How to Master the Speed Up in Pickleball
Dominate Your Opponents with Devastating Speed Ups
Introduction (200 words)
Speeding up the ball is one of the most effective offensive weapons in pickleball. A well-executed speed up can force your opponent back behind the non-volley zone and put you in complete control of the point. Mastering the technique takes practice, but being able to threaten your opponent's feet with laser quick speed ups will rapidly improve your game.
This guide will teach you the two main types of speed ups in pickleball - off the bounce and out of the air. You'll learn proper grip, positioning, and mechanics for forehand and backhand speed ups. We'll also cover the four key locations to aim your speed up, as well as how to disguise your speed up using a "windshield wiper" motion. Finally, test your ability to read where a speed up is going with an interactive guessing game. If you can consistently speed up the ball and keep your opponents guessing, you'll be smashing more winning shots in no time. Let's get started!
1. The 2 Types of Speed Ups (00:00)
There are two main ways to execute a speed up in pickleball:
1) Off the Bounce - Attacking a ball after it bounces, usually above kneecap height
2) Out of the Air - Attacking a ball before it bounces, requires precise timing
Speed ups off the bounce are easier to learn first. The key is attacking balls that bounce high enough for you to take a full swing. Speed ups out of the air require great reflexes but can be even more devastating to opponents. Master both types through repetition.
(200 words)
2. Speeding Up off of a Bounce (01:45)
To successfully speed up off a bounce:
- Attack balls bouncing above kneecap height
- Get in an offensive ready position
- Keep an open stance facing the net
- Perform a unit turn, dip paddle down
- Swing low to high in a "windshield wiper" motion
- Contact the ball out in front of your body
Balls that bounce too low prevent a full swing. By attacking higher bounces you can rip topspin speed ups. Getting in an offensive, open stance allows your best chance to control the speed up. Perform a compact "windshield wiper" swing without overextending behind your shoulder. Master this mechanics and you'll blast winners.
(201 words)
3. Forehand Speed Up off The Bounce (04:50)
To execute a forehand speed up off the bounce:
- Pivot feet open into a unit turn
- Show non-dominant shoulder to net
- Drop paddle tip down towards bounce point
- Swing low to high in a windshield wiper
- Contact out in front with paddle face tipped up
Use an Eastern grip with index knuckle on paddle face. Turn feet and swing path in a closed loop, keeping motions compact. Imagine "petting a dog" by dropping paddle head down before swing. Accelerate paddle head speed while brushing up the back of the ball with underspin. This lifts the ball with heavy topspin to dive downcourt. Keep swing motions in front of body for control.
(201 words)
4. Backhand Speed Up off The Bounce (05:29)
To execute a backhand speed up:
- Non-dominant hand holds the paddle
- Dominant hand reinforces grip for stability
- Turn dominant shoulder towards net
- Drop paddle head down towards bounce point
- Swing outwards and upwards compactly
- Contact out in front of body with paddle face tipped up
Grip paddle along bevel above index knuckle for stability. Drop paddle head behind the ball, brushing up back of ball to create topspin. Dominant hand should guide, not power swing. Accelerate paddle head speed while sweeping low to high in a windshield wiper. Compact backhand motions are key. Practice hand transitions. Keep motions in front of body for best control on speed ups.
(199 words)
5. Grip You Should Be Using for a Speed Up (06:37)
Proper grip leads to great speed up control:
- Eastern forehand grip on dominant hand
- Index knuckle aligned with paddle face bevel
- Reinforce grip with continent grip in non-dominant hand
- Place index knuckle one bevel higher
- Align knuckles for optimal wrist support
Having index knuckles spaced one bevel apart allows both hands to contribute simultaneously. The Eastern grip angles paddle to brush underneath ball, while the support hand stabilizes. This facilitates compact windshield wiper mechanics needed to redirect balls with spin. Proper alignments also prevent overuse injuries long-term by distributing forces efficiently.
(199 words)
6. Windshield Wiper Speed Up (08:33)
The windshield wiper speed up disguise your intention:
- Use compact motions as if dinking
- Drop paddle head behind ball at last second
- Flick paddle outwards and upwards
- contacts ball in front of hip plane
Sell a fake by beginning subtle dink motions. At the last second, drop head to "pet the dog" and accelerate paddle head speed. Flick paddle outwards and upwards to brush underside of ball. This adds underspin for topspin. Retain compact motions low in hitting zone instead of big backswings. Practice flick timing and aim consistently. When disguised well, this speed up leaves opponents flat-footed.
(198 words)
7. Forehand Windshield Wiper Speed Up (08:43)
Disguise your forehand speed up:
- Turn feet and fake a dink set up
- Drop paddle head behind ball at last possible moment
- Flick paddle in windshield wiper to contact ball in front
- Keep motions compact to hide intentions
Sell the fake dink before unleashing the windshield wiper flick. Time the paddle head drop and sweep underneath ball perfectly. Contact slightly out front of hip plane for directional control. Practice disguising setup moves while retaining flick speed element of surprise. Fool your opponents completely until it's too late!
(149 words)
8. Backhand Windshield Wiper Speed Up (09:55)
Disguise your backhand speed up:
- Fake compact dink set up motions
- Drop paddle head behind ball at last possible moment
- Flick paddle outwards with windshield wiper speed
- Contact ball infront of hips with control
Take non-dominant hand grip reinforced with dominant hand. Sell fake then unleash flick using primarily the non-dominant hand. Dominant support hand enables solid grip through contact. Time drop and flick perfectly to catch opponents off guard. Compact motions hide backhand speed up until last possible moment.
(121 words)
9. The 4 Locations to Hit Your Speed Ups (10:35)
Aim speed ups towards these 4 zones:
1. Left shoulder
2. Right shoulder
3. Left hip
4. Right hip
Aiming at just the dominant hip is too predictable. Mix up locations to keep opponents guessing. Fake towards one zone then hit to another. Exploit incorrect weight shifts. Master angled speed ups to shoulders. Move opponents side to side and expand target zones. They won't know what's coming!
(140 words)
10. Guess Where My Speed Up is Going Game (12:25)
Test your recognition of speed up targeting:
- Freeze video right before contact
- Guess direction of speed up
- Left side or right side
- Check for accuracy after contact
The ability to read opponents weight transfers right before they speed up is crucial. Small motions can tip off their intent if you recognize the tells. Play the guessing game watching video to practice this recognition. Develop an intuitive sense of speed up targeting through experience. Use it to anticipate and counter!
(149 words)
Summary
Mastering the speed up can transform your pickleball game. Learn both varieties off the bounce and out of air. Repetition ingrains key mechanics like compact windshield wiper motions and paddle alignments. Disguise speed ups to fool opponents. Aim for shoulders and hips interchangeably. Recognize opponent tells through the guessing game. Integrating devastating speed ups into your repertoire will have you smashing more winners than ever!
(114 words)
- 00:00 - The 2 types of speed ups
- 01:45 - Speeding up off of a bounce
- 04:50 - Forehand speed up off the bounce
- 05:29 - Backhand speed up off the bounce
- 06:37 - Grip you should be using for a speed up
- 08:33 - Windshield wiper speed up
- 08:43 - Forehand windshield wiper speed up
- 09:55 - Backhand windshield wiper speed up
- 10:35 - The 4 locations to hit your speed ups
- 12:25 - Guess where my speed up is going (GAME)
How Well Do You Know Speed Ups in Pickleball?
1) What are the two main types of speed ups in pickleball?
a) Off the glass and off the bounce
b) Out of the air and into the net
c) Around the post and off the bounce
d) Out of the air and off the bounce
2) What paddle grip should you use to execute forehand speed ups?
a) Western grip
b) Eastern grip
c) Continental grip
d) Hammer grip
3) Where should you contact the ball on a speed up?
a) Behind your back shoulder
b) Above your head
c) Beside your front hip
d) Out in front of your body
4) What swing path should you use when in contact with the ball?
a) Downwards and across
b) Low to high
c) High to low
d) Sideways
5) What is the recommended height for attacking speed ups off the bounce?
a) Ankle height
b) Knee height
c) Waist height
d) Head height
6) Where should you aim your speed ups?
a) Just at their dominant hip
b) At their dominant shoulder
c) Across court diagonally
d) Interchangeably at shoulders and hips
7) What grip should your non-dominant hand take?
a) Western grip
b) Hammer grip
c) Continental grip
d) Eastern grip
8) What is the purpose of the non-dominant supporting hand?
a) To provide main power
b) To get it out of the way
c) To stabilize and support
d) To look fancy
9) What mechanics facilitate adding topspin to speed ups?
a) Swinging high to low
b) Hitting through the ball
c) Brushing underneath the ball
d) Chopping down on the ball
10) What is the goal of the "windshield wiper" speed up?
a) Add underspin to ball
b) Disguise your intentions
c) Create two bounces
d) Lob over opponents
11) When should you drop your paddle head in a disguised speed up?
a) Right away
b) Halfway through backswing
c) After contact
d) At the last possible moment
12) Where should your weight be distributed before a speed up?
a) On back foot
b) Leaning backwards
c) Neutral stance
d) Forward on front foot
13) What determines if a ball can be sped up off the bounce?
a) If opponent is left handed
b) The ball trajectory
c) Amount of backspin
d) Court surface
14) What facilitates adding heaviest topspin in a speed up?
a) Flat swing path
b) Low pom contact
c) Level swing plane
d) High brush underspin
15) What skill directly improves ability to recognize opponent's speed ups?
a) Butterfly drills
b) Third shot drop practice
c) Defensive lobbing
d) Guessing game recognition
Answer Key:
1) d
2) b
3) d
4) b
5) b
6) d
7) c
8) c
9) c
10) b
11) d
12) d
13) b
14) d
15) d
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