Smash.
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Smash.
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A short, soft volley at net that lands just over the net with minimal pace, controlling rally tempo.
Definition
A dink is a precision net shot executed with a compact stroke and minimal racquet acceleration, directing the ball just over the net into the opponent's service box or mid-court area. Dinks prioritize control, placement, and touch over pace, making them foundational net-play shots. This shot is used to establish net control, set up finishing opportunities, or keep opponents at baseline distance. Dinking exchanges—where players alternately hit dinks—are common in padel rallies and test players' touch, patience, and tactical awareness. Mastering the dink is essential for competitive padel players because it provides a safe, controllable alternative to attacking shots and allows players to manufacture winning positions through placement and patience.
Origin: Terminology borrowed from pickleball; increasingly used in padel coaching during the 2010s.
Executed continuously during net-play phases to control rallies and set up finishing opportunities.
Ideally 6–12 inches above the net at the net line, landing in the service box or just beyond. The lower, the better.
When the opponent pops the ball up above net height or when they're positioned deep. Short balls are finishing opportunities.
Practice drills