diff --git a/gameplay.js b/gameplay.js
index 58969c0..8616010 100644
--- a/gameplay.js
+++ b/gameplay.js
@@ -573,6 +573,9 @@ export function keyPressed(code) {
       && (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 === '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 e1e07ba..78d8238 100644
--- a/zombies.js
+++ b/zombies.js
@@ -155,21 +155,22 @@ 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 gush blood — continuously and absurdly — from every open wound. Anchors are
-// approximate body-height offsets (drawStatic never mirrors, so a fixed side stays put); the
-// parts loop's gravity arcs each spurt into a spray. Bounded so the geyser self-regulates.
+// 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.
 function bleed(zb) {
-  if (parts.length > 520) return; // absurd, but not unbounded
+  if (parts.length > 220) return;
   let wounds;
-  if (zb.variant === 'g' && zb.hp < TUNE.bruteHp) wounds = [[-0.3, 1.95, 3.2]];              // brute: torn-off arm
-  else if (zb.variant === 'r' && zb.hp <= 1)      wounds = [[0.05, 1.5, 6.5], [0.4, 1.15, 2.6]]; // headless: neck geyser + torn arm
-  else if (zb.variant === 'r' && zb.hp === 2)     wounds = [[0.4, 1.2, 3]];                   // racket: torn-off arm
+  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
   else return;
   for (const w of wounds)
-    for (let k = 0; k < 4; k++) parts.push({
-      x: zb.x + w[0] + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.12, y: w[1] + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.1, z: zb.z + (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 0.12,
-      vx: (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 1.9, vy: w[2] * (0.5 + Math.random() * 0.7), vz: (Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 1.4,
-      t: 0.5 + Math.random() * 0.6, dark: Math.random() < 0.45 });
+    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 });
 }
 
 export function updateZombies(dt) {