Intermediate
Speed-Up
Also known as: attack, hand speed
A speed-up is suddenly attacking a dink or slow ball by driving it hard at the opponents, changing the pace to force a reflex error during a soft kitchen exchange.
During a dink rally both teams wait for an attackable ball — one that sits up above net height. The speed-up converts that chance into pressure, fired at the opponent’s body or shoulder to jam them. Speeding up too early (on a ball that’s too low) hands the opponents the counter-attack, so shot selection is everything.
Example
A dink pops up slightly; the player speeds it up at the opponent’s right shoulder, drawing a popped-up block that’s put away.
Related terms
- DinkA dink is a soft, controlled shot hit from near the kitchen line that arcs just over the net and lands in the opponent’s kitchen, forcing them to hit up.
- ResetA reset is a soft, absorbing shot that takes pace off a hard-driven ball and drops it into the kitchen, neutralizing an attack and restoring a neutral rally.
- VolleyA volley is any shot hit out of the air before the ball bounces. In pickleball it must be struck while standing outside the kitchen.
Related guides & benchmarks
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