Third Shot Drop

Crash Course: The Twoey Cross-Court Dink

August 07 2025
Crash Course: The Twoey Cross-Court Dink

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to perfect the twoey dink, let Zane Navratil put that to bed for you: “If you can’t hit a two-handed backhand dink, you’re not playing modern pickleball.”

Dead dinks are the kiss of death these days, and simply playing defense at the kitchen line isn’t going to win you many games. It’s time to level up.

For those who haven’t fully committed to the twoey cross-court dink, here’s Zane’s three-minute crash course to get you started:

  • Choose your grip. Most pros place one or two fingers from the top hand on the back of the paddle face for extra stability and control.
  • Get comfortable dinking with your off-hand. Right-handers should practice cross-court dinks with the paddle in the left hand until it feels natural.
  • Add your dominant hand gradually. Start by merely touching the handle at contact; and once comfortable, grip fully with both hands.
  • Footwork and setup matter. Stay behind the ball, squat low, and generate power and topspin through your legs—not just your arms.
  • Strike between your legs, not behind your body. Keep the paddle tip down or perpendicular and brush up on the ball rather than hitting it flat.

Pro tip: Add extra squat sets to your gym routine—the lower you get before contact, the more consistent and explosive the shot.

Watch the full video.

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