A common complaint we hear on the pickleball courts has to do with when people consistently hit hard. The Bangers, as they are often known, look to gain an advantage through speed and often draw the ire of other players who claim they "aren't playing properly" or "have no strategy." In this short article, we're going to give you some practical tips so instead of getting mad or being overpowered, you can find yourself hanging with the banging.
Tip One: Don't be Surprised.
You will never be able to handle fast shots effectively if you aren't ready for them. It is always best to assume that every time your opponent touches the ball they're going to hit it with pace. This kind of mindset will make it more likely you can handle their shot, and if you do get surprised, and your opponent hits slower than you expected, well, that's a nice treat. You have even more time to react than expected!
Tip Two: Assume the Position.
In most sports where athletes are about to receive a ball, they have a distinctive, athletic look as they prepare for action. The same is important in pickleball. Too often we see people standing virtually upright, not really ready for something quick and intense to take place. Instead, take a low athletic position to best be prepared for what's about to come.
Tip Three: Prepare the Shield.
Most good pickleball players wait with their paddle biased slightly toward the backhand. This is largely because of how human bodies are designed but also because it's so much easier to defend body shots with your backhand. With the paddle tilted slightly toward the backhand, it is almost as if you are holding a shield out in front of your body — the perfect tool to defend body shots with. Be careful not to overdo it with this bias or you'll make your forehand a clear vulnerability.
Tip Four: Think Low, Not Slow.
Too often we see people prioritize slowing down the ball when their opponents hit hard. But this advice is concentrating on the wrong skill. A slow ball that was hit upward, for example, will continue to lead to trouble as the opponent can hit straight ahead or even downward at near full speed. If you want to neutralize the hard hitters, it's important to make them contact the ball well below the net. If they are forced to hit upward, they cannot hit at full speed and still keep the ball in play. Whatever speed you send the ball at, it is critical to get the ball down low to force an upward hit.
Hitting the ball fast is a valid pickleball strategy. Being mad at hard hitters for playing that way generally says more about you than it does about them. If you want people to stop hitting hard, they need to discover for themselves that it is ineffective as a tactic. Using the four tips above, you have a better shot at doing that.
Written by: Mark Renneson