Attack
Speed-up
An acceleration from the kitchen that turns an attackable ball into a favourable fast exchange.
Technique
Start with the same preparation as a dink.
Accelerate briefly with contact in front.
Have the paddle immediately ready for the next ball.
Common errors
Accelerating from too far below net height.
Seeking power with a large swing.
Attacking without preparing for the next volley.
Tactics
The paddle shoulder and body reduce reaction time.
Attack with the next ball in mind.
Avoid speeding up while your partner is still in transition.
Progression
Accelerate from a fixed high ball.
Speed-up followed by the first volley.
Random choices within a dink rally.
Drills
Take it onto court
Same preparation
Disguise the change of pace
Alternate four dinks with one speed-up without changing your initial preparation.
Attack plus one
Prepare the next ball
The point counts only if you also control the first response to the speed-up.
Educational reference · Rubric v1
What each score means
This rubric explains what to look for in a shot; reading it is not an individual assessment. Its descriptors do not certify your level and are not PPP Performance Assessment results, which retain each assessment’s source and results separately.
Technique
Cannot yet accelerate compactly and deceptively from dink preparation; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can accelerate compactly and deceptively from dink preparation occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can accelerate compactly and deceptively from dink preparation at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to accelerate compactly and deceptively from dink preparation under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently accelerate compactly and deceptively from dink preparation in real, competitive play.
Consistency
Cannot yet play low speed-ups that let you play the next ball; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can play low speed-ups that let you play the next ball occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can play low speed-ups that let you play the next ball at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to play low speed-ups that let you play the next ball under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently play low speed-ups that let you play the next ball in real, competitive play.
Control
Cannot yet change speed without losing balance or height control; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can change speed without losing balance or height control occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can change speed without losing balance or height control at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to change speed without losing balance or height control under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently change speed without losing balance or height control in real, competitive play.
Placement
Cannot yet attack the body, shoulder or gap with a clear target; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can attack the body, shoulder or gap with a clear target occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can attack the body, shoulder or gap with a clear target at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to attack the body, shoulder or gap with a clear target under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently attack the body, shoulder or gap with a clear target in real, competitive play.
Decision-making
Cannot yet recognise the right ball, timing and partner coverage for a speed-up; outcomes are unpredictable.
Can recognise the right ball, timing and partner coverage for a speed-up occasionally, but cannot sustain it through a series.
Can recognise the right ball, timing and partner coverage for a speed-up at moderate pace with predictable difficulty.
Can sustain the ability to recognise the right ball, timing and partner coverage for a speed-up under pressure, with variation and small adjustments.
Can consistently recognise the right ball, timing and partner coverage for a speed-up in real, competitive play.
Player Development
Connect this shot to your development
Connect what you learn to your match play: choose a situation, try the practice suggestions and review what you notice afterwards.