BEATING BANGERS

Number 1 Skill to Beat Bangers is to develop soft hands and the ability to slow the game down.

Slow the game down by taking pace off the ball, using a "recoiling block paddle ready position" at  the NVZ, to absorb the power of the incoming ball and let the ball ricochet back across the net without adding an forward force.  Aim the paddle so the ball will land at your opponents feet.

You need to develop the ability to drop the ball into the kitchen when receiving a hard driving shot.

Many bangers are also habitual poachers. They tend to be protective when playing with a weak partner.  If you and your team mate isolate most of your returns at the weaker player, this will draw the banger over to protect the weaker player. 

Your game plan is to force the banger into a poaching mode by picking on his/her partner.  When the banger shifts over to protect his/her  partner, either you or your team mate return a  soft hand shot to the far side line out of the bangers reach. 

If you have good ball placement skills make them reach or stretch for the ball, one side to the other, keeping them moving, hitting down at their feet. This will keep the banger off balance and not allow them to set up for a smashing shot.

The last strategy is to keep your returns low but soft, forcing the banger to  always hit up on the ball. Make each return an "unattackable ball." When all else fails isolate the banger and keep your team hitting to his/her partner. Eventually the banger will resort to poaching and shift to cover his partner's side of the court. This is when you tap a winner to the spot where the banger has left unprotected. Although it's again every pickleball strategy, my partner and I will play one up front and another in the back court. Both team mates straddle the center line and move to the side of the court where the opponent has the ball. If the opponent bangs the ball hard and fast the back court player often has the best opportunity to return the shot after it has bounced. Or have a clearer view should the shot be long and out of bounds. The upfront partner can play the punch block volley return on any shot in his or her wheel house. This is a goodtime to change pace on the ball and drop a soft well place ball to the corner of the opponents NVZ. Then there always the mind game of talking strategy between every ralley, making sure the banger and partner see you. The ideal is to unnerve the opponent and break their focus causing them to make an unforced error. Bangers are suckers for high fast driving balls just above their heads. If they are slightly off balance the ball will land in the net or out of bounds. Or they may get so excited that they pull a "whiff "and completely miss the return.