Cross-Court Dinks
Why this drill
The foundational exchange of the sport. Cross-court is the dink you will hit most in doubles — the longer diagonal gives you margin over the low part of the net, and grooving it builds the patience that wins kitchen battles.
Setup
Both players at the non-volley-zone line, diagonal from each other — right side to right side first. A handful of balls at the net post.
The drill
Rally dinks cross-court, every ball landing in the kitchen or dipping below net height as it crosses. Count consecutive dinks as a pair; a streak of twenty is the first target, fifty is strong. When a streak dies, note why — long, into the net, or popped up — and start again. After five minutes, switch diagonals so both players work forehand and backhand dinks.
One thought to take on court
Lift the ball from your shoulder with a firm wrist — a dink is a push, not a hit.