If you’ve played pickleball for a while, you’ve likely faced a banger—a player who relies on power shots, hitting every ball hard with aggressive drives and speed-ups. While this style can be effective, it also has clear weaknesses that smart players can exploit.
If you struggle against bangers who blast the ball past you before you can react, this guide will teach you:
- What a banger is and why they play that way
- The best strategies to neutralize their power
- How to use soft shots to throw them off
- Defensive positioning to control the game
- The mental game—staying patient and making them uncomfortable
By the end of this article, you’ll have the tools to turn a banger’s biggest strength into their biggest weakness and start winning more games!
What is a Banger in Pickleball?
A banger is a player who prioritizes power over finesse, relying on fast-paced drives, speed-ups, and aggressive returns instead of controlled soft play.
✔️ They hit hard and fast, forcing quick reactions.
✔️ They avoid dinking and soft shots, preferring to overpower opponents.
✔️ They thrive on chaos, making it difficult for opponents to control the pace.
While bangers can be intimidating and hard to handle, they also have predictable weaknesses—and that’s where strategy comes into play.
Tactics to Beat a Banger in Pickleball
To beat a banger, you need to slow the game down, neutralize their power, and force them into uncomfortable situations. Here are the best strategies to use:
1️⃣ Use the Drop Shot to Take Away Their Power
Bangers love fast, high-paced rallies where they can attack aggressively. The best way to take them out of their comfort zone? Drop shots and dinks.
✔️ Hit a soft third-shot drop instead of returning with power.
✔️ Force them into the kitchen where they have to play soft.
✔️ Make them dink—most bangers don’t have the patience for it.
📌 Pro Tip: A well-placed third-shot drop prevents them from attacking, forcing them to play a softer game they may not be comfortable with.
2️⃣ Block Their Hard Shots Instead of Swinging Back
One of the biggest mistakes players make against bangers is trying to match their power. Instead of swinging wildly, use controlled blocks to absorb their pace.
✔️ Hold your paddle steady and angle it slightly upward.
✔️ Let the ball do the work—redirect their speed instead of adding power.
✔️ Aim for a controlled reset shot to land softly in the kitchen.
📌 Pro Tip: The more you block and reset their power shots, the more frustrated they’ll get—and frustrated bangers make mistakes!
3️⃣ Step Back When They Attack at the Kitchen Line
Bangers love speeding up the ball when they see you at the kitchen. Instead of getting caught in their trap, take a step back to give yourself more time to react.
✔️ Don’t stand too close to the net—give yourself reaction time.
✔️ Use a soft reset shot to slow the game down.
✔️ Only counter-attack when they give you a weak ball.
📌 Pro Tip: If you’re stuck in a fast exchange, take a step back and force them into a different type of rally.
4️⃣ Aim for Their Feet—Make Them Uncomfortable
Bangers love attacking high balls, but they struggle with low shots. If you keep placing the ball at their feet, they’ll be forced into awkward, defensive positions.
✔️ Aim low—the best place to hit is at their shoelaces.
✔️ Keep the ball below net level, forcing them to hit up instead of attacking.
✔️ If they attack high balls, stop feeding them high shots!
📌 Pro Tip: Bangers love smashing high balls, so make it difficult for them—keep your shots low and soft.
5️⃣ Use Lobs to Force Them Off the Kitchen Line
Bangers are most dangerous at the kitchen line, where they can attack quickly. One way to move them away? Use well-placed lobs.
✔️ Aim deep—a good lob will push them back near the baseline.
✔️ Use topspin to keep the ball in play and make it harder to smash.
✔️ Force them to hit a weak return, giving you control of the rally.
📌 Pro Tip: Don’t overuse lobs—if they anticipate them, they may start smashing them back at you. Use them strategically.
6️⃣ Change Up Your Shot Speeds to Disrupt Their Rhythm
Bangers thrive on predictable, fast-paced rallies. If you keep hitting back at the same speed, you’re playing right into their hands. Instead, mix it up!
✔️ Vary your shots—alternate between fast and slow.
✔️ Throw in dinks, drop shots, and resets to force them to adjust.
✔️ Make them uncomfortable by breaking their rhythm.
📌 Pro Tip: The more unpredictable you are, the harder it is for them to set up their power shots.
Mental Tactics: Stay Patient & Let Them Make Mistakes
Bangers often rely on aggression and frustration to throw opponents off. If you stay calm, patient, and disciplined, they’ll eventually make mistakes.
✔️ Don’t get sucked into their fast-paced game.
✔️ Force them to play soft—most bangers don’t have the patience for long dink rallies.
✔️ Wait for them to make errors—power players often overhit or misfire under pressure.
📌 Pro Tip: If you stay composed and control the pace, you’ll frustrate them instead of the other way around!
Drills to Practice Beating Bangers
Want to get better at handling hard-hitters? Here are some drills to sharpen your skills:
🏓 Block & Reset Drill – Have a partner hit hard shots at you, and practice blocking them softly back into the kitchen.
🏓 Low Shot Accuracy Drill – Place targets on the court and practice hitting low shots at your opponent’s feet.
🏓 Third-Shot Drop Consistency – Repetition is key! Work on hitting 10+ soft third-shot drops in a row without hitting too high.
📌 Pro Tip: The more you practice these strategies, the easier it will be to control the game against bangers.
Final Thoughts
Bangers can be tough to play against, but power alone doesn’t win games—smart strategy does. By using soft shots, controlled blocks, and unpredictable pacing, you can take away their biggest strength and force them to play your game instead.
✔️ Slow the game down—don’t play into their fast-paced style.
✔️ Use drop shots and dinks to neutralize their power.
✔️ Block instead of swinging back to control the rally.
✔️ Aim low and force uncomfortable shots.
✔️ Stay patient and wait for them to make mistakes.
With these tactics in your game plan, you’ll stop fearing bangers and start dominating them instead!
