Pickleball Tips - 4.0 To Pro, A Pocket-Sized Pickleball Podcast

61: Attacking in Pickleball: When to Speed Up (and When Not To) — 4.0 to Pro

Feb 9, 2026

A lively breakdown of when to speed up in modern pickleball and when patience wins. They debate location versus raw power and how new paddle tech changes resets. Learn brief rules for safe attacks: balance, control, partner positioning, and anticipating counters. They also cover drills to train attack recognition and when to shorten points if the soft game is slipping.

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ANECDOTE

Mike's Max-Effort Serve Test

Mike tested serving as hard as possible and made eight of ten serves.
Six of those serves were unreturnable, showing modern paddles' raw power.

ADVICE

Attack Only When The Ball Is In Your Control

Attack when the ball is clearly in your control and you have multiple options.
Use dead dinks or comfortable strike-zone balls to speed up or hit aggressive dinks/lobs.

ADVICE

Get Your Partner Ready Before You Rip

Ensure your partner is positioned and ready before you speed up.
Communicate and shift so the partner can cover the middle and anticipated counters.

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In this episode of 4.0 to Pro, Michael O’Neal and Mircea Morariu break down one of the most important strategic decisions in modern pickleball: when to attack.

As paddles become more powerful and the game continues evolving into a more offensive style of play, knowing when to speed up — and when to stay patient — can be the difference between winning and losing at higher levels.

Michael shares early impressions of a new “CRBN Barrage” paddle and how modern paddle technology is changing resets, counters, and energy output. From there, the conversation shifts into practical strategy for attacking intelligently in today’s faster game.

The hosts outline key principles for successful speed-ups and instigation, including balance, control, partner positioning, and anticipating counters. They also discuss how the pro game has evolved since the late 2010s, why control still beats power at higher levels, and how to use early attacks as “data points” to understand opponents’ tendencies.

The episode wraps with discussion of the instigator drill, partner coordination during attacks, and strategic adjustments when you’re losing the soft game battle.

If you’re trying to move from 4.0 to 4.5 and beyond, this episode will help you attack more confidently — and more intelligently.

Key Takeaways

Modern pickleball is increasingly offense-driven
Location > Spin > Power at higher levels
Only attack from a stable, balanced base
Attack when the ball is in your control
Your partner must be ready for the counter
Anticipate the next shot before you attack
Use early attacks as information gathering
Identify and target body positioning weaknesses
The instigator drill is one of the best ways to train attack recognition
If you’re losing dink rallies, shorten the point

Upcoming Event
Michael O’Neal and Mircea Morariu will be in Mesa, Arizona (March 7–8).
Visit PickleHelp.com if you’re interested in a clinic or VIP session.

4.0 to Pro is your pocket-size pickleball podcast — one shot or strategy every episode.

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