Sample Pickleball Report: Keeping Dinks Low
A worked example for a player whose dinks keep floating up into the attack zone. Your real report is built from your own swing.
Player profile
Rec 3.0–3.5 player who loses kitchen exchanges. Main complaint: dinks sit up at net height and get put away, so they keep losing the soft game.
Input data
- One side-view swing video (cross-court dinking at the kitchen line)Estimated
- Self-reported pattern: dinks pop up and get attackedSelf-reported
- No paddle-sensor data providedNot currently measured
Highest-priority issue
Dinks popping up: the paddle face is too open at contact (or the ball is lifted with the wrist instead of the legs), so the ball leaves high and sits in the attack zone.
The #1 fix
Stabilize a slightly-open, quiet paddle face and lift with the legs, not the wrist, so the ball skims low over the net and stays unattackable.
Evidence used
- On the side view the paddle face is angled noticeably upward at contactEstimated
- The dink trajectory rises above net-and-shoulder height (an attackable arc)Estimated
- A wristy, flicking motion suggests the lift is coming from the hand rather than the legsInferred
Confidence
Illustrative example (not your data)
A side-view video supports a confident read on paddle-face angle and dink arc. Precise net-clearance height would need a fixed reference or sensor to confirm.
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Measured
Read straight from your launch monitor or sensor data. The most precise number we can show.
Estimated
Our free coaching engine compares your swing to research benchmarks for your sport and level. Trustworthy direction you can train on today — no AI required.
Inferred
Want more detail? Optional AI reads your video frames for extra depth on top of the free read. Single-camera limits still apply.
Self-reported
Based on what you describe yourself. Useful context, and as accurate as the details you share.
Why this matters
In the soft game, anything above net height is a free attack for your opponent. Keeping the dink low — a few inches over the tape with a quiet face — removes their put-away and is the single biggest swing in who controls the kitchen.
Three drills tied to this fix
1. Net-skimmer dink gate
Set a string or eye-line target a few inches above the net tape and dink cross-court trying to send every ball just over it. Keep the face slightly open and stable; lift with the legs, not the wrist. 5 minutes cross-court, then 5 straight-ahead.
2. Paddle-face control wall
Stand a few feet from a wall and dink continuously against it. Ball striking high means the face is too open — adjust to a square/slightly-open face that returns it low, keeping the wrist quiet through contact. ~8 minutes.
3. Attackable-ball recognition
Dink with a partner and call "up!" or "down!" before each contact: roll-attack only balls above net height, keep everything below it soft. Trains patience and shot selection. 10-minute game, tracking unforced speed-ups.
7-day practice plan
- Days 1–2Net-skimmer dink gate only. Groove a low arc just over the tape with a quiet face.
- Days 3–4Add the paddle-face control wall to stabilize the face angle.
- Day 5Add attackable-ball recognition; speed up only the balls that float above the net.
- Day 6Live kitchen exchanges keeping the low, leg-driven feel.
- Day 7Retest: re-film cross-court dinks from the same side angle and compare arc height.
How to retest
On day 7, re-film a cross-court dink rally from the same side angle. Watch net clearance and face angle: are the dinks skimming low (a few inches over) instead of sitting up? Chart attackable vs. unattackable dinks over the next couple of weeks.
Progress metrics
- Dink net clearance (sitting up → a few inches over the tape, intermediate target ~7")
- Paddle-face angle at contact (open/lifting → quiet and stable)
- Unforced speed-up errors (down toward zero)
Coach & parent summary
For a coach
Player pops dinks up with an open, wristy face, giving away free attacks. Priority: stable slightly-open face, leg-driven lift, keep dinks low. Drills: net-skimmer gate, paddle-face wall, attackable-ball recognition. Retest in 7 days from a fixed side angle.
What this report can't know
- Exact net-clearance height or paddle speed without a fixed reference/sensor
- Whether positioning or footwork at the kitchen line is contributing (needs live looks)
- Anything about wrist or shoulder health — stop if you feel pain
Share or print this report
Top priority
Dinks popping up into the attack zone
Confidence: Illustrative example (not your data)
Drills
- 1. Net-skimmer dink gate (low arc)
- 2. Paddle-face control wall (stable face)
- 3. Attackable-ball recognition (selection)
Practice plan
7 days: quiet the face → lift with the legs → keep dinks low → retest arc height on day 7.
AI estimate, not certified instruction. Made with SwingVantage — https://swingvantage.com
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This is an illustrative example built from sample data, not a real player’s result, and not certified instruction. SwingVantage gives heuristic estimates that sharpen as you add more swings. For injury concerns or advanced work, pair it with a qualified coach.
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