How to Speed Up Off the Bounce in Pickleball (Pro Tips from Mari Humberg)
The speed up off the bounce is one of the fastest-growing weapons in pickleball. A few years ago you almost never saw it in men's doubles. Now it's everywhere — men's, women's, mixed. Here's what you need to know to start using it effectively.
Watch Mari's full video lesson here!
Where to Aim
There are five target zones worth knowing: the left hip, right hip, shoulders, and body (think belly button to chest). You don't need to attack all of them equally. Start with two or three that fit your game.
The right hip is the most effective target for right-handed opponents. It forces an awkward chicken-wing backhand or a late, behind-the-body forehand. Neither produces a clean counter. When you attack here, take a little pace off — you want the ball low and tight to the hip, not blasted wide.
The body is underrated, especially at the amateur level. Most players don't have a strong one-handed counter, and attacking the body limits their ability to redirect. The return usually comes back at you or to your backhand — so be ready for it.
Attacks Are Setup Shots, Not Winners
This is the biggest mindset shift you need to make. At higher levels of play, outright winners off a speed up are rare. The point of the attack is to force a weak return so you can put away the next ball.
Expect the ball to come back every time. Build patterns around where it tends to go. Attack the left hip, and the return almost always comes back down the line to your forehand — step into that space before it gets there. Attack the body, and it's coming back at you or to your backhand — pre-position accordingly.
The players who win points off speed ups aren't hitting harder. They're anticipating better.
The Shot You Need to Stop Taking
If the ball lands inside the halfway point between the net and the kitchen line, don't attack it. The geometry is against you — the net is too close, you have to angle up, and the ball goes long. On the sidelines it's even worse because the net is higher there.
A simple rule: the ball needs to bounce at least three-quarters of the way back toward the kitchen line to be attackable. Anything shorter, dink it. Amateurs reach for this shot constantly and wonder why it goes into the net or sails out. Now you know why.
Don't Watch the Paddle
A lot of players try to read the opponent's paddle angle to anticipate the speed up. Humberg's advice: stop doing that. By the time you've processed the paddle angle, the ball is already past you.
What actually helps is watching body positioning. Where is the hitter standing? How late are they to the ball? A player extended wide to their backhand is almost certainly going to send it down the line. A player balanced in the middle has more options. Position gives you a head start. Paddle angle just creates hesitation.
How to Pick Your Target Against Someone New
When you're playing a stranger, use these defaults:
Against a right-handed opponent you don't know — start at the right hip. It's the most universally uncomfortable spot.
Against a woman you haven't played before — start at the body or chest. Women's players more often struggle with the one-handed counter that neutralizes a body attack, and the slide-and-forehand recovery is harder to execute cleanly under pressure.
If you know your opponent, do a little homework before the match. What shot do they love? Don't give it to them. Where do they look uncomfortable? Go there first.
How to Get Better at This
There's no shortcut. Reps are the only thing that actually develops this shot. Have a partner hand-feed you balls while you practice speeding up to specific targets. They try to counter, you focus on executing the pattern and getting into position for the return. A ball machine works just as well.
Don't practice hitting harder. Practice hitting the right spots and moving into the right positions after contact. That's what separates a speed up that creates chaos from one that creates a point.
The bounce speed up isn't a power move — it's a precision move. Know your targets, expect the return, and let the patterns do the work.
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