We’ve all been there—you step onto the court, ready to play some smooth, strategic pickleball, and then BOOM 💥—your opponent is smashing every ball like they’re swinging a baseball bat. Welcome to the world of bangers—players who rely on power shots to overwhelm their opponents.
If you’re tired of getting blasted off the court, don’t worry. Indianapolis Pickleball Club has your back! Let’s break down the best strategies to neutralize bangers and make them play your game instead of theirs. 😏
What is a Banger? 🤔
A banger is a player who LOVES to drive the ball hard and fast—especially off the return and at the kitchen line. Their goal? Win points through raw power instead of finesse. 💪
And while a solid drive can be an effective shot, a player who relies only on bashing the ball is super predictable—and that’s where you can take control. 😈
How to Beat a Banger 🎯
1. Get Low and Soften the Blow 🤲
Bangers thrive when they force you to play high balls that they can crush. If you stay low, keep your paddle up, and absorb their pace, you take away their biggest advantage.
✔️ Bend your knees and stay grounded—this helps you react quickly.
✔️ Loosen your grip—a tight grip = more rebounds. A soft grip absorbs energy and slows the ball down.
2. Master the Block Volley 🛑
A banger WANTS you to panic and swing wildly at their shots. Instead, use their power against them with a simple block volley:
✅ Hold your paddle firm but let the ball deflect off it with minimal movement.
✅ Aim for their feet—forcing them into an awkward return.
✅ Reset to the kitchen—so they can’t keep firing away.
Once you start blocking their drives instead of counter-smashing, they’ll run out of options real fast. 😏
3. Use the Lob at the Right Time 🎈
Most bangers aren’t great at moving backward—they love stepping into shots, not chasing them. A well-placed lob over their head can completely throw them off.
✔️ Aim for deep lobs over their non-dominant shoulder—this forces an awkward return.
✔️ Use the lob sparingly—too many, and they’ll start camping out in the backcourt.
4. Keep the Ball LOW ⬇️
The higher the ball, the harder they can smash it. If you can consistently hit low shots with little bounce, you take away their favorite weapon.
💡 Best shots to use?
✔️ Dinks—drop shots in the kitchen frustrate bangers.
✔️ Low, skidding slices—make them bend down for every shot.
✔️ Third shot drops—force them to play soft.
If you can keep the game slow and low, they’ll have no choice but to play your game instead of theirs. 🎯
5. Move Them Around 🏃♂️
Bangers love to stand in one spot and crush shots at you. If you make them move, their power game falls apart.
✔️ Hit to the corners—force them to stretch.
✔️ Dink cross-court—make them play soft.
✔️ Mix up your pace—throw in slow shots to disrupt their rhythm.
6. Let Out Balls Go 🚀
One of the BIGGEST mistakes against bangers? Hitting out balls.
🚨 A lot of their power shots fly long past the baseline—but if you reflexively hit everything, you’re bailing them out.
Next time a banger rips a shot, ask yourself:
📌 Was I standing behind the baseline? Let it go—it’s probably out.
📌 Did they hit it super hard? Chances are, it’s sailing long.
Train yourself to watch the ball before swinging. If you let their out balls fly, you’ll pick up free points all game long. 💰
Final Thoughts: Take Control of the Game 🔥
Bangers rely on chaos and speed—your job is to slow the game down, make them uncomfortable, and force them to play smart instead of just swinging hard.
Here at Indianapolis Pickleball Club, we see tons of players learning how to counter bangers and turn the tables. Whether you’re in open play or a DUPR-rated match, these strategies will help you dominate any power player you face. 💪
So next time you step on the court and see someone gearing up to smash every ball, just smile—you’ve got a plan. 😉
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