Two-Target Wall Dinks
Two players share one wall and alternate dinks at called targets — placement practice with a partner and no net.
- LevelIntermediate
- Players2 Players
- Duration15 min
- EquipmentWall
Placement, not just contact, is what separates a safe dink from a dangerous one. Two-Target Wall Dinks adds the one ingredient most wall practice lacks: a called target. The wall is split into left and right halves with a strip of tape, and every dink must be aimed at the half that has been called out loud before the swing. Suddenly the wall stops being a rebound machine and becomes a placement coach, because a dink aimed at the wrong half is a miss even when it comes back perfectly. The drill is built for two players sharing one wall, which makes it ideal for a garage, a schoolyard, or the back of a handball court when no pickleball net is available. The two of you alternate contacts like a relay — A dinks, B takes the rebound and dinks, A takes the next — so each player hits every other ball and rests in between. That alternation does more than share the workload: it recreates the rhythm of a real dink rally, where you must reset your feet and your paddle between every ball while the point stays alive. Start with ten alternating dinks at the called half, then switch sides and repeat. The standard is strict on purpose: a dink that hits the wrong half of the wall resets the count, and so does a dink that comes back below the knee, because low rebounds teach low dinks — the height that wins kitchen battles. The finisher is a caller round where either player may call the target before any contact, which trains the quick aim adjustments that real opponents force on you when they move. Ten to fifteen minutes of this, twice a week, shows up in matches as dinks that land where you intended instead of wherever your wrist happened to be pointed. Bring the same called-target discipline to your next game and watch how often the ball arrives at your opponent's backhand.
Equipment: You will need a wall.
How to run this drill
Tape a vertical line down the middle of your wall section at net height, splitting it into left and right target halves, and both players stand about seven feet back, staggered so rebounds are reachable.
Player A dinks at the called half ('left' or 'right'), then Player B takes the rebound and dinks at the same half, alternating contacts like a relay.
Count 10 alternating dinks per target half, then switch the call — a dink that hits the wrong half of the wall resets the count to zero.
Finish with a caller round: either player may call the target before each contact, and the pair aims for 20 consecutive correct hits.
Sets, reps & pass standard
Sets & reps: 4 x 10 alternating dinks
You're ready to move on when: You're ready to move on when you and your partner complete the 20-hit caller round with no more than two wrong-half misses.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Hitting flat at the wall — the dink must arc above net height before dropping onto the target half.
- Standing in each other's way — stagger your positions and agree who retrieves wide rebounds before you start.
- Calling targets too fast — the call should come before the swing, so aim is a decision and not a reaction.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need for the Two-Target Wall Dinks?
You need a wall. Any sturdy wall at hip height or higher works — a garage door or handball wall is ideal.
How long does the Two-Target Wall Dinks take?
About 15 minutes, typically organized as 4 x 10 alternating dinks. 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 and your partner complete the 20-hit caller round with no more than two wrong-half misses.