Independence Pickleball (IPBC)

Cross Court Dinks

Cross court dinks can be very tricky but can easily be returned if you are in LOW, READY position and ready to use those feet to get to the ball and lift using your legs rather than just smacking the ball back with only wrist and/or arm action.

Wrist with arm action produces a variety of sometimes uncontrolled forced errors. Too much force and you have issues with the ball being too high and smacked, right back at your chest or feet. Like the baseball players fast swinging bat, around the body to make contact with the incoming high velocity pitch. COLLISION and BAM the ball is hit with too much force and the ball response is with uncontrolled speed back to your opponent for a high kill shot... on you. Ouch! No home run for you!

Or ...Too little force on the ball and it just dies a pathetic death at the net.. on your side. SO sad..

So in this drill/shot you will receive a ball from your machine or from a consistent hitting partner/coach. They are on the far left of right of your position. They will hit the ball low and tight across the net to your position. Inside the net post.

Ready?

You are in constant motion or DANCING with the ball. If the ball is in motion you should be in motion. On your toes and ready with your weight balanced and slightly forward over your toes.

As the ball crosses the net you must position not only your feet but your hips and your paddle to achieve the best shot selection.. 'The knee bones connected to the leg bone...' everything must be smooth coordinated and quick to action.

Your options for returning the shot are many and not limited to the following:

1. Return from whence it came, long cross court and as tight to the net as possible. Caution not to send it passed the post for the low “around the post shot”

2. Drop it low and short between your two opponents, so they have to make the decision of who is playing the shot.

3. Send it directly across the net to your counter side opponent low and JUST over the net

1. Lob it quickly high and 'over' your opponents heads. Be sure it is out of reach or it's a kill on you.

1. A variety of spin shots. The cut shot with backspin and side spin are most often the choice of spins at this tight proximity to the net.

1. Forward flick. This is when the paddle is in ready position in front of you and you rotate your wrist towards the net with the top edge of the paddle. It's quick and deliberate. Think of your thumb moving forward as it does on a throttle handle..IE. Motorcycle throttle that is. You may even have your support hand assist with paddle stability on this shot. CAUTION.. Flicking with the paddle above the ball may cause the ball to go into the net.. A ½ Flick with no follow through will make the ball sail up and Wham, bam thank you mame.. right back at you

I'm sure you've seen more choices but these are the most common dink returns for just about any dink shot at you.

So dink or die and let it fly. But Don't be shy or you'll be asking WHYYYY …...........Did I do that?

Enjoy and Pickle on.