[cmrnpizzo14]

One thing that you can do to help the extension speed of the piston is have 2 cylinders and some form of latch. The large cylinder you will punch the ball with is set up so that the latch will prevent it from extending until the smaller cylinder releases the latch. This way you can run air through the solenoid into the large cylinder to "pre-pressurize" it then release the latch. With the air already in the cylinder and not having to flow through the solenoid it should extend faster because it is not limited by the flow through the solenoid.