Deliberately hitting a slightly high dink to bait the opponent into attacking from a position where you're prepared to counter. Also includes the fake speed-up — loading up as if to attack, then dinking softly — used to gather information about how opponents react under threat. Unlike shot disguise (hiding your intent), the bait ball is deliberately showing vulnerability as a trap.
Bait ball: during a dink rally, intentionally hit one dink slightly higher than normal — not so high it's an easy putaway, but high enough the opponent feels they should attack. Before hitting the bait, take a small step back from the kitchen line to give yourself reaction time. Be ready for the counter before the bait lands. The opponent either: attacks (you're ready to counter), dinks awkwardly (they have to reach down and in, often popping up), or recognizes the bait (rare — most players can't resist). Fake speed-up: load up with a big preparation as if you're about to speed up, then softly dink. Watch where the opponent shifts — if they go to their backhand, you know their forehand is open for future speed-ups, and vice versa. This is intelligence gathering.
Ben Johns intentionally pops up dinks slightly — not enough for an easy putaway, but enough that the opponent FEELS they should attack. He's already stepped back and has his hands ready. This is the inverse of disguise: instead of hiding your intent, you're REVEALING false weakness. Most players can't resist attacking what looks like a mistake, even when the "mistake" was engineered.
Ben Johns loads up with a big preparation as if he's about to speed up, then softly dinks instead. He watches WHERE the opponent shifts. If they go to their backhand side, their forehand is open for the real speed-up next time. If they favor forehand, go backhand. This is intelligence gathering disguised as a shot — you learn the opponent's defensive preferences without risking a point.