Tip 13 — Use pace absorption to neutralize fast hands
When opponents attack with high pace from the midcourt, your instinct is often to fire back with equal force. This plays directly into their hand, as fast exchanges favor the player already dictating the tempo. Instead, treat their speed as a resource you can redirect rather than fight.
To absorb pace, shorten your backswing entirely and relax your wrist at the moment of contact. Think of catching the ball on a soft platform rather than striking it. By taking the energy out of their shot, you drop the ball low into their feet and force them to generate their own lift on the next ball.
This subtle shift turns their aggression into a liability. When you consistently deaden fast balls into the transition zone, impatient opponents will eventually overswing or push their drives wide. Let their power do the work of breaking down their own position.