INSTRUCTION
Calculated Speed-Ups and Premature
‘Attackulation’
S
peeding up from
the kitchen line
and being sneaky
is one of the most
enjoyable things in pickleball.
There’s a phrase we use on
the pro tour—a term I heard
frequently from other players
when I played with Matt
Goebel—it’s called getting
“Goebilized.”
Matt has a wicked speed-
up and getting Goebilized
means being able to put your
opponent in a pretzel, or when
your opponent ends up giving
himself a wet willy in opposite
ears because he didn’t see your
speed-up coming. If you ever see your opponent in one
of these positions, you know you did your job.
It’s important to know there’s a time and a place for a
speed-up. I see this a lot with 3.0-3.5 players who want
to pull the trigger when out of position, off balance,
or simply because they feel pressure. If you start the
mess, it’s either your or your partner’s job to clean it
up. I call this a one-shot wonder, trying to be the hero,
or “premature attackulation”! What’s unfortunate is
that some lower level players find success in doing
this, which throws them a carrot and makes them feel
it’s acceptable, but beginners beware—don’t take the
bait. This won’t work at the next level. I always tell my
campers, “Ask yourself, ‘Is this shot going to work at the
next level?’”
Think about it: whether you’re on the right or left side
of the court, if you speed up in the middle, the counter
usually comes right back where the speed-up came from,
so stay middle and get ready to re-counter. Start middle,
stay middle! When speeding up from the kitchen line,
make sure your attack is calculated and well-disguised.
When attacking, remember SLY (stability, location, and
yellow zone). If you can check all three boxes, then you
have license to pull the trigger.
There are two types of speed-ups—a precise off-pace
attack and a fast-paced “chin music” attack. The well-
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By Tyson McGuffin
placed, off-pace attack is
aiming at vulnerable places on
your opponent’s body, causing
them to feel uncomfortable
and setting you up for a one-
two combo (or maybe you
have two or three cleanup balls
so it’s a one-three or one-
four combo). Essentially, it’s a
start and a cleanup ball.
The other type of attack is
geared toward an opponent
who tends to hit a lot of out
balls. You add pace, aiming
a bit higher or at their chest,
knowing they’ll take the bait
and hit an out ball. Players
who have wide stances, limited
mobility from the kitchen line, and hold the line like a
leech are susceptible to hitting out balls. Also, players
who are prideful with their hands tend to be susceptible
as well.
Keep in mind, when playing with fire, be ready for fire
to come back or you will get burned. If you attack your
opponent and the ball comes screaming back in a hurry,
you should ask yourself these questions: 1. Do I have a
stamp on my forehead that says, “I’m coming in hot”?
2. Did I hit the wrong spot? 3. Are my opponent’s hands
better than mine? 4) Do they like pace? 5) Do they like
to attack or counterattack better? 6) Did I have a case of
premature attackulation?
Most players are generally an attacker or
counterattacker—players rarely excel in both. Players
who like to attack don’t like to be attacked, and players
who counterattack don’t like to attack. Keep in mind,
if you’re going to start the mess, it’s your job to clean
it or put your partner in a position to bake off of your
shake! •
According to Global Pickleball Rankings, Tyson McGuffin is
#2 in Singles, #5 in Men’s Doubles, and #4 in Mixed. He’s also
Head Clinician for LevelUp Pickleball Camps, an IPTPA/PPR
Certified Teaching Pro, and Selkirk professional athlete.