• About
  • Blog
  • Pickleball Clinics
  • Private & Group Lessons
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Work with Us
  • User Reviews

PickleballMAX

Maximize your Pickleball Potential

  • Home
  • Pickleball 101
    • Pickleball Rules
  • Strategy
  • Shots
  • Tournaments
  • Wellness
  • Gear
    • Pickleball Accessories
    • Pickleball Bags
    • Pickleball Clothing
    • Pickleball Glasses
    • Pickleball Machines
    • Portable Nets
    • Pickleball Paddles
    • Pickleball Sets
    • Pickleball Shoes
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
You are here: Home / Strategies & Tips / Minimize your Backswing when Dinking as if you were Hitting a Short, 3-Foot Putt for Birdie!

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Minimize your Backswing when Dinking as if you were Hitting a Short, 3-Foot Putt for Birdie!

As a former weekend golfer (hacker), I have come to appreciate many principles and technique tips that can be transferred from the golf course to the pickleball court. So if you’re a golfer – even a miniature (putt putt) golfer – the following technique tip might just resonate with you!

Minimize Dinking Backswing like Putting in Golf

“You’re Taking Too Big of a Backswing When Dinking!”

As I give pickleball lessons, this is a common “error” for those just learning the importance and technique of the dink – or even drop shot, for that matter. Most are guilty, at least to some degree – particularly on the forehand wing – of taking the paddle too far back (many making contact with the ball “behind” their body) when hitting this soft, delicate shot.

With this larger backswing, you are forced to decelerate thru contact so that the pickleball doesn’t go too far and too high such that your opponent can attack.  This deceleration will, no doubt, wreak havoc with your control and consistency.  Without this control and consistency, you’re in for a long day on the pickleball courts!

Pretend You’re Putting for Birdie!

To kick the habit of taking the paddle too far back when dinking – and giving your opponents balls that they can attack – pretend you’re on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Course.  You’ve just hit an approach shot within 3 feet of the pin and you have that short putt remaining for birdie.

As you line up the putt and execute the shot, you certainly wouldn’t take the putter very far back and decelerate through the putt.  Instead you would take a very short backswing and accelerate through towards the cup.

This same principle should apply to your dinks – and drops.

Don’t get caught taking a big backswing and decelerating through the dink or drop shot.  Instead, keep that backswing short and sweet.
Tweet This

It will give you much better control and consistency.  And who knows, perhaps this tip improves your miniature golf game as well.

See you on the courts!

Article by PickleballMAX / Filed Under: Strategies & Tips Leave a Comment

Doubles Strategy Blueprint

Paddles, Shoes, Bags & More!

Pickleball Central

Pickleball Central

Order your favorite pickleball gear today!

Paddles, Shoes, Bags & More!

Fromuth Pickleball – Use Code “10MAX” for 10% Off!
  • Hundreds of pickleball paddles, court shoes, and bags in stock now and ready to be shipped.
  • Free Shipping on orders of $75+
  • Use Discount Code 10MAX for 10% off your purchase. (some exclusions apply)

Fromuth Pickleball

Order your favorite pickleball gear today!

Performance Eyewear (Sunglasses & Eye Protection)

RIA Eyewear
  • 100% UVA/UVB protection
  • Impact-resistant & shatterproof lenses
  • Lightweight, anti-fogging, and vision-enhancing (contrast of the ball to the court)

pickleball glasses
Order your RIA Performance Eyewear Today!

It’s Fun to Feel Good!

Jigsaw Health – Discount Code!
Use Code “PickleballMAX10” at Checkout for $10 off your Jigsaw Order.

Jigsaw Health

  • Relax your legs, muscles, and brain for better sleep with Jigsaw MagSoothe™.
  • Stay hydrated and energized with Jigsaw Electrolyte Supreme™.
  • Prevent muscle cramping with Pickleball Cocktail®.

Order Jigsaw Health Today!

About PickleballMAX

Tennis player turned pickleball player. I blog about how one maximizes their picklebility. Picklebility is simply defined as an embodiment of one's passion, ability and addiction to #pickleball. See you on the courts!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search this website

Guides

  • Pickleball for Beginners
  • Pickleball Clothing
  • Pickleball Court
  • Pickleball Equipment
  • Pickleball Net
  • Pickleball Paddles
  • Pickleball Ratings
  • Pickleball Rules
  • Pickleball Shoes
  • Pickleballs
  • Tournament Pickleball
  • What is Pickleball

Online Store

  • Paddles
  • Shoes
  • Balls
  • Online Pickleball Courses
  • Printables
  • Accessories
  • Pickleball Apparel
  • Bags
  • Ball Machines
  • Eyewear
  • Hydration & Recovery
  • Nets
  • Sets
  • Training Aids
  • Wellness
  • Home
  • Pickleball 101
  • Strategy
  • Shots
  • Tournaments
  • Wellness
  • Gear
  • Shop

PickleballMAX | PO Box 813| Mason, OH 45040
PickleballMAX participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Disclosure