Samantha Was in the 99% Who Only Dink to Warm Up — This Change Won More Opening Points

Pickleball warm-ups have become a ritual. Step onto any court, and you’ll see players dinking back and forth, copying each other like a synchronized dance. It’s not just habit—it’s culture. “Everyone dinks to warm up because that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Samantha says. “I followed along, thinking it was enough, but my game wasn’t getting better.”

The problem? Dinking alone doesn’t address your weaknesses. It’s comfortable, familiar, and feels productive, but it’s like practicing only your forehand in tennis. Samantha’s wake-up call came from her coach, who delivered a blunt truth: “You’re not leading your warm-up—you’re just following everyone else.” That self-awareness inspired her to take control.

The Trap of Following the Crowd

Pickleball’s social vibe encourages imitation. Players watch each other, mimic routines, and assume dinking is the gold standard. “I’d show up, dink for 10 minutes, hit a few serves, and call it done,” Samantha admits. “But my drop shots were shaky, and my backhand volleys were a disaster.”

Her coach saw the issue: Samantha wasn’t tailoring her warm-up to her needs. Most players don’t. They follow a generic routine set by the group, ignoring the skills that could elevate their game. “You’re letting the court’s culture dictate your prep,” her coach told her. “Lead your own warm-up, or you’re warming up for someone else’s game.”

Taking the Lead

Samantha’s coach taught her to lead with intention. Instead of defaulting to dinking, she now designs her warm-ups to target her weaknesses. “It’s like being the captain of my own prep,” she says. “I decide what my game needs, and I make it happen.” This shift from follower to leader takes just 10–12 minutes but has revolutionized her performance. It also inspired others on the court to do the same.

Leading your warm-up means knowing your gaps and building drills to fix them. Samantha identified her top weaknesses—drop shots, backhand volleys, and defensive resets—and paired them with short, high-impact drills. “It’s not about doing what’s popular,” she says. “It’s about doing what’s right for me.”

Three Drills That Changed Her Game

Samantha’s warm-up now includes these targeted drills, each tied to a weakness:

• Drop Shot Progression Drill (Weakness: Inconsistent Drops)
  Samantha starts at the kitchen, where her partner feeds her a ball. She moves backward, hits a drop shot into her partner’s kitchen, and moves back again. The drill progresses: she drops from mid-court, then to the baseline and back. “It mimics real rallies,” she says. “I’m practicing control from all over the court.”. After one or two rounds, she let her partner take their turn.

• Backhand Volley Gauntlet (Weakness: Weak Backhand Volleys)
  Her partner fires rapid backhand volleys at her, forcing quick reactions. Samantha focuses on wrist snap and paddle angle. “My backhand used to crumble under pressure,” she says. “Now, I’m ready for fast exchanges.”

• Defensive Reset Drill (Weakness: Poor Defensive Resets)
  Samantha stands at the baseline while her partner hits aggressive drives. She practices soft resets into the kitchen, absorbing pace and regaining control. “It’s tough but builds confidence,” she says. “I’m not caught off-guard anymore.”

Samantha’s Warm-Up Routine

Here’s Samantha’s new warm-up, designed to address her weaknesses in just 10–12 minutes:

Why Leading Matters

Samantha’s coach drilled into her that self-awareness is the key to leadership. “You have to know your game and own your prep,” she recalls him saying. Leading your warm-up isn’t just about drills—it’s about mindset. It’s refusing to blend in and choosing to stand out. “When I lead, I feel in control,” Samantha says. “I’m not just warming up my body—I’m warming up my game.”

The results are undeniable. Samantha’s drop shots now land consistently in the kitchen. Her backhand volleys hold strong in heated rallies. And her resets turn defensive moments into offensive opportunities. “Leading my warm-up changed everything,” she says. “I’m not following anymore—I’m setting the tone.”

Break Free from the Pack

Samantha’s story is a wake-up call for every pickleball player stuck in the dink-only trap. Stop following the crowd. Leading your warm-up means identifying your weaknesses and building a routine that’s uniquely yours. “It’s not about rejecting dinking,” Samantha says. “It’s about adding what you need.”

Her advice? Take charge. Assess your game. Maybe your lobs are inconsistent or your serves lack spin. Find a drill, commit a few minutes, and lead your prep with purpose. “You don’t need to overhaul your routine,” she says. “You just need to make it yours.”

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