When to SPEED UP in Pickleball vs. Playing It Safe? 3 Balls to Look For

Summary

In this informative video, the focus is on mastering the art of speeding up the ball in pickleball. The key is to identify the right type of ball to speed up, such as a passive dink with high bounce, and avoid aggressive dinks that could lead to errors. The video emphasizes proper technique, including paddle positioning and a compact swing, and strategic placement of the speed up shot. It also introduces a half-court game drill for practice and hints at a giveaway of $11,000 worth of store credit for engaged viewers.

Takeaways

• 🏓 Understanding when to speed up the ball versus playing it safe is crucial in pickleball.
• 🎾 Focus on aggressive dinks that push you back or off balance for speeding up the ball.
• 🏑 Choose dinks with less spin and in a good position for you to speed up the ball effectively.
• 🚫 Avoid speeding up shallow dinks that pull you close to the net due to the risk of hitting it out or into the net.
• 🔝 Aim for dinks that bounce high as they are easier to speed up compared to low bouncing balls.
• 📍 Paddle positioning is key: hit with the tip down around the 4 or 5 o'clock position for top spin.
• 🔄 Maintain a compact swing for the speed up shot, avoiding large back swings that risk hitting the ball out.
• 💪 Use a 60% flick for a speed up aimed at the right hip area to create popups and confuse your opponent.
• 🎯 For a more aggressive approach, aim the speed up directly at the opponent's body with an 80% effort.
• 🏐 Practice the speed up shot with a half-court game to improve accuracy and strategy.
• 🏆 Participate in drills and games to refine your speed up technique and placement for competitive play.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to teach how to properly execute a speed up shot in pickleball, including when to use it and how to avoid common mistakes.

What are the three types of balls to look for when considering hitting a speed up shot?

The three types of balls to look for are: an aggressive dink, a passive dink, and a ball with the right depth and height of bounce.

Why should you avoid hitting a speed up shot on an aggressive dink?

You should avoid hitting a speed up shot on an aggressive dink because it has a lot of action and variables, increasing the chances of hitting an unforced error.

What is the ideal depth and height of the ball for executing a speed up shot?

The ideal depth is a ball that pushes you back but not too close to the net, and the ideal height is a ball that bounces high, making it easier to speed up.

How should you position your paddle when hitting a speed up shot?

You should position your paddle with the tip down, around the 4 or 5 o'clock mark on a clock, and rotate it through the shot to the 1 or 2 o'clock position to apply top spin.

What is the recommended swing technique for a speed up shot?

The recommended swing technique is a compact swing, hitting the ball in front of your body with a short and controlled motion.

How much power should you use when executing a speed up shot?

You should use about 60% power for a standard speed up shot aimed at the right hip area, and around 80% for a more aggressive shot aimed at the body.

What are the four attacking zones in pickleball and how can they be used strategically in a speed up shot?

The four attacking zones are the backhand side (Zone 1), front of the body (Zone 2), right side of the body (Zone 3), and the forehand side (Zone 4). Aiming between Zones 3 and 4 can create popups and make your opponent guess whether it's a backhand or forehand, while aiming at the body can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy.

What is the half-court game drill presented in the video and how does it help improve the speed up shot?

The half-court game drill involves playing on half of the court with a partner, using a cooperative serve that must bounce in the kitchen. The objective is to practice speed up shots by aiming for the left or right hip area or the body, switching sides after reaching 11 points.

What is the giveaway mentioned in the video and how can viewers enter?

The giveaway mentioned in the video is $11,000 worth of Selkirk store credit split between five lucky winners. To enter the giveaway, viewers can find the link in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

🏓 Understanding When to Speed Up in Pickleball

This paragraph discusses the strategic moments in pickleball where players should consider speeding up the ball after a bounce. It emphasizes the importance of choosing the right type of ball to speed up, such as a passive dink, and avoiding aggressive dinks that carry too many variables. The discussion also includes considerations for the depth of the ball into the kitchen and transition zone, as well as the height of the bounce. The paragraph sets the stage for further instruction on executing the speed up shot with proper technique.

05:02

🎯 Aiming Strategies for Speeding Up in Pickleball

This paragraph delves into the strategic placement of speed up shots in pickleball. It introduces the concept of attacking zones and suggests aiming between zones three and four to create uncertainty for the opponent. The paragraph also provides tips on varying the force of the speed up, from a 60% flick to an 80% power shot aimed at the body, to maximize effectiveness and potentially win more points. A practice drill called the half-court game is introduced to help players apply these strategies in a controlled setting.

Keywords

💡Speed Up

The term 'speed up' refers to the strategic decision in pickleball to hit the ball with more force immediately after it bounces, aiming to catch the opponent off guard. In the video, it is discussed as a key shot to be executed during rallies, particularly when the ball is hit to the kitchen line and players are waiting for an opportunity to take control of the game. The execution of this shot is detailed, emphasizing the importance of timing, paddle positioning, and aiming for specific zones on the court.

💡Pickleball

Pickleball is the sport being discussed in the video, which involves players hitting a ball back and forth across a net using paddles. It is a popular recreational activity often played in outdoor courts. The video specifically focuses on strategies and techniques for executing a 'speed up' shot in pickleball, which is a more aggressive play designed to gain an advantage over opponents.

💡Kitchen Line

The 'kitchen line' in pickleball is a reference to the non-volley zone, a 7-foot zone on either side of the net where players are not allowed to hit the ball before it has bounced. The video emphasizes the importance of being at this line when considering a 'speed up' shot, as it provides a strategic position for taking control of the rally.

💡Dink

A 'dink' in pickleball is a soft, controlled shot that lands just over the net, aiming to keep the ball low and make it difficult for the opponent to attack. The video differentiates between aggressive and passive dinks, explaining that a passive dink with less spin and a higher bounce is more suitable for executing a 'speed up' shot.

💡Counter

In the context of the video, a 'counter' refers to a return shot that an opponent makes in response to a 'speed up' attempt. The video advises on how to execute the speed up shot in a way that minimizes the risk of being countered by the opponent, emphasizing the importance of placement and the element of surprise.

💡Paddle Positioning

Proper 'paddle positioning' is crucial for successfully executing a 'speed up' shot in pickleball. The video instructs players to hit the ball with the paddle tip down, around the 4 or 5 o'clock position on a clock analogy, and to rotate the paddle tip upwards towards the 1 or 2 o'clock position as they hit through the shot.

💡Compact Swing

A 'compact swing' refers to a shorter, more controlled stroke used in pickleball, as opposed to a full, extended swing. The video emphasizes the importance of using a compact swing when executing a 'speed up' shot to maintain accuracy and prevent hitting the ball out of the court.

💡Placement

In pickleball, 'placement' refers to the strategic positioning of the ball on the court in relation to the opponent's location. The video discusses the significance of aiming the 'speed up' shot at specific zones on the court to maximize its effectiveness and create difficult situations for the opponent.

💡Half-Court Game

The 'half-court game' is a practice drill mentioned in the video where players limit the playing area to half of the pickleball court and engage in a serve-and-return exercise. This drill is designed to help players practice their 'speed up' shots and improve their accuracy and decision-making in a controlled setting.

💡Giveaway

The term 'giveaway' in the context of the video refers to a promotional event where the host is offering a prize to viewers. In this case, the giveaway involves $11,000 worth of store credit split between five winners, which is intended to encourage viewer engagement and participation.

💡Top Spin

In pickleball, 'top spin' is the rotation given to the ball when it is hit in such a way that it spins forward as it travels through the air. The video explains that hitting with top spin is important when executing a 'speed up' shot from the kitchen line, as it helps to keep the ball in play and directed towards the opponent.

Highlights

The video discusses the strategic moments in pickleball where players wait for an opportunity to speed up the ball off the bounce.

It's important to choose the right ball to speed up, not every dink at the kitchen line is suitable for this shot.

Three types of balls are identified for speeding up: aggressive dinks, passive dinks, and balls with the right depth and height of bounce.

Aggressive dinks with a lot of action are not ideal for speeding up due to the high chance of unforced errors.

Passive dinks are slower and have less spin, making them easier to speed up with fewer variables.

Balls that are deep in the kitchen and transition zone are easier to speed up as they don't jam you against the net.

Balls that bounce high are better for speeding up compared to those that don't.

The technique for executing the speed up involves proper paddle positioning and a compact swing.

Hitting top spin on the ball from the kitchen line requires the paddle tip to be down and rotating upwards.

A compact swing with a 60% flick is recommended for executing the speed up shot.

Placement of the speed up is crucial; aiming between zones three and four can create popups and force opponents to guess.

Aiming the speed up right at the opponent's body can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy.

A drill called the half-court game is suggested for practicing speed ups and aiming techniques.

The half-court game involves serving and returning within a smaller section of the court.

The video ends with a reminder to like and subscribe to the playp pickleball.com YouTube channel for more content.

There's a giveaway of $11,000 worth of Selkirk store credit for five lucky winners.

To enter the giveaway, viewers are directed to a link provided in the video description.

Transcripts

when should you speed the ball up off

the bounce and pickle ball versus

playing it safe and how do you properly

execute this shot without getting burned

by a counter or hitting it deep we're

going to go over all of that and more in

this video and be sure to stay to the

end because we're giving away ,000 worth

of cker store credit split between five

lucky winners be sure to stay the end to

figure out how to enter all right let's

jump into it

so I know you know those moments in

pickle ball where all four players are

at the line and there's a longer dink

rally that's happening and you're just

waiting for someone to pull the trigger

first and speed that ball up off the

bounce that is what we're talking about

for the sake of this video but first

we're going to talk about what ball you

should look to speed up versus playing

it safe

[Music]

so the first thing that we're going to

go through are types of balls to speed

up because the reality of this shot is

you can't and you really shouldn't hit

it on every single dink at the kitchen

line so there are primarily three

different balls to really look for when

you're considering hitting this shot now

the first ones that we're going to talk

about is a passive dink versus an

aggressive dink okay so an aggressive

dink is going to be a dink that has like

a lot of action on it maybe it's pushing

me around the kitchen line it's pushing

me back it's pulling me off balance

that's not going to be a type of dink

that I'm going to want to do this shot

on because there's a lot of variables

going on meaning that the chances of me

hitting an unforced error are pretty

high now a passive dink is going to be a

dink that maybe is a little bit slower

there's not a ton of spin on it I'm

already in a good position to hit it

that's a way easier shot for me to speed

up because there are less variables the

next type of ball that you guys should

be aware of has to do with the depth of

it into the kitchen and transition zone

so for example if I'm getting really

shallow dinks that are pulling me really

close to the net this is going to be a

very hard ball for me to speed up

because often times I'm going to end up

hitting it in the net or hitting it out

completely so instead I want you to

really look for d that are going to push

you back super far but they're just

easier to speed up since you're not

jamming yourself with the net really

close to the kitchen now the last thing

that you should keep in mind when you're

picking the type of ball that you want

to speed up actually has to do with the

height of the bounce now if I'm getting

a ball that isn't bouncing very high

it's going to be really hard for me to

speed that up and I'm really going to

end up hitting that out because I'm

having to pull my paddle down really low

it's very hard to hit a speed up from

your shoelaces okay so instead look for

dinks or balls that bounce really high

because this is just way easier to end

up hitting a good speed up off

of so now that you know the type of ball

to look for we're going to talk about

how to actually execute this shot with

technique so the first thing I want you

to think about is your paddle

positioning now because you're at the

kitchen line it's very important that

you hit Top Spin on the ball meaning

that you apply the rotation in the spin

where the ball starts spinning towards

your opponent okay that's going to help

keep the ball in because remember we're

hitting this from the kitchen line so in

order to do that you need to really hit

this ball with your tip down I like to

think of it around the four or 5:00 mark

on a clock that's kind of where my

paddle tip is pointing now as I hit

through the shot that tip is going to

rotate from that 5:00 area on the clock

to about a 1 or 2:00 okay so it's really

important that you're hitting this shot

tip down and then it's going to rotate

up to that 2:00 position along with that

it's really important to know that this

is going to be a compact swing okay um a

big mistake that I see people make is

they'll take a really big back swing and

what ends up happening is they hit the

ball out so it's really important that

as you hit it um you're hitting the ball

in front of your body it's very short

and compact last thing to remember even

though it's short and comp compact you

have to put a little less on the ball so

think about hitting this at about a

60% when you put all this together

you'll have your speed

[Applause]

up this next secret I'm about to share

with you is really important when it

comes to speeding up the ball and it's

often overlooked there's a lot of people

out there who have great speed ups but

they don't know where to aim the ball so

this tip that we're going to go over has

to do with placement okay so so I've

decided now that I have a good ball to

speed up I know that I'm going to be

short and compact with a nice 60% flick

but where do I want to aim so I want to

go over the attacking zones okay so

let's call this Zone one on your

opponent so at the backhand side and

then zone two is going to be right here

in front of the body okay zone three

would be this spot right here on the

right side of the body still defending

with the backand and then zone four

would be the forehead hand okay so when

you're aiming this ball a great place to

aim is right in between zones three and

four if you can make people guess on

whether they're hitting a backhand or a

forehand you're going to create a lot of

popups so think somewhere in the realm

of that right hip area and you really

want to see if you can maybe create that

chicken wing this is a great spot to aim

when speeding the ball

up this next tip for placing your speed

up will front frustrate a lot of your

opponents and honestly you're going to

win a lot more points so in this tip

you're going to actually put a little

bit more on the ball so previously when

we were aiming for that right hip it was

just like a 60% speed up and we were

trying to create a popup for the next

Ball but for this tip I actually want

you to aim right at their body okay and

instead of 60% you're going to speed it

up more it's about 80% in re in reality

if they don't get out of the way the

ball's probably going out so it's a

highrisk high reward play but a lot of

it really great players will actually

aim right at your body and I know that

that can seem a little controversial

we're not trying to injure anybody but

really trying to hit through somebody is

a great tactic to win more

points so to put all this into practice

we have a drill in the form of a game

for you okay so the way that this works

is you're going to have a partner across

from you and this is called the half

court game okay so we're shrinking the

court into a half what we're going to do

is we're going to serve just like wooden

pickle ball with a Cooperative serve the

serve has to bounce in the kitchen or

else you're going to redo it and the

return has to bounce after the serve and

the return the point is live but you're

only playing on this half of the court

and then once you've completed the game

you could switch to the other side all

right so she sped the ball up first now

it would be her serve so 0 0 go ahead

and nice Cooperative serve and now the

point is live after the ball bounces on

the return and any anyone can speed the

ball

up all right so let's say she won that

point now it's one

Z and she's going to serve and you're

going to work on that speed up so again

that 60% speed up aiming at the left hip

or right hip or maybe even that 80%

speed up right into the body once you

get to 11 you're going to switch sides

and play from the other side so I hope

you guys enjoyed this video make sure

that you give it a like And subscribe to

the playp pickleball.com YouTube channel

and if you have any suggestions for

future videos leave them in the comment

section below and as we mentioned before

we're giving away $11,000 worth of

Selkirk store credit split evenly

between five lucky winners to enter the

giveaway you can find the link in the

description below we'll see you on the

next

[Music]

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