Start 2025 Off with a Bang! How to Beat the Banger and Master Control Playing Pickleball
Pickleball is evolving. The game is getting faster and more intense. In keeping with our theme of “New Year, New You” the team here at Better Pickleball decided to start off 2025 with answering one of your biggest questions, “How do I beat the banger”?
Do you know who the Banger’s best friend is? It’s the player who tries to hit every single ball they send their way. In this blog, I’ll share the game-changing concepts that will help you avoid falling into the Banger’s trap, elevate your pickleball game, and regain control on the court.
The Banger Problem
Bangers thrive on chaos and aggression, bombarding their opponents with relentless, hard-hit shots. Their goal is simple: overwhelm you into making mistakes.
The common mistake? Playing their game by trying to return every shot. This reactive approach keeps the Banger in control and leaves you scrambling.
The solution? Play smarter, not harder.
The Key to Beating a Banger
To beat a Banger, you need to focus on controlling the pace and making strategic decisions. Here are the two pillars of success:
- Respect the Out of Bounds
Not every shot a Banger smashes will land inbounds. Watch for high, fast shots likely to go long, and resist the urge to return them. Letting those shots sail out disrupts the Banger’s rhythm and saves your energy. - Choose When to Engage
You don’t need to hit every ball. If a shot is staying in play, respond with a controlled block or reset volley. But if it’s heading out of bounds, trust your judgment and let it go.
Practicing this decision-making process slows the game down, shifts momentum in your favor, and puts you back in control.
Mastering the Block to Beat the Banger
A critical skill for beating the Banger is blocking. Blocking isn’t just a defensive move—it’s a strategic weapon. By softening hard shots and returning them with control, you neutralize the Banger’s aggression and regain the upper hand. Want to know more about how to develop a great block? Click here
Keys to Effective Blocking
- Positioning: Maintain a balanced stance, stay on the balls of your feet, and hold your paddle slightly in front of you.
- Light Grip: Use a loose grip to absorb the ball’s energy and control its direction.
- Eye on the Ball: Watch the ball closely from the moment it leaves your opponent’s paddle until it hits yours.
- Add Spin: Once you’ve mastered the basic block, introduce subtle backspin to make returns harder to counter.
The NVZ: A Banger’s Weakness
The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ), or “the Kitchen,” is the heart of pickleball strategy. It’s a zone where precision trumps power. While Bangers often avoid the NVZ, you can use it to dictate the pace and control the rally.
How to Use the NVZ to Beat Bangers
- Block and Drop: Redirect hard shots into the NVZ with soft blocks. This forces Bangers to adjust their strategy.
- Control the Tempo: Consistently use the NVZ to slow the game down and neutralize the Banger’s power.
For Bangers looking to improve, mastering NVZ shots like dinks and third-shot drops is crucial for evolving into a more versatile player. Click here to learn more about how to execute the perfect drop shot.
Applying the Strategy to Beat the Banger
Imagine you’re on the court against a Banger. Instead of engaging with every ball, you start watching for shots likely to go out of bounds. You let those balls go, frustrating your opponent.
When a shot lands inbounds, you respond with a controlled block, redirecting it into the NVZ. The rally slows down, and suddenly, you’re dictating the pace, on your way to beat the banger.
Conclusion: Banger’s Gonna Bang—But You’re in Control
The Banger’s aggression can be intimidating, but it’s not unbeatable. By respecting the out-of-bounds area, mastering the block, and leveraging the NVZ, you can take away their biggest advantage and gain control of the game.
Ready to take your game to the next level in 2025? Check out our 8 Week Pickleball Fitness Challenge and gain the advantage when facing bangers on the court.
Until then, see you on the court—playing smart, staying in control, and beating the Banger at their own game!
We love to hear from you on what is important to your pickleball game! Leave us a comment below!
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)