How to Beat Power Players in Pickleball: Pickleball players often face strong opponents who rely on fast and aggressive shots. To handle these power players, it’s important to stay calm and use smart strategies like soft shots, precise blocks, and careful footwork. Knowing how to respond can turn their power into a weakness.
Handling Powerful Shots
Power players hit fast and hard, often starting with a strong serve. To stay safe and in control, players should return these serves with deep, lofted shots. Hitting toward the opponent’s backhand can give the returning player more time and reduce the opponent’s power.
Players can also block third-shot drives by punching the ball back to the backhand side. If the opponent is standing far from the net, a soft block that lands close to the net is effective. This move ends points quickly, but must be done with care to avoid errors.
It’s also helpful to recognize when a ball is going out of bounds. If a power player takes a big swing or hits a low ball while running forward, the shot might go long. Learning when to step aside and let it fly past can earn easy points.
To avoid being caught in a “shake and bake”—a tactic where the opponent drives the third shot hard and rushes the net—players should block the drive downward and away, stopping the opponent’s quick follow-up attack.
Using Offense to Gain Control
Against fast players, slow drop shots work well. Landing these on their backhand side can keep them off balance. Even if the drop shot isn’t perfect, it may cause errors when the opponent stretches for it.
Players should stay ready for strong replies and try again with another drop shot. Once one drop shot lands softly, they can move closer to the net.
If the power player hits a short return, players can drive the ball back quickly. If they return a hard shot, hitting it right back forces them to stay at the baseline. Their own power works against them by giving them less time to get ready.
Once both players are at the kitchen line, it’s best to play soft dinks to the opponent’s backhand. Avoiding the forehand side helps control the pace. Power players like to speed things up, even when they shouldn’t.
Important Tips for Playing Smart
Players should keep their normal playing style and not copy the power player’s speed. Staying patient often leads to mistakes from the other side. Slowing the game down is key, especially since power players usually don’t like a soft, slow game.
A Chance to Learn and Improve
Playing against someone with a strong and fast game might seem scary, but it helps players grow. These matches test patience, build better defense, and teach players how to adjust quickly.
Some advanced players avoid powerful opponents because they think the games are too fast or not “real” pickleball. But every playing style is valid. Learning how to beat power players makes someone a more skilled and complete athlete.
Players should take these matchups as a challenge. Facing aggressive shots and beating that style with smart moves brings great satisfaction. With drop shots, defense, and smart plays, players can turn a tough match into a win.
“Watching them struggle with it can feel oddly satisfying.”
“Mastering this skill can end points quickly but requires precision to avoid drawing them in.”
“Be ready for aggressive responses to high drops, defend and hit a fifth-shot drop back at them.”
“Stick to your soft, strategic game. Don’t change your style to match their aggressive play.”
“Frustrating their power game forces them into mistakes.”
“Take on power players as a challenge.”
News in Brief: How to Beat Power Players in Pickleball
Facing powerful pickleball players can be tough, but using soft shots, smart blocks, and patient tactics can turn their speed into a weakness. This approach improves defense and overall skill. Instead of avoiding these players, taking them on helps athletes become stronger and more confident competitors.
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