Hey players—Coach Marko here from Pickleball Union.
Today I want to break down something I get asked all the time:
“How can I attack without tipping it off?”
Because here’s the truth: the best speedups aren’t the hardest—
they’re the ones your opponent never saw coming.
If you’re loud with your feet, telegraphing your backswing, or swinging like it’s a tennis forehand, you’re not fooling anyone. You’re advertising the speedup—and trust me, good players are ready to punish that.
So let’s dig into three key tips to help you disguise your attacks more effectively—and clean up those rally-finishers:
Tip #1: Stay Calm, Balanced, and Quiet Before the Attack
The first mistake I see? Players get excited. They shuffle too much, bounce in place, or lean in with their eyes locked on their target.
Guess what? That’s exactly what your opponent reads.
Tells aren’t just in your paddle—they’re in your body.
What to do instead:
- Stay low and balanced before your shot.
- Keep your footwork quiet—no hopping or shifting right before you strike.
- Move smoothly into position, then let the attack come from a neutral stance.
When you’re calm and composed, your opponent can’t guess what’s coming.
Your attack becomes a surprise, not a broadcast.
Mistake to avoid: Don’t lunge or reach with your upper body when setting up the speedup. It throws off your timing and screams “I’m about to rip this.”
Tip #2: Make Your Speedup Look Like a Dink
This is the secret sauce.
If your speedup looks different from your dinks, you’re giving it away. Big takebacks, quick elbow movements, or sudden posture shifts all tell your opponent: “Here comes the heater.”
How to hide it:
- Keep your backswing short and compact—shoulder or wrist-driven.
- Use the same prep motion as a dink—then accelerate at the last moment.
- Aim for paddle angle disguise: a closed face just enough to drive it low, but not so closed they can tell it’s an attack.
Think of it as a dink gone rogue—it looks like touch until it explodes off your paddle.
Mistake to avoid: Don’t wind up. If your motion is longer or more explosive than your normal dink, it’s a red flag. Your opponent will be ready to block or counter.
Tip #3: Be Ready for the Next Ball
This is the part most players miss:
The speedup isn’t the winner. The next ball is.
Even if you disguise it perfectly, most of your speedups are going to come back—and that’s where the real point starts.
What to do instead:
- Stay in a ready position immediately after the attack.
- Expect the ball to come back fast—and prepare to counterattack or reset.
- If it pops up, be ready to finish. If it comes low, reset and start again.
I like to say: “Speed it up, then clean it up.”
The first ball creates chaos—the second one is where you win the point.
Mistake to avoid: Don’t admire your shot or freeze after swinging. If you’re not resetting your paddle and body immediately, you’re going to get jammed on the reply.
Bonus Tip: Know When (and Who) to Speed Up Against
You don’t need to disguise every speedup—just the ones that matter. The goal is to catch your opponent off guard, especially when:
- Their paddle drops low after a dink
- They’re late recovering to position
- They’re uncomfortable on the backhand
- You’ve lulled them into a slow dink rhythm
This isn’t about being flashy. It’s about being surgical.
Pick your moment, execute with control, and be ready to win the hands battle.
Subtle Is Strong
If you want to add a real weapon to your soft game, disguising your attacks is the way to go.
Stay calm. Keep your swing compact. Don’t advertise.
And always, always be ready for the ball to come back.
The best players? They don’t swing harder—they swing smarter.
See you on the court,
Coach Marko