Dink Think

David, this is a very smart instinct.

If your goal is protect the arm + raise your level, then shifting from “tennis-style banging” to a soft-game, kitchen-dominant strategy is exactly what higher-level players do. What you see at strong USTA-style tournament environments is controlled pressure, not power.

Here’s how you can quietly level up while still playing with hard-hitters:

🎯 Core Focus: Win With Placement + Patience

Instead of:

• Winning with pace

• Counter-slamming everything

• Trying to overpower bangers

Shift to:

• Neutralizing pace

• Owning the kitchen line

• Forcing errors with angles and feet targeting

1️⃣ Master the Reset (Your Arm’s Best Friend)

When someone slams at you:

✔️ Goal: Dead dink reset

Instead of swinging:

• Soften your grip (3/10 pressure)

• Slightly open paddle face

• Absorb the ball

• Drop it into the kitchen

Think: “Catch and place.”

If you can consistently reset hard drives into the kitchen, you:

• Slow the rally

• Remove power exchanges

• Protect your elbow/shoulder

This is exactly how advanced players handle bangers.

2️⃣ Live Crosscourt in the Kitchen

Crosscourt dinks are:

• Lower over the net

• Longer distance (more margin)

• Safer

When playing with tennis-style hitters:

• Force crosscourt dink exchanges

• Stay patient

• Move them side to side

If they pop it up, then attack.

3️⃣ Hit to the Feet (Especially Left Foot)

You’re absolutely right about targeting.

For right-handed opponents:

• Aim at their left foot (backhand hip)

• Or directly at their shoes

Why this works:

• Jams their swing

• Produces weak pop-ups

• Avoids power exchanges

Instead of trying to hit winners, try to create uncomfortable contact points.

4️⃣ Drop, Don’t Drive

On third shots:

Instead of:

• Driving hard

Practice:

• Soft third-shot drops into the kitchen

• High-arc, unattackable drops

Even if your partners drive everything, you can:

• Drop

• Move forward

• Establish kitchen position

That’s pro pickleball.

5️⃣ The “Two Soft, One Firm” Rule

To retrain yourself:

• First ball: soft

• Second ball: soft

• Third ball: only attack if clearly high

This builds patience and reduces arm strain.

6️⃣ Counterattack Only When It’s Chest High

Many players swing at balls that are:

• Knee height

• Shoulder height

• Off balance

Advanced players only speed up when:

• Ball is above net height

• They are stable

• They are at the kitchen

Otherwise: reset.

7️⃣ Practice Blocks Instead of Swings

If someone hits hard:

Think:

“Block, not swing.”

Short compact punch.

No backswing.

Let their pace do the work.

Less strain on your arm.

More control.

8️⃣ Mental Shift: You Are Training, Not Just Playing

While they are playing tennis-style, you can treat it like:

• Reset training

• Target practice

• Patience training

• Kitchen dominance

Even chaotic games become controlled reps.

🧠 Advanced Idea: Invite Them Into Soft Game

Without lecturing them, you can:

• Start every rally with a drop

• Dink crosscourt repeatedly

• Avoid slamming unless necessary

Sometimes players unconsciously match your tempo.

🛡 Arm Protection Strategy

If your arm is slightly strained:

Avoid:

• Full forehand drives

• Repeated overheads

• Hard counters from shoulder height

Lean into:

• Soft hands

• Placement

• Angles

• Foot targeting

You’ll improve and heal.

If you want, I can design a Sunday “Pro-Style Pickleball Focus Session” that matches your Friday/Saturday workload and keeps you fresh for tennis.