If I was speed fishing to hand for small rudd and roach I would set up 3 or 4 whips from 2-4m. The reason I would do this is so that I could follow the fish out if they dropped back or fish beyond my feed which might pick up a better stamp of fish. It could also be worth setting up two whips of the same length to vary rig presentation or depth which may help you catch faster.
Other people will be better at telling you how to go on fishing this style but its not that hard and its more about being quick and efficient without wasting time. Typically I would feed soft, sloppy GB like supercup to give a cloud in the water and just feed a nugget every few fish. I would not feed many maggots or pinkies and mainly use them just as hookbait. I would also use a decent sized barbless hook like a B511 or 611 in an 18 to speed things up and not drop to low on lines to strop the H/L tangling. Things like threading the maggots up the hook also speeds things up as you can catch several fish on the same maggot.
As for whips it really depends what you want to spend mate. I regret selling the set of Lerc Aerotex whips I has as they were brilliant for silvers. If you could pick up a set of them or a set of Drennan Team England whips secondhand then it will be money well spent. Of the new whips the Maver Falcon Arborella set looks good for about £150 http://www.summerlands-tackle.co.uk/product.php/20080/maver-falcon-alborella-whip-set and Sensas do a set of Mini-fast whips from 1.6 – 3.5m for £40ish http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sensas-Mini-Whip-Pole-Selection-/130443926198

Could be of interest to you? Somebody may have the magazine article and be able to send it on to you.

http://www.matchfishingmagazine.com/Videos/category_5/video_81/