How to Beat a Pickleball Banger: Pickleball players who love to hit the ball hard—also known as “bangers”—can be intimidating opponents. While many players focus on dinking and playing the soft game, bangers often overpower their opponents with powerful shots. To succeed against a banger, it’s important to develop strategies that neutralize their fast-paced play.
What’s a Banger?
A banger is a player who relies on hitting hard shots to overpower their opponent. For most beginners, this is the default strategy before learning softer techniques like dinking or hitting drop shots.
While effective against opponents who struggle with hard hits, bangers can be countered with the right tactics.
Strategies to Neutralize Bangers
There are several ways to beat a banger on the court. Each strategy helps to keep their fast shots in check.
Let “Out” Balls Go Out
One simple but important strategy is letting balls that are going out pass the players by. Many players make the mistake of returning hard-hit balls that would land out if left alone. To judge whether a ball is likely going out, consider several factors:
- Opponent’s Position: If the opponent is close to the net, there’s a higher chance the ball will sail out.
- Contact Point: If the opponent hits the ball with a low contact point, especially below the net, the ball is more likely to go out.
- Backswing Size: A big backswing often results in a shot that travels farther, increasing the chance the ball will fly out.
- Topspin: Hard hits without topspin are more likely to go out, while topspin helps the ball dip back into play.
- Wind Conditions: Wind can play a huge role. Hitting against the wind makes it easier to keep the ball in play.
Volley the Ball Firmly Back at Their Feet
Another effective strategy is to volley the ball firmly back at the banger’s feet. Bangers thrive on getting a ball they can attack, so returning a fast shot to their feet forces them into a defensive position. A firm volley prevents them from stepping into the ball and trying to overpower the player.
To execute this, position oneself with the feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart and the weight on the balls of the feet. Use a firm grip (7-8 on a scale of 1-10) and extend the arm while making the volley.
Absorb the Pace and Block the Ball Softly
Another method to neutralize a banger is by blocking their hard shots softly back into the kitchen. This forces them to take a dink or soft shot on their next turn, which disrupts their aggressive playstyle.
When blocking, absorb the ball’s pace and gently return it with minimal paddle movement. Think of it like catching a water balloon—don’t reach out for it, just gently meet it with the pickleball paddle.
For this shot, keep the grip light (around 3 on a scale of 1-10) and focus on meeting the ball in front of the body without excessive movement.
Drills to Improve the Blocking
To get better at pickleball blocking, practice with a partner. Position oneself at the non-volley line, and have the partner hit increasingly harder shots for the player to block back into the kitchen. The player can also practice on their own by using a wall and focusing on absorbing the ball’s pace and controlling the shot.
News in Brief: How to Beat a Pickleball Banger
To beat a pickleball banger, let balls go out, volley them back firmly at their feet, and use soft block shots to absorb their hard pace. With these pickleball strategies, players can neutralize aggressive opponents and take control of the match.
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