wrist action to generate spin on the ball. It will make it easier for the ball to drop fast and harder for your opponents to return.
  1. Second, you want to make sure you are hitting the ball with a smooth, fluid motion. It will help you to generate the soft touch you need to make the ball land in the kitchen.
  1. Another important factor in hitting a Dink serve is footwork. You want to make sure you are positioned correctly when you hit the serve and that you can quickly move forward to attack. To do this, you need to be in the correct position on the court and be able to move swiftly and efficiently.

When to Use the Pickleball Dink Serve?

According to my 5 years of pickleball experience, I have gathered some essential points you need to work on to get a better dink shot. These are described below.

1. Consistency

One of the best ways to practice your Dink serve is to work on your consistency. You want to hit the serve in the same spot every time and be able to do it accurately.

Putting pressure on your competitors will aid you in forcing them to make challenging shots.

2. Deception

Another critical aspect of the Dink serve is deception. You want to make it difficult for your opponents to read your serve and anticipate where the ball will go.

Utilizing a fake serve, where you begin to strike the ball as if you’re going to hit a Dink serve but then change your mind and strike a different type of serve is one way to achieve this.

It can be a very effective way to keep your opponents guessing and to make it more difficult for them to return your serve.

3. Speed and Spin   

In addition to using deception, you can also vary the speed and spin of your Dink serve.

It will make it more difficult for your opponents to return and give you more options for attacking.

For example, you can hit a slow Dink serve with many spins, forcing your opponents to hit a high, floating return. It will allow you to move forward and hit an aggressive shot.

Overall, the Dink serve is a powerful weapon in the game of pickleball. It is a shot that requires skill, finesse, and strategy, but it can be highly effective if you learn it well.

Final Thoughts on Pickleball Dink Serve

With its soft touch, spin, and deceptive potential, the Dink serve is a shot that can truly set you apart on the pickleball court. By mastering this technique and incorporating it into your game, you can improve your overall performance and become a more well-rounded and effective player.

So, practice your Dink serve, experiment with different variations, and enjoy the many benefits that come with this dynamic and exciting shot.

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