diff --git a/assets/_sheet_cwound1.png b/assets/_sheet_cwound1.png
index d215102..2009851 100644
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diff --git a/assets/_sheet_gwound.png b/assets/_sheet_gwound.png
index 89a0486..fe8babe 100644
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diff --git a/assets/z_cw1.png b/assets/z_cw1.png
index 5ed470e..74b152a 100644
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diff --git a/assets/z_gw.png b/assets/z_gw.png
index d485333..fc9dd34 100644
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diff --git a/gameplay.js b/gameplay.js
index 8616010..ee3bad7 100644
--- a/gameplay.js
+++ b/gameplay.js
@@ -567,15 +567,19 @@ export function keyPressed(code) {
   if (G.interlude && G.interlude.introT > 0) return; // let the umpire finish announcing the duel
   // splatter: a tap/flick during the brief 'over' beat re-arms the next serve immediately
   if (G.mode === 'splatter' && G.phase === 'over') { ball.active = false; setupPoint(); }
-  // splatter rapid serve: a flick fires an aimed quick serve — in pretoss OR mid-rally (dragServe
-  // banishes any live ball so the next launches now). The duel is exempt: it serves like tennis.
+  // splatter serve stays a TWO-STAGE ritual — toss up, THEN fire — but the toss can start any
+  // time, even with a ball still in flight: the old ball flies on as a ballistic clone so the
+  // toss+fire pair chains without waiting for it to leave. A flick is the aimed one-motion
+  // variant (the reticle). The duel is exempt: it serves like tennis.
   if (G.mode === 'splatter' && !G.interlude && score.server === 'P'
       && (G.phase === 'pretoss' || G.phase === 'rally')) {
     const flick = takeFlickAim();
     if (flick) { dragServe(flick); return; } // dragServe handles GUN (burst) and the live-ball banish
-    // a bare tap MID-RALLY serves at the auto-target too — pump the screen to keep the balls
-    // coming while the last one's still up. (pretoss keeps its toss ritual, handled below.)
-    if (G.phase === 'rally') { dragServe(null); return; }
+    if (G.phase === 'rally') { // a tap mid-rally re-arms the TOSS (stage one); the next tap fires
+      if (tryGunBurst()) return;
+      if (ball.active) 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 });
+      tossBall(P); return;
+    }
   }
   if (G.phase === 'pretoss' && score.server === 'P') {
     if (tryGunBurst()) return; // GUN selected: the serve gesture pops a burst, no ball
diff --git a/zombies.js b/zombies.js
index 78d8238..71fdf33 100644
--- a/zombies.js
+++ b/zombies.js
@@ -155,22 +155,23 @@ export function explode(x, z) {
   if (G.idleT - G.lastOrderT > 3) { voice('order', 0.35); G.lastOrderT = G.idleT; } // the umpire loses composure
 }
 
-// wounded zombies bleed from every open wound — a thin, steady trickle (a spurt from the
-// neck stump on the headless boss). Anchors are approximate body-height offsets [x, y, rise,
-// count] (drawStatic never mirrors, so a fixed side stays put); the parts loop's gravity arcs
-// each drop. Tight spread keeps the streams thin; bounded so it stays subtle.
+// wounded zombies bleed from every open wound — a fine, sparse trickle (a small spurt from the
+// neck stump on the headless boss). Anchors are approximate body offsets [x, y, rise]; most
+// frames a wound drips nothing, and the tight spread keeps each thread thin. Bounded low.
 function bleed(zb) {
-  if (parts.length > 220) return;
+  if (parts.length > 90) return;
   let wounds;
-  if (zb.variant === 'g' && zb.hp < TUNE.bruteHp) wounds = [[-0.3, 1.95, 1.8, 1]];            // brute: torn-off arm
-  else if (zb.variant === 'r' && zb.hp <= 1)      wounds = [[0.05, 1.5, 3.6, 1], [0.4, 1.15, 1.4, 1]]; // headless: neck spurt + torn arm
-  else if (zb.variant === 'r' && zb.hp === 2)     wounds = [[0.4, 1.2, 1.6, 1]];              // racket: torn-off arm
+  if (zb.variant === 'g' && zb.hp < TUNE.bruteHp) wounds = [[-0.3, 1.95, 1.1]];              // brute: torn-off arm
+  else if (zb.variant === 'r' && zb.hp <= 1)      wounds = [[0.05, 1.5, 2.4], [0.4, 1.15, 0.9]]; // headless: neck spurt + torn arm
+  else if (zb.variant === 'r' && zb.hp === 2)     wounds = [[0.4, 1.2, 1.0]];                 // racket: torn-off arm
   else return;
-  for (const w of wounds)
-    for (let k = 0; k < w[3]; k++) parts.push({
-      x: zb.x + w[0] + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.05, y: w[1] + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.04, z: zb.z + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.05,
-      vx: (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.6, vy: w[2] * (0.6 + Math.random() * 0.6), vz: (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.5,
-      t: 0.4 + Math.random() * 0.35, dark: Math.random() < 0.5 });
+  for (const w of wounds) {
+    if (Math.random() > 0.4) continue; // sparse: most frames this wound emits nothing
+    parts.push({
+      x: zb.x + w[0] + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.03, y: w[1] + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.03, z: zb.z + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.03,
+      vx: (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.3, vy: w[2] * (0.6 + Math.random() * 0.5), vz: (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.28,
+      t: 0.3 + Math.random() * 0.3, dark: Math.random() < 0.55 });
+  }
 }
 
 export function updateZombies(dt) {