Hey there, it’s your coach Jordan Briones.
I recently sat down with pro player Connor Garnett to break down exactly how he thinks about speed ups at the kitchen line. And what came out of that conversation was something I think every competitive player needs to hear.
Most players speed up the ball and hope for the best. What Connor does is completely different. He is reading his opponents, collecting information, and making calculated decisions before he even pulls the trigger. Let me break it down.
What Separates Reckless Speed Ups From Winning Ones
Three Keys to a Smart Speed Up at the Kitchen Line
Before You Speed Up, These Three Things Have to Be True
Connor does not just speed up any ball. He has a checklist that runs in his head every single time before he goes for it.
First, ball height. He wants to be able to keep the ball at belly button level or lower on his opponents. If the ball is sitting up too high on his side or he cannot generate a downward enough angle, he waits.
Second, his weight needs to be moving into the shot. Leaning back on a speed up is one of the most common mistakes he sees even at the pro level. When your weight is back, you lose power and you are not in a good spot for the next ball, which matters because most speed ups are setup shots, not outright winners.
Third, positioning. Where are your opponents standing right now? That answer determines everything about where he is going with the ball.
Start Your Kitchen Line Speed Ups in the Middle
When Connor does not know his opponents yet, he starts with the middle. Not dead center, but slightly toward the player who would have to slide and cover with their backhand. That ball forces a reaction, and the reaction tells him everything.
If the opponent slides and covers it well, Connor now knows the line is open. If they struggle with it, he stays there. If they cheat hard to cover the middle, the crosscourt opens up. That first speed up is not just a scoring attempt. It is a test.
His three main targets from a backhand side speed up are the middle, down the line as an off-speed option to throw off timing, and the crosscourt only once the middle is being covered hard. Each target unlocks based on what the opponent shows him, not based on a predetermined plan.
Use Every Point, Even the Ones You Lose, to Read Your Opponents
This was one of the best things Connor said in the entire conversation. When an opponent counters your speed up, most players get discouraged and stop going for it. Connor does the opposite.
He watches exactly how they covered it. Did they slide to the forehand? Did they cheat heavy to one side? That tells him precisely where the opening is on the very next attempt. The point he lost just gave him a blueprint.
This is how high level players think. They are not just playing the current point. They are gathering data the entire match and adjusting as they go. If you can start doing this, your speed ups will get more effective as a match goes on, not less.
See you on the courts,
Coach Jordan Briones
