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Hey guys, this is James Igntowich, and today I wanted to cover when to speed the ball up and when not to.
Point number one: if you can make contact with the ball out of the air, you should speed it up.
Point number two: if the contact is at or above the height of the net, you should definitely speed it up.
When you can make contact with the ball out of the air and above the height of the net, you should speed it up every time. This allows you to impart a downward trajectory on the ball. While you might not win 100% of those exchanges, you will win more than you will lose.
So if you can hit down on your speed-up, you should do it. This will bait your opponent into reacting quickly from a lower position, likely causing them to overswing and miss deep, as shown below.
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About James Ignatowich
Pickleball Portal Contributor
James Ignatowich is a contributor to Pickleball Portal, sharing insights and expertise to help players of all levels improve their game.
