Blog
Coach’s Takes & Drills
Every week: one drill you can run before your next game, plus the coach’s-eye breakdowns nobody else writes.
- Coach's Take · June 2, 2026The 4.0 doubles pattern The Dink buriedThe Dink dropped a strong piece this week on the doubles patterns that actually win at 4.0+ — the patterns most 3.5–4.0 rec players are trying to graduate into. Most of it is right. The targeting, the
- Coach's Take · June 2, 2026How to Beat Younger, Faster Players (Without Getting Any Faster)The Dink ran a piece this week with three strategies for beating younger, faster players — Coach Jess making the case that placement and patience beat raw speed. If you play rec pickleball in MoCo, th
- Drill of the Week · June 2, 2026Fast-Hands Wall DrillWhen a younger, faster player speeds the ball up at you and you lose the exchange, it feels like you got beat on speed. You usually didn't. You got beat because your paddle wasn't already up and ready
- Drill of the Week · June 2, 2026Recovery-Position Shadow DrillYou hit the perfect speed-up at the kitchen. Your opponent floats a weak block back. You're still admiring the first shot — paddle low, weight on your front foot — and the floater drops between your f
- Drill of the Week · May 26, 2026Transition Zone NavigationIf you're a 3.5 and you lose 3 points per game you shouldn't lose, my money says they happen in the transition zone. You hit a decent return. You start walking forward. The ball comes back hard at you
- Coach's Take · May 20, 2026Fourth Ball Pressure: What The Dink Got Right (and What 3.5s Will Still Get Wrong)The Dink published a piece this week calling "Fourth Ball Pressure" the shot changing pickleball in 2026 — the aggressive midcourt drive or roll that separates elite players from everyone trying to ca