Cross-Court Dink Game
A scored crosscourt dinking game to 11 — cooperative rallying becomes competitive placement, one diagonal at a time.
- LevelIntermediate
- Players2 Players
- Duration15 min
- EquipmentNet
Cooperative dinking builds a stroke, but competitive dinking builds a player. The Cross-Court Dink Game keeps the soft, controlled ball-striking of a practice rally and adds the one ingredient rallying can never provide: consequences. Every dink now has a score attached, and the moment points are on the line, most players discover their technique quietly downgrades — dinks get firmer, targets get greedier, and patience evaporates. This drill is where you fix that, on a half-court diagonal, before it costs you real games. The court is a diagonal half. You may only dink into your opponent's crosscourt zone — the half of the kitchen and the short area behind it on the opposite diagonal — and anything landing in the other half plays as out. Start each point with a gentle drop feed rather than a serve, then play the point out under normal rules: a ball that lands in the net, out of bounds, or in the wrong half scores for your opponent. Play games to eleven, win by two, and call your own lines honestly, because the score pressure is the entire training stimulus. The narrow target does something subtle and valuable: it rewards the player who can keep the ball low and deep into the corner while staying balanced enough to do it again. Power is almost useless here — the winning pattern is the patient dink pulled just wide enough to open the middle, then the calm change of direction when your opponent over-commits. Track a simple stat across your games: how many of your points came from balls your opponent had to reach for, versus balls they simply missed. As the first number grows, you are learning genuine dink strategy — moving a human being around a small space with soft shots. Swap diagonals between games so both players train the forehand crosscourt dink on one side and the backhand on the other. Two games to eleven, twice a week, will change how calmly you approach the kitchen in match play.
Equipment: You will need a net.
How to run this drill
Agree on the crosscourt diagonal you will both play — every ball must land inside the opposite crosscourt kitchen area or the short zone just behind it.
Start each point with a gentle drop feed, then play it out: any dink that lands in the net, out of bounds, or inside the wrong half scores for your opponent.
Play first to 11 points, winning by 2, and call your own lines honestly — the score pressure is the training stimulus.
Swap diagonals for a second game so both players practice the forehand and the backhand crosscourt dink.
Sets, reps & pass standard
Sets & reps: 2 games to 11
You're ready to move on when: You're ready to move on when you can win a game to 11 while landing at least 8 of your points inside the crosscourt kitchen zone itself, not the deeper safety area behind it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Attacking too early — the crosscourt dink game rewards the player who stays patient exactly one ball longer.
- Losing your dink height — every ball that rises above net-cord height becomes attackable, so keep the apex low and over your own side.
- Drifting toward the middle — your diagonal is your court, so cover it first and let the wide dink do the moving for you.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need for the Cross-Court Dink Game?
You need a net.
How long does the Cross-Court Dink Game take?
About 15 minutes, typically organized as 2 games to 11. It is rated Intermediate and works for 2 players.
What does success look like on this drill?
You're ready to move on when you can win a game to 11 while landing at least 8 of your points inside the crosscourt kitchen zone itself, not the deeper safety area behind it.