We have all played against the stereotypical banger on the pickleball court. To defeat the banger, try the following strategies:

1. Always Be Ready – As with any shot, always be compressed in the ready position, whether it be Pickleball Ready or Tennis Ready. This is especially true with bangers, as you generally will have less reaction time given the pace on the pickleball.

2. Hit a Deep Return of Serve – With bangers, it is particularly important to keep them back toward the baseline with a deep return of serve. This will require the banger to hit a stronger drive, give you more time to react to the pickleball, and open up the short part of the pickleball court. If you hit a return of serve too short, you will setup an easy drive for the banger to take advantage of. Consider even returning the serve deep with a bit of an arc, which would give you more time to get to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line and require the banger to generate more of his or her own power to hit the drive.

3. Be Wary of Out Balls – Bangers will consistently drive the pickleball. After a few drives, the banger will generally drive the pickleball out of bounds, as the banger will generally try to take a step in on each drive. Look for the pickleball that gets about chest high or higher. This pickleball is likely going out of bounds. Be patient and be on the lookout for out balls. When you see an out ball, get out of the way and let the pickleball fly.

4. Engage the Soft Game – Most pickleball players have a strong hard game or a strong soft game. If you are playing a banger, try engaging the banger in the soft game—think dinks—because the soft game is probably a weaker skill set. This is especially true if the soft game is your team’s strength.

5. Be a Wall – Expect the drive against bangers. Be a wall and simply block volley the drive back. Frustrate the banger with your ability to block the pickleball back and cause the banger to hit a lot of shots. Remember to take short backswings, have a slightly looser paddle grip, and use quiet hands to avoid hitting the bangers drives beyond the baseline.

Key Takeaways:

1. To defeat the bangers:

a. Always be ready and expect the fastball;

b. Hit a DEEP return of serve;

c. Avoid hitting the out balls;

d. Engage the soft game; and

e. Be a wall with quiet hands.