diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 19b430f..cf3c19c 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -431,6 +431,6 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one') {
     </div>
   </div>
 </div>
-<script type="module" src="src/main.js?v=216"></script>
+<script type="module" src="src/main.js?v=217"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/src/config.js b/src/config.js
index 435c3f2..793b8e3 100644
--- a/src/config.js
+++ b/src/config.js
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ export const TUNE = {
                     // faults, which is what makes tap = safe second serve a real decision
   runHz: 2.4,       // stride cycles/s for the rolled 6/8-frame run sets. The old hardcoded 4.5 was
                     // tuned on 2-4 near-duplicate frames; on eight real phases it strobed
+  faceFlip: 0.13,   // s an auto-steered direction must persist before the body mirrors (earnFlip).
+                    // The rolled cycles hold a real racket, and an un-earned flip teleports it
+                    // across the body — the "racket flashing left and right" report
   serveSpin: 1.3,   // extra gravity a full-power serve carries (was a fixed 0.35). Without it the
                     // net-clearance loop ate the whole smash: a flat fast ball can't get over the
                     // tape AND come down on a target, so it got throttled back to walking pace.
diff --git a/src/gameplay.js b/src/gameplay.js
index 63cd657..172cf2e 100644
--- a/src/gameplay.js
+++ b/src/gameplay.js
@@ -1115,7 +1115,7 @@ function racketAI(rz, dt) {
     // facing RIGHT and the bodies are drawn facing LEFT). This line wrote a field nothing reads for a
     // zombie, so the match opponent's turn was left to the generic sticky-face line in updateZombies.
     // vx is kept so a body that is knocked down mid-chase can carry the run into its collapse.
-    if (Math.abs(dx) > 0.2) rz.face = dx > 0 ? 1 : -1;
+    earnFlip(rz, 'face', Math.abs(dx) > 0.2 ? (dx > 0 ? 1 : -1) : 0, dt);
     rz.vx = dx / d * step / dt;
   } else { rz.vx = 0; if (rz.pose === 'run') rz.pose = 'idle'; }
   if (rz.swingCool <= 0 && rz.swingT < 0
@@ -1309,6 +1309,17 @@ function expirePose(ch, dt) {
   if (ch.pose === 'swing' || ch.pose === 'serve') { ch.poseT += dt; if (ch.poseT > POSE_TIME) ch.pose = 'idle'; }
 }
 
+// A FACING FLIP MUST BE EARNED. The rolled run cycles carry a real racket, and a mirror flip
+// teleports it across the body — so the per-frame steering flutter the old racketless art could
+// hide reads as "the racket she is holding flashing left and right very fast" (Oliver, women's
+// tour, where the drawn racket is biggest). A flip now needs the wanted direction to PERSIST for
+// TUNE.faceFlip seconds. Every auto-steered body routes through here (the player's assist, the
+// tennis CPU, the match opponent); MANUAL input stays instant — a thumb reversal is intent.
+function earnFlip(ch, field, want, dt) {
+  if (!want || want === ch[field]) { ch.flipT = 0; return; }
+  if ((ch.flipT = (ch.flipT || 0) + dt) >= TUNE.faceFlip) { ch[field] = want; ch.flipT = 0; }
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------- ball boys ----
 // The fetch boy is unchanged: sprint the width of the court, scoop the dead ball in passing.
 function fetchRound(b, dt) {
@@ -1522,8 +1533,8 @@ export function update(dt) {
     // run animation" whether he was moving or not. The pose follows MOVEMENT in every mode now, so
     // auto-fire uses the ordinary run animation and standing still is standing still.
     if (P.pose !== 'swing' && P.pose !== 'serve') P.pose = moving ? 'run' : 'idle';
-    if (mx) P.facing = mx > 0 ? 1 : -1;
-    else if (Math.abs(assist) > 0.25) P.facing = assist > 0 ? 1 : -1; // hysteresis: small corrections don't flip facing
+    if (mx) { P.facing = mx > 0 ? 1 : -1; P.flipT = 0; } // manual: instant, and it resets the earn clock
+    else earnFlip(P, 'facing', Math.abs(assist) > 0.25 ? (assist > 0 ? 1 : -1) : 0, dt);
   }
   // ...and out of 'rally' he STANDS. 'run' is the one pose nothing else expires (expirePose only
   // handles swing/serve), and P.runT stops advancing outside the block, so a beat that began
@@ -1616,7 +1627,7 @@ export function update(dt) {
       O.x += dx / d * Math.min(spd * dt, d);
       O.z += dz / d * Math.min(spd * dt, d);
       O.pose = O.pose === 'swing' ? 'swing' : 'run'; O.runT += dt;
-      if (Math.abs(dx) > 0.25) O.facing = dx > 0 ? 1 : -1;
+      earnFlip(O, 'facing', Math.abs(dx) > 0.25 ? (dx > 0 ? 1 : -1) : 0, dt);
     } else if (O.pose === 'run') O.pose = 'idle';
     G.aiSwingCool -= dt;
     if (incoming && G.aiSwingCool <= 0 && O.swingT < 0) {