The Forehand Speed Up Secret: Hit Less of the Ball for More Spin and Control

Main Points

• The biggest key to better speed ups is hitting less of the ball, not more.
• A closed paddle face helps create spin and keeps the ball from floating high.
• Use an anchor leg behind the ball for better balance and precision.
• The same speed up principles apply to both forehand and two-handed backhand attacks.
• Wrist and arm should work together for a quicker, cleaner ball dip.
• Newer paddles with more grit and dwell time make this technique more effective.

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Summary

This video breaks down how to improve speed ups off the bounce by focusing on contact, paddle angle, and body position. The main idea is simple: players often hit too much of the ball, which sends the shot too high and makes it easier to defend. By brushing the top half of the ball instead, you can create more spin, keep the ball lower, and attack with better control.

A big emphasis is placed on closing the paddle face at contact. With a closed face, the player can come over the ball more cleanly and drive it down sooner after clearing the net. The video also explains that newer paddles with more grit and dwell time make this style of aggressive shot much easier than older paddles did.

Footwork matters too. Using an anchor leg behind the ball helps keep the swing compact and precise, which is important when trying to speed up quickly at the kitchen line. Reaching too far away from the body makes the shot harder to control and often leads to wristy, inconsistent contact.

The same concepts apply on the backhand side, including the two-handed backhand. The key is to mirror the correct forehand position, keep the face closed, and let the wrist and arm work together. When done well, the result is a faster, lower, more consistent speed up that is much harder for opponents to handle.

The video closes by reinforcing that lower balls require slightly different contact, but the overall goal stays the same: stay on top of the ball, avoid an open face, and keep the apex of the shot as low as possible. It is a useful lesson for players looking to level up their attacking game and improve consistency in faster hands battles.

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Tags: Backhand | Control | Fast Hands | Forehand | Hand Speed | pickleball tips | Richard PIckleball | Spin | Strategy | Technique