Electric Blue

Ah!....Now I get it...thought you were trying to "strike a pose" with the kick. My mistake

What Dobb said above.

You want to aim through the target, not trying to hit the pad on the surface you want to try and hit the hand of the person holding it.

Don't aim for the "surface" try and drive "through" the target itself.

The speed of retraction has very little effect on the power of the kick BTW. Its a question of hitting through/deep then getting it out.

Pro boxers hit pretty hard and they get their hands back quick.