Defensive Dinks: How to Disarm Aggressive Players

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich, and I’m going to cover where to place dinks when you are on defense in a dinking rally. I’ve found that the best place to put the ball is in the middle of the court. If you can make the ball bounce in the middle, preferably in the shorter half of the kitchen—around this part some people call the kitchenette—you’re probably safe (Figure 1).

This is the safest part of the court to place the ball because there are fewer angles for your opponent to hit to. Additionally, the middle of the net is 34 inches high, while the side of the net is 36 inches high, and that 2-inch difference matters a lot.

So, when you’re on defense, focus on making the ball bounce in the middle and do what you can to try to get back to neutral.

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James Ignatowich is a top 10 professional pickleball player originally from Connecticut, now residing in Delray Beach, Florida. A former Division 1 tennis player at Vanderbilt University, James made a transition to pickleball, quickly rising to prominence in the sport and often playing doubles with Tyson McGuffin and Anna Bright. In addition to his athletic achievements, he runs his own podcast, where he shares insights into the game and interviews other professionals. jamesignatowichnewsletter | PPA | MLP | My paddle