diff --git a/gameplay.js b/gameplay.js
index ccae1fd..76fbe7c 100644
--- a/gameplay.js
+++ b/gameplay.js
@@ -570,14 +570,20 @@ function tryGunBurst() {
   return true;
 }
 
-// release of the two-stage aim: an instant serve to the reticle (quality fixed — placement
+// slingshot serve, stage one: the pull-back starts the toss animation. The ball rises while
+// you aim (dotted line, render.js); the release (dragServe) fires it. Only from a fresh pretoss.
+export function serveToss() {
+  if (score.server === 'P' && G.phase === 'pretoss' && !ball.active) tossBall(P);
+}
+
+// release of the slingshot aim: an instant serve to the reticle (quality fixed — placement
 // is this serve's power; the toss ritual keeps the PERFECT-timing power ceiling)
 export function dragServe(aim) {
   if (G.mode !== 'splatter' || score.server !== 'P') return;
   if (G.interlude || G.horde || G.mgT > 0 || G.changeover) return; // the duel serves like tennis, not the reticle
-  if (G.phase !== 'pretoss' && G.phase !== 'rally') return;         // rally too: fire again while a ball's still up
+  if (G.phase !== 'pretoss' && G.phase !== 'rally' && G.phase !== 'toss') return; // toss = our own slingshot wind-up
   if (tryGunBurst()) return;
-  if (ball.active) // rapid fire: the ball in flight keeps going as a ballistic clone so the next serve can launch now
+  if (ball.active && G.phase !== 'toss') // rapid fire: banish the live rally ball as a ballistic clone — but NOT our fresh toss
     extras.push({ x: ball.x, y: ball.y, z: ball.z, vx: ball.vx, vy: ball.vy, vz: ball.vz, pow: ball.pow || 0.5, t: 2.5 });
   ball.active = true; ball.collected = false; ball.bounces = 0; ball.firstLand = null;
   ball.x = P.x + 0.35; ball.z = P.z; ball.y = 2.2; ball.g = TUNE.gravity;
@@ -819,7 +825,7 @@ export function update(dt) {
              ((ball.z < -2 && ball.vz < 0) || (ball.z > 25.5 && ball.vz > 0) || Math.abs(ball.x) > 7.5)))) {
       spentBall();
     }
-    if (G.phase === 'toss' && ball.y <= 1.4 && ball.vy < 0) { // uncaught toss → retoss
+    if (G.phase === 'toss' && ball.y <= 1.4 && ball.vy < 0 && !G.aim) { // uncaught toss → retoss (a held slingshot aim keeps the toss up)
       ball.active = false; G.phase = 'pretoss';
       if (score.server === 'O') G.aiServeT = 0.8;
     }
diff --git a/input.js b/input.js
index 4d908f4..a215296 100644
--- a/input.js
+++ b/input.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import { cv } from './dom.js';
 import { audio } from './audio.js';
 import { G, score } from './state.js';
-import { keyPressed, dragServe, selectWeapon } from './gameplay.js';
+import { keyPressed, dragServe, selectWeapon, serveToss } from './gameplay.js';
 import { rackHit } from './render.js';
 import { togglePanel } from './panel.js';
 
@@ -75,8 +75,11 @@ cv.addEventListener('touchmove', e => {
     if (t.identifier !== stick.id) continue;
     const dx = t.clientX - stick.x0, dy = t.clientY - stick.y0, dist = Math.hypot(dx, dy);
     if (dist > DEAD) stick.moved = true;
-    if (stick.aimable) { // aiming, not steering: the reticle tracks the thumb (home = auto-target)
-      G.aim = dist > DEAD ? { fx: dx / dist, fy: dy / dist, mag: dist } : { fx: 0, fy: 0, mag: 0 };
+    if (stick.aimable) { // slingshot: PULL BACK, launch forward — aim is the inverse of the drag (home = auto-target)
+      if (dist > DEAD) {
+        if (!stick.tossed) { serveToss(); stick.tossed = true; } // the pull kicks off the toss animation
+        G.aim = { fx: -dx / dist, fy: -dy / dist, mag: dist };
+      } else G.aim = { fx: 0, fy: 0, mag: 0 };
       continue;
     }
     const r = cv.getBoundingClientRect();
diff --git a/render.js b/render.js
index 168d8da..f4b02a4 100644
--- a/render.js
+++ b/render.js
@@ -396,14 +396,20 @@ export function render() {
     if (l) drawRing(l.x, l.z, 'rgba(255,255,255,0.85)');
   }
   if (G.outMarker) drawRing(G.outMarker.x, G.outMarker.z, G.outMarker.out ? '#ff5050' : '#f8e048');
-  // two-stage serve aim: the reticle tracks the thumb; red = the magnet has a zombie locked
-  if (G.aim && G.mode === 'splatter' && !G.interlude && (G.phase === 'pretoss' || G.phase === 'rally')) {
+  // slingshot serve aim: an angry-birds dotted trajectory from the racket to the aim point;
+  // red = the magnet has a zombie locked, yellow = a free spot on the court
+  if (G.aim && G.mode === 'splatter' && !G.interlude && (G.phase === 'pretoss' || G.phase === 'toss' || G.phase === 'rally')) {
     const ft = flickTarget(P, G.aim);
-    if (ft.zt) { // locked: the ring rides the zombie itself, plus a marker over its head
-      drawRing(ft.zt.x, ft.zt.z, '#ff5050');
-      const hp = proj(ft.zt.x, 2.2, ft.zt.z);
-      ctx.fillStyle = '#ff5050'; ctx.fillRect(hp.x - 1, hp.y - 4, 3, 3);
-    } else if (ft.tx !== undefined) drawRing(ft.tx, ft.tz, '#f8e048');
+    const tx = ft.zt ? ft.zt.x : ft.tx, tz = ft.zt ? ft.zt.z : ft.tz;
+    if (tx !== undefined) {
+      const col = ft.zt ? '#ff5050' : '#f8e048';
+      const a = proj(P.x, 1.4, P.z), b = proj(tx, 0, tz);
+      ctx.strokeStyle = col; ctx.lineWidth = 2; ctx.setLineDash([3, 5]);
+      ctx.beginPath(); ctx.moveTo(a.x, a.y); ctx.lineTo(b.x, b.y); ctx.stroke();
+      ctx.setLineDash([]);
+      drawRing(tx, tz, col);
+      if (ft.zt) { const hp = proj(ft.zt.x, 2.2, ft.zt.z); ctx.fillStyle = col; ctx.fillRect(hp.x - 1, hp.y - 4, 3, 3); }
+    }
   }
 
   // far-side drawables in z order (far → near), then the net, then the near side
@@ -524,9 +530,9 @@ export function render() {
     const sel = ['PLAIN', 'BOMB', 'TRIPLE', 'FIRE', 'GUN'][G.weapon];
     const txt = G.mode === 'splatter'
       ? (G.weapon === 4 ? (touch ? 'TAP TO UNLOAD THE GUN' : 'SPACE UNLOADS THE GUN')
-        : G.aim ? 'RELEASE TO SERVE · DRAG BACK TO CANCEL'
+        : G.aim ? 'PULL BACK TO AIM · RELEASE TO FIRE'
         : G.weapon > 0 ? `SERVE FIRES: ${sel} · ${switchHint}`
-        : touch ? 'TAP TO SERVE · HOLD + DRAG TO AIM' : 'SPACE SERVES · ARROWS AIM')
+        : touch ? 'TAP TO SERVE · PULL BACK TO AIM' : 'SPACE SERVES · ARROWS AIM')
       : G.serveNum === 2 ? (touch ? 'SECOND SERVE — TAP' : 'SECOND SERVE — SPACE')
         : (touch ? 'TAP TO TOSS, TAP TO SERVE' : 'SPACE TO TOSS, SPACE TO SERVE');
     ctx.fillText(txt, W / 2, H - TUNE.rackH - RACK_BOT - 17); // sit clear above the rack