10 Proven Drills for Cross-Court Dinks

The Pros On Slicing, Is 4.0+ Pickleball Still Fun?, PB On Nantucket Island, Equal Pay, Humor & More!

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FIT PICKLER
January 23, 2025

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Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

  • 10 Proven Drills for Better Cross-Court Dinks

  • Pros Weigh In: Is Slicing The Key To Success?

  • Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: Fix Your Squats With These Two Moves

  • Will There Be an Island-Wide Ban on Pickleball in Nantucket?

  • Pickleball At The Forefront of Pay Equity for Pros

  • Humor: When You Are Down 10-0 and Finally Score A Point

  • Is 4.0+ Pickleball Still Fun?

  • Pickleball Startup Sues Competitor Over Project Delays

  • Rutgers Doctor Sports A Passion For Pickleball

  • Sherman, TX Celebrates 97th Birthday of the Man Who Brought Them Pickleball

  • Rally Rundown: Local Highlights

  • Announcements: Pickleball’s Town Square Coming to the App Store!

  • Coach Mary: The Two-Handed Backhand

🥷SKILLS

10 Proven Drills For Better
Cross Court Dinks

Drilling in the Kitchen!

Cross-court dinks are more than a defensive move in pickleball—they’re a strategic tool that allows you to control rallies, set up offensive opportunities, and keep your opponents on their toes. But even experienced players can struggle with maintaining precision, consistency, and adaptability in these exchanges, especially under pressure.

To truly master cross-court dinks, you need drills that challenge you to refine your accuracy, control spin, and execute in match-like conditions. These 10 advanced drills are designed to elevate your cross-court dink game, helping you turn this skill into a reliable weapon.

1.Narrow Kitchen Angles Purpose:

Hone your ability to hit sharp, nearly unreturnable angles.

How to do it:
• Place a marker or tape line 1–2 feet inside the sideline.
• Aim to land your dinks within this narrow corridor, keeping them low over the net.
• Progressively narrow the target zone as your accuracy improves.

Advanced variation: Use only your backhand to practice sharp angles on your weaker side.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

Fix Your Squats With These Two Moves

🏓 STRATEGY

Pros Weigh in: Is Slicing
the Key To Success?

That Shot Is The Best Thing Since Sliced ….

Can slicing your serve be the key to winning on the pickleball court? Top pickleball pros are debating this pivotal question, shedding light on the art and science behind the slice serve. From spin strategies to staying within the game's rules, mastering this serve can elevate your game and outplay the competition.

Find out how slicing fits into the rules, its potential impact on your gameplay, and why experts call serving the foundation of success. Get the full breakdown here...

🗞️ NEWS

Will There Be an Island-Wide Ban
on Pickleball In Nantucket?

To Be Or Not To Be

Reports of an island-wide pickleball ban on Nantucket sparked outrage among players, but the story might not be as it first seemed. Officials now clarify that the proposed zoning bylaw is aimed at regulating court placement in dense residential areas, not banning the sport entirely.

With the debate ongoing, the future of pickleball on the island hangs in the balance.
Get the latest updates on Nantucket’s pickleball controversy here…

💼 BUSINESS NEWS

Pickleball At The Forefront
of Pay Equity

= Pay = YAY

Pickleball is smashing barriers in the fight for pay equity. With pro women athletes now earning an average annual salary of $260,000—outpacing many other women’s sports leagues—pickleball is proving that equal investment pays off.

This bold step is setting a new precedent in sports and showing the world what’s possible when athletes, sponsors, and fans come together.

Find out how pickleball is leading the charge for pay equity here…

🤣HUMOR

When You Are Down 10-0
And Finally Score A Point

@play.bounce

No better feeling 😅👏 #pickleballfunny #pickleballmemes #PickleballHumor

🏓  NEWS

Is 4.0+ Pickleball Still Fun?

Whoopee!

Pickleball at the 4.0+ level is a whole new ball game. The carefree rallies and chuckles over missed shots give way to sharper focus, longer rallies, and a deeper dive into strategy. But as the stakes rise, does the joy of the game stay intact, or does unfriendly competition take over?

Explore how the game of pickleball changes at higher levels and see tips to keep the fun alive. Click here…

👨‍⚕️ HEALTH NEWS

Rutgers Doctor Sports A
Passion for Pickleball

A Dink A Day, Keeps The Doctor Away

Dr. Vikas Dharnidharka, a renowned pediatrician and transplant specialist, isn’t just making waves in medicine—he’s also making moves on the pickleball and pingpong courts. From sparking departmental rivalries to competing on the national stage, his love for racquet sports is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to stay sharp, connect, and inspire.

👏 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Sherman, TX Celebrates 97th Birthday of The Man Who Brought Pickleball To Their City

Local legend Tom Wilson celebrated his 97th birthday © KXII

Tom Wilson, the man who helped bring pickleball to Sherman, Texas, just celebrated his 97th birthday. Friends and fellow players gathered to honor the local legend who’s been a cornerstone of the pickleball community for over a decade. Known for his passion and positivity, Wilson embodies the spirit of the sport he loves.

See the heartwarming video here…

📜 ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMING VERY SOON!
The Recreational Pickleball Player’s Association
Coming to the App Store and Google Play!

The Only Social Network for Pickleball Players

One of the things we have learned from our surveys so far is that players are looking to find other players in their area at their same skill level and are looking to find games and parks when they travel.

This is one of the many reasons we are promoting the RPPA! It’s not JUST about tournaments, it’s about the everyday player who wants to meet, play, save money on gear and travel and improve their game. Celebrate the Pickleball lifestyle with other enthusiasts! Save 50% Today Use Code BF50! and get a FREE 6-Pack of Diadem Pickleballs sent right to your door!
Learn more about RPPA here…

🧭 COMMUNITY NEWS

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

HOLDING COURT with
COACH MARY

  💪 THE TWO-HANDED BACKHAND

THE TWO-HANDED BACKHAND

Ed Ju offers a great drill class with two pros, giving drills and instruction on
executing the two-handed backhand. Check out the video above.

· Two-handed dinking! Awesome!
Check out the body position, use of hips and shoulders.

· Notice progressions!
Feeding with a toss, off a bounce and in the air.

· Feedback!
Open and Closed stance, follow-through, bring your hips through, arms follow over your shoulder. Low to high, start with paddle pointing down. Finish over your shoulders. Get your hips through!

· Drill off a toss, repetition, video feedback!
Great teaching tool: visual feedback with video.

· Be sure to notice the follow-through and finishing positions!

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