If bangers are blasting the ball at you, it’s time to turn the tables. In this video I share four strategies to control the pickleball banger and win more points because pickleball should not feel like dodgeball.
Most players try to fight power with more power, which is a losing battle. Even if you’re a banger who hits hard, you’ll eventually face someone who can out-hit you.
Here’s how you can reset the rally, control the pace, and turn defense into offense.
1. Prepare for the Hard Hitter
First, understand who a banger is: someone who only hits the ball hard without other shots. When they put a paddle on the ball, it comes back hard.
To control the banger, start with a pickleball ready position. If your paddle is down by your side, you’re not ready for that hard shot. A cheat code is to position your paddle in front, tilting it slightly towards your backhand side, as most block volleys occur there.
This positioning gives you a reaction time advantage.
Are you a competitive player who plays in leagues. tournaments. ladders, round robins, or even a competitive private game?
Check out this video; Divide and Conquer Competitive Strategy – It Works
2. Stay Light on Your Feet
Often, players stand tall and straight up at the non-volley zone with weight on their heels. Instead, adopt the pickleball system: be on the balls of your feet.
Shift your weight forward so you can tap your heels lightly without feeling weight on them. If you’re standing tall with weight on your heels, a hard-hit ball can rock you back, opening your paddle face and resulting in a high trajectory shot—exactly what a banger wants.
Keep your paddle favoring the backhand side and balance on the front part of your feet for faster reactions.
3. Master the Block Volley
The block volley is your tool to absorb the pace of a hard-hit shot. When the ball approaches, intercept it with your paddle without swinging to control the pickleball banger.
Allow the ball to come into the paddle, which absorbs the pace and sends it back. Ideally, the block volley should land close to the non-volley zone. Avoid swinging or flicking your wrist; the paddle should protect the bullseye around your body center.
Use a light grip pressure to ensure the ball lands appropriately. If your grip is too tight, the ball will fly unnecessarily far.
4. Bonus Tip: Let It Fly
A banger wants you to block every shot, but that’s not always necessary. If a banger winds up inside the court, remember “shoulder high, let it fly.”
Let the ball go out of bounds and win the point. Knowing when to step aside is crucial.
I’d love to know which part of this technique you need to work on most: backhand paddle position, staying on the balls of your feet, mastering the block volley, or avoiding outballs? Put it in the comments to this post.
For more lessons like this, click the link for the next video or take our pickleball quiz for personalized resources.
Together, we can train smart, live bold, and age well.
CJ Johnson
Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)