dinking

/ˈdɪŋkɪŋ/
verb
  1. In pickleball or tennis, hitting the ball softly so that it just clears the net and lands in the opponent's non-volley zone or front court.
    • She spent the afternoon practicing dinking with her partner to improve their net game.
    • Instead of smashing the ball, he tried dinking it over the net to catch his opponent off guard.
    • Dinking requires a gentle touch and good control rather than power.
  2. In sports like basketball or volleyball, lightly tapping or tipping the ball into an open area or over an opponent.
    • He avoided a block by dinking the volleyball softly into the corner of the court.
    • Dinking the basketball off the backboard can be a clever way to score under pressure.
    • The player scored by dinking the ball just over the defender's reach.
noun
  1. The act of hitting a soft, low shot in pickleball or tennis, especially into the non-volley zone.
    • They practiced dinking for an hour to get ready for the tournament.
    • The player's dinking was so precise that it barely cleared the net.
    • A good dinking can force your opponent to make a difficult return.
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