3 Person Dinks
What you're working on
A three-player dinking drill that simulates real game situations, particularly the 2v1 dynamic common in pickleball. The solo player works on moving the ball around the court with intention, building consistency and offensive thinking under pressure. The drill encourages variety, court awareness, and patience , no speed-ups allowed.
See how the drill works
Run the drill
Drill Set Up
Three players, all positioned just behind the kitchen line. One player on one side alone, two players on the other side. All players have paddles and balls.
How to run it
1. The solo player starts the dinking rally by hitting to either of the two opponents.
2. All three players maintain a soft dinking exchange from just behind the kitchen line.
3. The solo player works the ball around the court, down the line, crosscourt, and directly at the player in front.
4. All players focus on keeping the rally alive for as long as possible.
5. Rotate the solo player position after a set time or when the rally ends.
Coaching Points
• No speed-ups, this is a placement and consistency drill throughout.
• Do not hit the same spot three times in a row, vary placement to create pressure on opponents.
• The solo player should mix crosscourt, down the line, and straight ahead, not default to crosscourt only.
• Engage the outside leg when moving to the ball and create good spacing before contact.
• Take balls out of the air when possible, to reduce reaction time for opponents.
• The goal is to last as long as possible, think of the rally length as the score.
Make it work for your group
2v1 Dinks: The solo player is allowed to speed up at any point, but the two-player side can only dink in response. This gives the solo player an attacking advantage while training the pair to stay disciplined under pressure