Use the right finger

Fast soroban players use the same finger for the same move, every time.

To move beads up, use your thumb, held sideways. To move beads down, use your index finger, with your hand pointing up.

When the heavenly and earthly beads move together, do it in one go: pinch them toward the beam to add 6 to 9, or open the pinch to move them away.

Watch the hand on the soroban: it shows each move before you make it. Nothing is marked here.