Hand speed
How fast you can get the paddle where it needs to be in a kitchen firefight. Mostly a swing-weight story.
Hand speed is part player, part paddle. The paddle half is mostly swing weight and balance point: lower numbers get the face into position faster during hands battles.
We weight it heavily in rankings. Reviewer-reported swing weight cross-checked against hands-battle impressions. Because some light-swinging paddles feel fast but flutter on contact. Speed without stability is not a win.
See also:Swing weight · stability