Attacking shots
Pickleball Speed Up
The speed-up is the primary offensive weapon from the kitchen line. It turns a neutral dinking rally into an attacking exchange by suddenly accelerating the pace, and when well-timed and well-targeted, it wins points outright or forces weak pop-ups you can finish.
Speed-up target zones
Where you aim matters as much as how hard you hit.
Non-dominant shoulder
HighestForces an awkward transition between forehand and backhand. Hard to reset cleanly. The right shoulder of a right-handed opponent is extremely difficult to return well.
Hip / elbow (body shot)
HighJams the swing, opponent can't fully extend. Creates cramped contact and a weak, high return. Aim at the elbow of the paddle arm.
Backhand side
Medium-HighEffective against players with weaker backhands. Read if the opponent is slow transitioning from their forehand side.
At the feet
MediumWorks best against opponents still in transition (not yet at kitchen). At the kitchen line, opponents can drop the paddle quickly. Better for mid-court targets.
Down the line / sideline
LowerThe sideline angle is a lower-percentage shot with more room for error. Usually better to attack the body or cross-court to the shoulder.
How to execute a speed-up
Five steps from setup to recovery.
Wait for an attackable ball
Only speed up balls that sit above the net or at hip height. A ball below net height is too risky, you'll hit it into the net or loft it for a counter. Patience creates better opportunities.
Disguise the shot
Your pre-contact motion should look identical to a dink. Many players telegraph the speed-up with a windup. Keep your backswing minimal and your body language neutral until contact.
Accelerate through contact
The speed-up is a short, fast punch, not a big swing. Close the paddle face slightly and drive forward through the ball. The power comes from wrist snap and forearm rotation, not a full swing.
Target the shoulder or body
Aim for the non-dominant shoulder or body, not down the line. The body shot is harder to reset cleanly than a ball hit to the open court.
Recover immediately
After the speed-up, reset your paddle to the ready position immediately. If the opponent resets your speed-up, you need to be prepared to continue the exchange, not celebrating early.
How to defend speed-ups
Keep your paddle up between shots
The most common reason speed-ups win points is the defender's paddle is too low. Keep the paddle at chest level and ready, not hanging at your side.
Soft reset, don't counter
Against a speed-up you didn't expect, soft-block it back into the kitchen rather than trying to counter. The reset neutralizes the attack. The counter-punch often leads to an error or a worse exchange.
Read the attacker's preparation
Watch for slight windup changes, paddle face angle, or shoulder turn that telegraphs a speed-up. Advanced players read the attack early and reposition the paddle before contact.
Stay centered, don't lean
Players who lean anticipating a specific side get caught by the body shot. Stay centered with your paddle at the ready to cover both forehand and backhand returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is a speed-up in pickleball?
A speed-up in pickleball is a sudden hard shot hit from the kitchen line during a dinking rally, an attack designed to catch the opponent off-guard. Instead of continuing the soft dinking exchange, you hit a sharp drive at the opponent's body, shoulder, or at their backhand. A well-executed speed-up can win the point outright or force a weak pop-up you can finish.
When should you speed up in pickleball?
Speed up when: a dink sits up above net height (an attackable ball), you want to break a neutral dinking rally, you notice the opponent's paddle is down or out of position, or you're targeting a known weak side. Avoid speeding up when you're out of position, the ball is below net height (likely to net), or into a well-positioned opponent, those balls often come back as counters you can't handle.
Where should you aim a speed-up in pickleball?
The best speed-up targets are: the opponent's non-dominant shoulder (the most difficult spot to return), at the body hip or elbow to jam the swing, the backhand side when the opponent is slow to transition from forehand, and the feet of an opponent who is late getting to the kitchen. Avoid speed-ups down the sideline, the angle is lower percentage. The shoulder and hip-elbow targets are the highest-percentage attack zones.
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