Speed-Up Dink
Also known as: dink speed-up, attacking dink
A speed-up dink is a sudden jump in pace on a ball that has risen above net height during a dink rally. It turns a soft exchange into a firm attack with minimal backswing.
Unlike a full drive, a speed-up dink comes from the same low, compact preparation as a normal dink. The disguise is the whole point. When a ball sits up high enough to attack, the player accelerates the paddle through contact rather than absorbing the pace. The ball goes out with real speed while opponents are still set up for a soft exchange. The motion looks identical to a regular dink until the last instant. So a well-disguised speed-up is far harder to defend than a shot with an obvious wind-up.
The decision of when to speed up is as important as the mechanics. A ball below net height cannot be safely sped up without a steep upward angle that usually finds the net. The shot only works on a ball that has genuinely risen high enough to allow a flat or downward trajectory. Speeding up on a marginal ball is one of the most common ways points are given away in a dink rally. A mistimed speed-up either nets or sits up as an easy put-away for the opponent.
Target selection matters as much as timing. A speed-up aimed at an opponent's body or feet is far more effective than one hit hard down the middle of an open court. The goal is to remove the opponent's ability to block it cleanly, not simply to hit the ball hard.
Drill speed-ups by having a partner feed only balls that rise slightly above net height, training recognition of the exact threshold rather than practicing the swing in isolation.
Example
During a dink rally, a ball floats up to shoulder height. The player keeps their normal dink motion but accelerates through contact, firing it at the opponent's midsection.
Why it matters
The speed-up dink is one of the main ways a patient dink rally is actually converted into a won point. So recognizing genuinely attackable balls and disguising the shot well are high-value skills.
How it shows up on video
On video, a speed-up shows as a sudden, faster swing after a run of soft dinks. Pause at contact to check the ball was high enough to justify it.
Common mistakes
- Speeding up on a ball still below net height, which usually results in a netted shot
- Telegraphing the speed-up with a longer backswing that opponents can read and prepare for
- Aiming the speed-up down the middle of open court rather than at the opponent's body or feet
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not measure contact height or paddle acceleration, or compare a speed-up with your dinks. On video, check that the ball was high enough to speed up and that your backswing did not give the shot away.
Frequently asked questions
What ball height is safe to speed up on?
A ball that has risen above net height, ideally well above it. As a result, the paddle can drive through with a flat or downward angle rather than fighting to lift a low ball over the net.
How is a speed-up dink different from a regular drive?
A speed-up keeps the same low, compact backswing as a normal dink to preserve disguise. A drive usually comes from a bigger, more identifiable preparation off a higher or deeper ball.
Related terms
- Blocking a Speed-UpBlocking a speed-up is a defensive volley technique. It absorbs an attacking shot's pace with a firm, still paddle face instead of swinging back.
- Counter Speed-UpA counter speed-up returns pace immediately on an opponent's speed-up. Instead of blocking, the player redirects the attack with equal or greater speed.
- Dink Rally PatienceDink rally patience is the discipline to keep the ball low and controlled through a long dink exchange. You wait for a real opening instead of forcing an early attack.
- Speed-UpA speed-up is an offensive attack launched from the kitchen line during a soft dink exchange. It is a sudden hard drive at the opponent's body or shoulder, meant to force a reflex error before they can reset.
- Dink Target (Feet vs Body)Dink targeting is choosing between an opponent's feet and body. A dink at the feet forces an awkward low contact, while one at the body crowds the paddle and limits a clean swing.
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