If you’ve played pickleball for more than a few games, you’ve probably faced “bangers”, a player who loves to hit every shot as hard as possible. For many beginners and intermediate players, this style can feel overwhelming. The ball flies at you fast and it can be scary! Rallies are also often short and frustration can build quickly.
The good news? With the right strategies, you can stay calm, take control, and actually turn a banger’s power to your advantage. Let's take a look at how:
What Is a “Banger”?
A banger in pickleball is that player who treats every rally like it's their last, whacking the ball as hard as possible. Forget soft touch, dinks, or drops. The banger’s motto is simple: “If in doubt, hit it harder.” They rely on sheer speed and power to overwhelm opponents, hoping you’ll panic, pop the ball up, or duck for cover.
This approach can work against newer players, after all, no one enjoys feeling like they’re in a batting cage instead of a pickleball game. But here’s the thing, bangers often skip the patience and finesse needed at the kitchen line. And once you know how to handle their fastballs, their “all gas, no brakes” strategy starts to look a lot less scary…and sometimes even a little bit silly.
Think of it this way, a banger is like a one-trick pony and once you’ve learned the trick, you’ll know exactly how to tame it.
Why Bangers Are Such a Hot Topic in Pickleball
If you’ve hung around any pickleball court, Facebook group, or YouTube channel, you’ll notice one theme keeps popping up: bangers. Love them or hate them, they’re one of the most talked-about topics in the sport. Why?
1. They disrupt the flow of the game - Most players imagine long, thoughtful dink rallies at the kitchen line. Then a banger shows up and turns it into a rapid-fire shootout.
2. They frustrate beginners - New players often don’t yet have the reflexes or resets to handle speed, so playing against a banger can feel unfair (like showing up for a chess game and someone flips the board). If your struggling to improve here's Why You're Not Getting Better At Pickleball (And How To Fix It).
3. They split opinions - Some people argue bangers are “ruining the game,” while others see them as just another legitimate style of play. The debate keeps forums buzzing and players swapping strategies.
4. They expose weaknesses - If you can’t handle pace, a banger will show you fast. That sting (sometimes literally, if you’ve taken a pickleball to the body) is unforgettable.
In short, bangers are talked about so much because they challenge the picture-perfect idea of pickleball. They force players out of their comfort zone, spark endless debates about “the right way to play,” and give everyone plenty of stories to laugh (or vent) about after matches.
How To Beat A Banger?
Here are some smart and surprisingly simple ways you can neutralize bangers and even beat them at their own game! Instead of panicking or trying to swing harder, you’ll learn how to stay calm, absorb their power, and turn their speed into an advantage. Think of it less like a boxing match and more like a judo move, using their energy against them. By blocking, resetting, and making them uncomfortable, you’ll quickly take away their favorite weapon and put yourself back in control of the rally.
Lets look at how:
1. Stay Calm and Don’t Rush
The first rule when playing a banger is don’t get flustered. Hard shots can feel intimidating, but if you panic and swing wildly, you’ll give them exactly what they want, free points. Keep your paddle up in front of you at chest height. Be ready to change direction and react fast. Shorten your swing to control the ball and focus on blocking, not hitting harder. Think of it like catching the ball with your paddle rather than smashing it back.
2. Stay Patient at the Kitchen Line
Most bangers dislike long dink rallies. They want the point over fast. By holding your ground at the kitchen line and playing patient, controlled dinks, you’ll frustrate them into errors. Stick to consistent crosscourt dinks and avoid popping the ball up, that’s what they’re waiting for.
Wait for the right ball before attacking and remember: your patience is your weapon against them!
Here's some tips for practicing those consistent and aggressive topspin dinks:
3. Let Balls Go Out
It might sound like the most obvious advice in the world, “just let it go out!” ,but in the heat of a fast rally, it’s one of the hardest things to do. When a ball is flying at you like a rocket, the natural instinct is to put your paddle on it, even if it’s clearly sailing long. This is exactly what bangers rely on, they want you to react instead of think. Every time you take a swing at a ball that was heading out, you’re essentially gifting them a free point.
The key is to train your eyes to recognize which balls are out of bounds before they reach you. Watch the height and trajectory:
• If a fast drive is coming at you above shoulder-height at the kitchen, 9 times out of 10 it’s going out.
• Look for topspin vs flat shot. Topspin will stay in more.
• Practice drills where you leave balls and assess whether they are in or out.
It takes discipline, but learning to trust your judgment and let those out balls fly is one of the fastest ways to frustrate a banger, nothing rattles them more than watching their “winners” bounce off the fence.
4. Attack First
When it comes to handling bangers, one golden rule in pickleball is: “If someone is doing something you don’t like, beat them to it.” In other words, if you know your opponent loves to speed up the ball, don’t just sit back and wait for it, take the initiative and pull the trigger first.
By attacking on your terms, you catch them off guard and put them on defense before they can launch their own power shot. Even better, once they realize you’re willing to initiate the pace, they often hesitate, second-guess, and lose some of their confidence.
Think of it as playing chess, not checkers, you’re not just reacting, you’re setting the tempo and forcing them into uncomfortable positions. The best players aren’t afraid to change gears first; they choose the moment, pull the trigger, and keep their opponents guessing.
Here's an in-depth guide to The Pickleball Drive.
5. Hit a Deep Return
One of the simplest and most effective ways to take away a banger’s weapon is to keep them from attacking in the first place. The return of serve is your chance to apply early pressure, and a deep, well-placed return makes all the difference.
When you land your return near the baseline, you push the banger back and force them to hit their next shot from a more defensive position. This robs them of their favorite setup, stepping forward and unloading on an easy drive. Instead, they’re now hitting off their back foot or from further behind the baseline, which naturally takes pace and accuracy out of their shot. See the image below...try to keep them out of the attack zone and at least in the neutral zone when they strike their 3rd:
Conclusion
Beating a banger isn’t about trying to out-hit them, it’s about using control, patience, and smart strategy. Instead of panicking and swinging wildly, focus on blocking their shots, resetting the ball into the kitchen, and staying calm at the line. By taking the pace off and forcing them to play soft shots, you’ll strip away their biggest weapon.
The secret? Once you stop getting flustered, you might actually start enjoying playing against bangers. They’re handing you all the power, you just need to know how to redirect it. With practice, you’ll find that controlling their speed can be even more satisfying than trying to match it.
This is where tools like the TopspinPro or SpinPro really help. Both allow you to work on the skills needed to beat a banger without needing a live opponent. By training the muscle memory for accurate strokes with spin, you’ll be far more confident. Instead of feeding into their style, you’ll be ready to absorb their pace, reset the point, and force them to play a game they don’t want to play.
FAQs
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What defines a "banger" in pickleball?
A banger is a player who hits every shot as hard as possible, relying on speed and power rather than finesse or patience. Their goal is to overwhelm opponents quickly, often skipping the soft touch shots like dinks or drops.
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Why are bangers such a common topic in pickleball discussions?
Bangers disrupt the expected flow of the game, frustrate beginners, split opinions on play style, and expose players’ weaknesses against fast pace. They challenge traditional pickleball strategies, sparking debate and stories among players.
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How should I react when playing against a banger?
Stay calm and don’t rush your shots. Keep your paddle up, shorten your swing, and focus on blocking rather than hitting harder. This approach helps you absorb their power and maintain control during fast rallies.
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What tactics can help neutralize a banger's power?
Be patient at the kitchen line with consistent dinks, let balls that are clearly out go, attack first to catch them off guard, and hit deep returns to push them back. These strategies frustrate bangers and force them into less comfortable positions.
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Why is patience important when facing a banger?
Bangers dislike long rallies and want quick points. By staying patient and consistent with controlled shots, you can frustrate them into making errors. Patience becomes your weapon to take away their advantage and regain control of the game.
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