new 55-300mm a bit sluggish

So the new 55-300mm has arrived. Tested it out quickly on the dog in the garden. Quite impressed with the optical quality, but i'd have to say a bit sluggish on the autofocus side of things. Any suggestions on improving technique. It will be a concerning lens to use on rapid moving subjects

As you say, excellent optical quality for the price but certainly not the best lens for rapid moving subjects. If your intended targets are roughly in the same area then prefocus and hopefully the lens shouldn't go through the entire zoom range before locking on but otherwise it's a bit hit and miss unfortunately.

It winds the lens in from infinity... So set it beyond
your subject before you press focus and it shouldn't have
too far to move. If it misses it winds down to minimum
focus and then back out again.

I find it helps greatly if you switch to single point AF as well.

That really does work well.

Defo!