How to Create Consistent Topspin on Your Dinks (Without Using Your Wrist)

James Ignatowich

Top 5 Pro Player James Ignatowich

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich from Delray Beach. When you’re hitting a forehand dink, your paddle should finish on the same side it started on. The motion should be smooth and controlled, with your paddle moving forward to brush the ball and generate topspin (figure 1). A common mistake is trying to generate topspin by flicking the wrist, but that leads to inconsistency.

(figure 1)

To get true topspin, the paddle face should start below your hand, and you should simply push forward through the ball. This motion is repeatable and reliable—exactly what you want for consistent dinks.

Avoid Using Your Wrist for Topspin on Dinks

Yes, it’s possible to generate topspin using wrist action, but it’s not sustainable. You might get away with it once or twice, but you won’t be able to do it 50 times in a row. If you feel your paddle starting to flip or your wrist taking over, reset your form. Wristy dinks lead to mistakes.

When Wrist Action Is Useful

Wrist action does have its place—like when you’re hitting a topspin roll or driving the ball with pace. If you’re being aggressive and want to add velocity and topspin to a shot, go for it. But on dinks, power isn’t the goal—consistency is. Using your wrist on a dink will only hurt your control and increase your errors.

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James Ignatowich is a top 10 professional pickleball player originally from Connecticut, now residing in Delray Beach, Florida. A former Division 1 tennis player at Vanderbilt University, James made a transition to pickleball, quickly rising to prominence in the sport and often playing doubles with Tyson McGuffin and Anna Bright. In addition to his athletic achievements, he runs his own podcast, where he shares insights into the game and interviews other professionals. jamesignatowichnewsletter | PPA | MLP | My paddle