THE COACHING CAMPUS / DRILL LIBRARY
Quick Hands + Speed Up
Develops the ability to initiate a speed-up and stay ready for the next shot, rather than assuming the point is won.
VIEW THE COURT PLAN
SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
PLAYERS
2
PRIMARY SHOT TYPE
Volley
TRAINING TYPE
Drill
THE EXERCISE
What you're working on
A fast hands drill that develops the ability to initiate a speed-up and immediately prepare for the next shot. The drill targets one of the key separators between amateur and advanced players, the instinct to stay ready after speeding up rather than assuming the point is won. Understanding the triangle effect, where the return will come based on where you speed up, is central to mastering this drill.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
2 paddles, 1 ball, net
01 / COURT PLAN
See how the drill works
Follow the player positions and numbered sequence in the diagram.
CLICK TO ENLARGE THE DIAGRAM
02 / ON COURT
Run the drill
Drill Set Up
Two players, one on each side of the net, both at the kitchen line. One ball.
How to run it
- One player hits a ball to their partner.
- The partner returns a dead, soft dink back.
- The first player speeds up the dink, initiating a fast exchange.
- Both players play out the point with fast hands and volleys until one player wins or the ball goes out of play.
- Restart and repeat, alternating who initiates the speed-up.
Coaching Points
- The speed-up is the one, the volley or putaway is the two, never relax after initiating the speed-up.
- Stay ready immediately after speeding up, do not assume you have hit a winner.
- Use the triangle effect to anticipate the counter: where you send the speed-up determines where the return will come back. Speed up down the line and the ball comes back down the line, like hitting a wall.
- Position your paddle based on where you directed the speed-up, do not reset to neutral after the attack.
- Mastering this drill is a genuine separator between intermediate and advanced level play