DINK, VOLLEY, LOB
H
undreds of shots are made during
a pickleball match, but no two
are exactly identical. They will vary in
height and speed. They may bounce first
or be struck out of the air. They may
generate spin or be spinning when you
hit them. While this variety can seem
overwhelming at first, in reality, once the
point is underway, most strokes are quite
similar.
Creating a strong foundation of these
basic strokes will enable you to adjust and
handle the wide variety of shots. And the
key to a solid foundation is to drill!
This one-hour transitional drill
practices the basics and then puts them
together to simulate a point. You will
need: one friend, a hopper of pickleballs,
painter’s tape, measuring tape, and a
court.
STAGE 1
Dink straight ahead
The recommended time for each stage
is 15 minutes.
STAGE 1 – The Dink: Use painter’s
tape to mark a line 24 inches in front of
the kitchen line on both sides of the net.
Players standing on opposite sides of
the net at the kitchen line begin dinking
straight ahead. Try to hit as close to the
tape as possible. Focus on keeping your
grip loose on the paddle, bending your
knees and keeping the ball approximately
6 inches above the net. Dink until you
both can hit near the tape 10 times.
STAGE 2 – The Volley: Stand in the
same spot as you did in the dink drill.
With paddle out in front and knees
slightly bent, begin cooperative volleying
with your partner straight ahead. Hit 10
consecutive volleys that are 6-8 inches
over the net.
STAGE 3 – The Offensive Lob: On
one side of the court, use tape to mark a
line 3 feet in front of the baseline. Begin
with both players on the kitchen line
and have one player feed dinks to the
other. The receiver’s goal is to lob the ball
over the feeder’s head, out of reach of an
overhead. Aim for the space between the
tape and the baseline. Hit five and switch
spots. Keep doing this until you are able
to hit 3-4 of these in the target area!
STAGE 2
Volley straight ahead
Extra challenge for Stage 3: Practice
running down the lob. After the lob is
up, the person being lobbed runs back
to return the shot. Let the ball bounce,
then return the ball with a slight arc over
the net, as though you were hitting a
third-ball dink, and then work your way
back to the net. Repeat as many times as
necessary until you’re comfortable.
Add them all up: Using the same half
of the marked court, start at the kitchen
line and dink straight ahead to each
other. After you both hit at least three
dinks, look for an opportunity to surprise
your opponent with a lob or an offensive
volley straight ahead. Play out the point
until someone wins the point. First to 10
wins!
Remember, just 30-60 minutes a week
of focused practice can elevate your
game! •
Christine starting playing pickleball in 2010,
after being introduced to the sport by her dad.
Joy started playing 3 years ago, after going to
watch Christine play Canada Pickleball Nationals.
Together they won gold at their debut in the 2013
Picklebarrel Classic. They continue to drill together
and travel to tournaments around the US.
STAGE 3
Volley, Lob, Dink
MARCH 2016 |
MAGAZINE
15