Best Pickleball Speedup Spots: 5 Pro-Approved Targets to Win More Hand Battles

Main Points

Scout your opponent before using a speedup (handedness, grip, tendencies, counter strength).
Attack the dominant shoulder to force pop-ups, especially against backhand-heavy counters.
Target the dominant hip to jam forehand-dominant players and create weak replies.
Use the crossbody speedup to exploit players leaning to one side.
Mix in an off-pace speedup to disrupt timing and generate attackable balls.
Adjust for opponents who slide to create space by placing the ball where they’re moving.

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Summary

A great speedup in pickleball is often decided by inches. This video breaks down the exact body locations that consistently produce weak counters and pop-ups at high levels of play. Before attacking, the key is scouting. Identify whether your opponent is right- or left-handed, what grip they favor, whether they prefer backhand or forehand counters, and how strong their hands are in fast exchanges. Understanding these tendencies allows you to choose the highest-percentage speedup instead of guessing.

The most common and effective target is the dominant shoulder. Against players who favor backhand counters—which is the majority—speeding up to the dominant shoulder forces an awkward contact point. As the ball rises into that shoulder area, it becomes nearly impossible to angle the paddle downward, often resulting in a popup. However, if your opponent uses a strong forehand grip and prefers pancake-style counters, this target becomes less effective and requires adjustment.

The dominant hip is another high-percentage speedup location. Dropping the ball lower on the dominant side jams forehand-heavy players and limits their ability to generate power. Even if they counter, the reply is often weak enough to give you the next ball. Against backhand-dominant players, the hip can still produce manageable counters that don’t immediately put you on defense.

The crossbody speedup adds a directional wrinkle. Players naturally lean toward the side where the ball is located. By attacking across their body, you force a quick switch from backhand to forehand or vice versa. This sudden transition often creates hesitation or mistimed counters, especially for the player directly in front of you or even crosscourt if they’re sitting heavy in the middle.

Mixing in off-pace speedups is another advanced tactic. Instead of always attacking at full speed, deliberately slow one down. Opponents anticipating a fast ball may get out in front and lose balance, leading to weak contact. This sets up a one-two combination where the first ball disrupts timing and the second finishes the point.

Finally, against players who slide to create space for their preferred counter, placement becomes even more strategic. If you know which side they favor and how they move, you can either jam them directly or place the ball slightly outside so they slide into it. Anticipating their movement and using it against them turns their adjustment into a liability.

Mastering these speedup spots gives you a clear blueprint for winning more hands battles, forcing pop-ups, and finishing points with confidence.