Advanced pickleball play is often synonymous with speed, power and aggression—the higher your DUPR, the harder you can hit the ball.
But that doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of pros whose game is more defensive than offensive—think Augie Ge or Tyra Black. Their secret is knowing when to attack.
In a recent episode of Pickleball Effect, a technique was discussed that highlights this philosophy well: the dink-and-lean. Here’s how it works.
✅ Any time you hit an aggressive dink—one that makes your opponent stretch or move out of position—get your paddle out in front of your body and lean in toward the ball in anticipation of taking the next shot out of the air.
✅ Now look to be aggressive. You’ve put yourself in a position to take time away from your opponent and dictate the pace of play, now do something with it. Speed this ball up, flick it down the line, lob it, or try to thread the needle through the middle.
✅ Stay defensive until the right time.Games aren't won by being aggressive 100% of the time. Play defensively until you've created the right offensive opportunity you can capitalize on.
Remember, getting better doesn’t mean being more aggressive all the time. The best players know when to defend and when to attack.
