Fix Your Contact Point Before You Speed Up

Summary

Universal Rackets shows why so many speed-ups go wrong: the ideal contact point for a speed-up is out in front, but when the ball is close to your body you try to force it anyway and it fails every time.

His fix is to back up off the kitchen line so the contact point moves back out in front of you, which gives you the space a speed-up needs. He also warns that good players notice the pattern: once they see you step back, they’ll get ready for the speed-up.

Key takeaways

• A speed-up needs a contact point out in front
• When the ball is at your body, step back to create space
• Good opponents will learn to read your step back

Action items

• In dink rallies, step back off the line before speeding up a ball at your body
• Notice where your contact point is on speed-ups that miss