Counter-attacking speed-ups

Setup

1. Pairs straight across at the kitchen lines. Protective eyewear on for everyone: no eyewear, no speed-ups.
2. Agree the target before starting: speed-ups go at the body below the shoulders, or at the feet, never at the face.

How it runs

1. The pair dinks. The attacker picks one dink in every three to five and speeds it up at the defender's paddle-side hip, chest or feet.
2. The defender reads the ball: if it is high and in front, they counter with a short punch back down at the attacker's feet. If it is low, wide or on top of them, they block a soft reset into the kitchen.
3. Play the point out after the first counter or reset. First to 7, then swap roles.
4. Start at three-quarter pace for the first game; go to full pace only when both players are comfortable.

Coaching points

• Paddle up and in front between every dink. A paddle hanging by the knee is too slow.
• Counter with a compact punch from the shoulder and elbow. Short backswing, firm wrist.
• Counter down: a counter hit upwards gives the attacker an easy second ball.
• Reset when in doubt: a soft, open-faced block that drops into the kitchen ends the firefight.
• Watch the attacker's paddle face and shoulders; most speed-ups are signalled by a lower dink they can lift.
• Speed-ups are aimed below the shoulders. A ball that would hit the face is a coaching stop, not a point.

Common mistakes

• Trying to counter every speed-up, including the ones taken below knee height.
• Swinging at the counter instead of punching it.
• Stepping back from the line when the ball comes fast, which turns a volley into a half-volley.
• Speeding up a ball that is below the net, so it goes up rather than at the opponent.