The Four-Part Fix for a Better Forehand Flick

The speed-up's job is to accelerate the ball just enough to catch your opponent off-guard or finish a weak volley, not to blast a winner

Your forehand speed-up is supposed to be a weapon, not a liability.

But if you're hitting it too hard, getting too wristy, or swinging like you're trying to win the point outright, you're probably sailing balls long or dumping them into the net.

The good news? A few small adjustments can transform this shot from a frustration into a reliable tool that sets up your next attack.

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The Problem: Too Much Wrist, Too Much Ambition

In a recent lesson from Cori Elliott's CCC YouTube series, she works with fellow content creator Ed Ju who's struggling with exactly this issue.

Every time Ed flicks his forehand speed-up, the ball either sails or dumps. His instinct is to muscle it, but that's the trap.

The root cause? Too much wrist action combined with over-swinging. When you're trying to generate pace on a speed-up, you're fighting against the shot's actual purpose.

Speed-Ups Aren't About Power

Here's the mental shift Elliott emphasizes: a speed-up doesn't need to be hit hard to work. It needs to be timed well and controlled.

Think of it this way. You're already pulling the ball up from a bounce that's below the net. You're already taking a risk.

When you approach it with that mindset, everything changes.

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The Four-Part Fix

Elliott breaks down the forehand speed-up into manageable pieces:

1. Reduce excess wrist. You need a little wrist, but not a lot. Think of it as a flip of the paddle, not a cork of the wrist.
2. Use your forearm instead of snapping. Engage your forearm muscle. Let that do the work, not your wrist.
3. Shorten the swing. A windshield wiper motion that stops halfway is the image Elliott uses. You're not coming all the way over; you're stopping into position so your paddle is ready for the next ball.
4. Stay balanced and ready. Your foundation matters. Keep your paddle in the pocket (between your legs), and you'll have the spacing and stability to hit the shot cleanly and recover fast.

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A few other tips from Elliott:

Elliott emphasizes finding "the pocket." This means keeping your paddle inside your legs, in front of you, rather than reaching out to the sides.

• Why? Because when your foundation is set and your paddle is in the pocket, you can shift your weight however you need to. You're not stretched out. You're not off-balance. You're ready to react to whatever comes back.

Another key cue: "hold the bounce." Don't rush to hit the ball the instant it bounces. Stay under it, let it settle slightly, and then execute the flip.

• This patience is huge. It gives you control and lets you time the shot properly instead of swatting at it reactively.

As the lesson progresses, Elliott introduces a helpful metaphor: spank the ball, don't wipe it. There's a forward momentum through the ball, followed by a slight windshield wiper motion that stops.

• It's not a brushing action. It's a controlled, directional hit with a clean finish. The sound of the paddle on the ball changes when you get it right, and so does the consistency.

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The Real Payoff

Once Ed locks in these mechanics, his speed-ups become noticeably cleaner and more controlled. He's not missing. He's not getting burned on the next ball. He's setting himself up for the counter or the reset.

That's the whole point. A good speed-up doesn't have to win the point. It just has to put you in a better position than you were in before.

If you're missing your forehand speed-ups or getting punished on the next ball, this breakdown will help you fix it fast. The adjustments are small, but the results are real.

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