The one pickleball skill you need to defeat bangers 

This is so helpful, because as a fairly new player, I get frustrated with the bangers. Thanks!

Best tip: "If you want to go from BANGING to DINKING, you have to take pace off the ball." Love this tip. Thanks!

This is hugely helpful advice. Exactly what I thought I needed to progress in the game, but didn't know how to do it until I saw this video. I will start to practice this immediately!

Barrett, just discovered your videos - excellent stuff! Love the detailed explanations and the "physics" behind them. Keep them coming!

Thank you! This is what I’m working on the most as I play with a lot of bangers.

This is a great video and someone probably already said it, but the longer i play PB like alot of things in PB this block has to be used according to what players you are up against. I use to use this block all the time, what i realized over the years is if you use it against younger players or really athletic people, unless your block is perfectly angled they will run up and get the ball back over and alot of times they run up and slam it right down the middle. On top of that, you have now invited both players to the net at a really fast pace. You just lost your advantage. I would suggest using this if your opponents are older or not very mobile. If your playing against the young guns if they are back keep them back.

Great advice Barrett, this is the way you “disarm” the bangers.

I am new to this and they hit the ball as hard as they can, low to my backhand corner. That's just the serve. So what I learned to do is just hold my paddle like you did. The ball hits the paddle so hard that the ball just makes it back and barely over the net, lol. They have to run to the net to get to it. I think this is annoying them and I am okay with that.

Thanks, since watching this several months ago, my game really improved! Consistency with mindful Paddle grip is My biggest issue! But after making that mistake my game jumps and I am also able to use angle in the Kitchen with the shot! But it took a lot of mindful Paddle grip on how hard to hold it for the direction to send the ball! Great video! 😎✌️

I am new to Pickleball and played a game where the two people we were playing against did exactly this. All shots were hard and bangers. I wish I would have seen this sooner!! I will drill this. I play with a lot of people that are tennis players...I need this.

Just started playing pickleball. Your teaching demos are great! Thanks!

GREAT advice, thanks!

Really helpful! Thanks!

Very good advise,will try it,

Excellent! Thank you.

Clear and well-scripted. No "ums" and "you knows." Not all talk. Plenty of good examples.

I am a tennis player....I was practicing PB yesterday with my hubby....He loves to hit the pickleball hard. I told him you can hit the ball as hard as you want at me, I will just block it back. I use a relaxed and relatively firm grip and I don't swing at the ball. I have tell my hubby that all the time when he is at the net, 'Just block the ball and don't swing' unless it is an overhead smash if you can execute it properly.

Thanks Barret I have been struggling getting the banger game back to dinking. Can't wait to practice this. Cheers from Vancouver island.

Great tip, thank you

Awesome! Thanks!

I've just started playing pickleball at the gym I joined recently. Years ago I was into racketball and I am an avid ping-pong player. My transition into my New favorite game is going really well. I love this video on bangers. The people I play with are mostly 50 and up. I'm 66 and holding my own pretty well with less than 20 games under my belt. I'm learning how to deal with spinners. Today I played with 3 ladies which are pretty good. We actually got into a dinking volley, which most of these people don't do. Most of the players when they are upfront they want to punch right at you or swing at you. I"m getting pretty good with lobe shots and going deep to the baseline. I really enjoy your videos and your teaching methods. My game is only improving with your help, Barrett. I'm tagging you "B-MAN" , hope your cool with that. :0). thanks again

Thanks so much! Would love to get good at this skill!

Yay! Finally a way to enact "revenge of the dinkers"! All your videos are so good!

I really needed this video, I have 50% of games against slammers / bangers, it’s hard to change the speed of the ball, and also I struggle with a partner who is a banger. The game feels like 3 against 1

Been playing pickleball only 3 months. I play against bangers and I admit I have banged the ball back. This video is so helpful. Explains what is needed to change the pace, diffuse the situation and the mechanics behind such. At 6:54 minutes, it is a good angle to see what is happening. At 4:14, I was hard to me to see the racquet going backwards from the power of the ball. It would have been helpful for me if the video was slowed down to show this in slow motion. But that's just me.

Thank you! This is what Ibe been looking for. I've been so confused on how to properly play at the net when people just slam balls at me.

I enjoy your videos, one thing I would point out with your strategy is keep ball low. When I pop it up from a banger, the bangers partner will kill you if your ball is too high taking off pace

Another skill is to move away from banger shots that goes higher than the waist. They are usually out unless they curved downwards.

As a former 4.5 tennis player, I do what I do best...and that is hammer the ground strokes. At the net I play a different game. The only proper pickleball is a style that suites one's skill set.

I also encounter bangers who are "head hunting" from mid-court or even the N.V. zone line--not sure if soft hands are the answer from shorter distances.

Banger from tennis here. We have a few fellas at our club that have mastered this and the games are a lot more fun now.

Awesome!

As a banger, I typically fire the ball right down the middle rather than directly at the opponent as your video shows. It's much more difficult for either opponent to reach my shot to block it, and if he does it's seldom an effective return.

Using your wrist to square up the paddle rather then an arm swing can be used all around the court!

Great Tutorial well done!

This is a great video!

great stuff..thanks

I got involved in a gang bang and these totally worked, thanks!

Great paddle - it’s my new favorite too. Amazing sweet spot! Bought it based in part on your recommendation.

What about those former tennis players who want to stand at the back of the court and slam it as hard as they can? My defense so far is a short drop shot, and usually they can’t get to it.

I have the opposite problem, my swing is okay but no power comes to the shot. My power swings get a little more power than your diffusion strokes. Grip is loose and swing is fluid.

would love to see some smash shots blocked while BOTH are at the NVZ

Love your t-shirt...Where can I get one? The one with the pickle!

I’ve only been playing for a few months and find that I have lots (but thankfully not all) of the beginner bad habits. Years ago I played a lot of tennis so that was my main reference while taking pickleball lessons, not really good for this game. I am working hard to correct what I think are the worst bad habit from tennis, taking the racket way too far back in both forehands and backhands, trying to put too much top spin on every shot, aiming 1 inch above the net and trying to paint the lines. I find that I am a bit of a banger when playing other beginners and am trying to break that habit. Where I play there is a range of skill levels so I end up playing more experienced folks, maybe 2’s and 3’s and find that a couple of the guys seem to take pleasure in the mismatch. They return all the balls to my side with lots of speed and spin. I will be practicing the skills you talk about to try and counter their tactics and keep the ball in play while I improve at this sport. I play for fun but some people seem to only be happy when they win.

I have been playing for a max of 2 years but some players scoop the ball instead of hitting the ball,now is this legal as scooping is like hitting the ball as a double or triple hit. also on a serve they like to serve on the side of the court and not a full court landing?

This is just the advice I need to try to beat a very strong "banger"!

Good stuff, thanks.

good one

Great tutorial

thanks

I think you should let most bangers around head height go.

Great advice and concept. I don't necessarily agree that you want to play a drop shot when the opponent is on the baseline. I do think it's the correct shot when someone is driving a ball from the kitchen but when they are at the baseline you want to keep them back. I get this is just for demonstration purposes. Also, I highly recommend you watch that ball right to your paddle. This is so important on all shots but especially on these drives.

I usually add back spin to this to help keep the ball from bouncing off the racquet even less.

This is an important skill to acquire, but by no means will it eliminate the "bangers" if they have even a modest skill set or agility. if you really want to have a chance at higher levels you have to be able to this, and watch your opponent and change tactics. if they are staying back, sure, drop it. if they are approaching hold a firm grip and drive it back with some speed; they are taking away time by approaching, you are taking away time by maintaining speed, they just won't have time to react and make a good shot, especially if you hit it at their feet and back hand side.

I got so much from this lesson

This was great! I come from a golf background so I understand about the soft hands. I do not play tennis and I am one of the novice people who, while resting and waiting my turn to rotate back in, sit watching intermediate players BANG it back-and-forth and I actually speak up asking, “where is the dinking game ? “ 🤣

Off the subject Question. With a portable net, if the ball hits the crossbar then bounces over is it still in play? Thanks

When you are at the kitchen and your banger opponent whacks the ball from the kitchen line isn't it sometimes better to pivot out of the way and let the ball travel long?

With a soft grip if the ball does not hit the center of the paddle you probably won’t have as much control of where your ball is going to go.

What about the bangers that jump in the air and slamming down at you.

interesting view on your thoughts on ' proper " play "" I don't know what that is ?? I have just started playing this game recently, and YES, I have a tennis background when I used to play it 45 years ago... I guess I could be considered a power player to some point ? the majority of that power comes into play.. 1, depending who and what level player I am playing against, a weaker player for instance, we all want to play so you play differently.., but if we are similar players ? I will serve harder and I want them tho be defensive, and again, if I am returning their serve, I hit a fairly hard shot back to them and I WANT them deep, meaning a baseline shot for the most part, then I can go to the kitchen... as you know, ANYBODY that plays this game will need a BALANCE of both. I personally don't think that a straight power player will win at this, and you showed exactly how to neutralize them, IF they are going to stay back and hit power shots ? then drop it in right over the net, and you are completely correct here, in that case you will need SOFT hands to absorb the shot back...

I’ve been introduced to this game by my girlfriend and played for the first time last week. I don’t understand all the name calling. If someone wants to hit a little pace, what’s the harm in that? Why call them names? And another thing I don’t understand is why everyone panics if anyone isn’t standing at the edge of the kitchen as soon as the serve is returned. I’ll advance to the net when I see a chance to put the ball away with a volley. That is the point of a volley right? To end the point... Some of these points that I’ve seen, might as well have Duran Duran in the background playing ‘the reflex’. But like I said, I’ve only played once, it was fun but it came with a lot of unsolicited “ok, the serves been returned, go to the kitchen”! P.s. I’m not a young gun (more of the name calling) I’m almost 50.

Being a fairly new pickleball player coming from a tennis background I don’t understand what the big issue is with “bangers”. I tend to hit the ball with heavy pace and spin, which tends to work well for me. If your opponent doesn’t like it I guess that to bad? It really just depends on how competitive you both are being.... if it’s just a fun practice game than sure mix it up and play how each player likes it for a bit and get better at all the nuances of the game. BUT if you are going for the Win... why would you cater to how your opponent plays better... Best way to win, get comfortable with lots of different play styles.

I am kind of a banger I am here to upgrade my bangs

👍✋

Most of the balls you are blocking would be about four feet out.

Basically it is also the same soft hands as the rese shot.

Sorry but you dont have real drives going at you. This alows you to stand too high and you are making contact close to your body. Your returns are called "flops". They are weak volleys that a good bagger will attack. A good volley is not just a block but it has purpose (low and deep near your opponents feet). But soft grip is the number one thing you are so correct on. Failure of soft grip is a failure of most on all swings in tennis and pickleball. Only use a tight grip on a back hand slice. Thanks for the video.

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I wish you’d demonstrated having to move to the ball. Your assistant hit all the balls right to you. Isn’t recognizing out balls another skill you need to beat hangers?

Like I’m going to hit the bill that easy and right on you’re paddle.

But a banger isn't always going to hit the ball right at you.

I have soft hands

Hey update playing against a previous tennis player, I wanted to mention that because of this next part. I have a really nice top spin drive from mid court. It’s hard enough to be really hard to get but rarely ever goes out. But this person says to me can you try to not hit people. that’s my goal with this shot is to try to hit someone and if they do dodge it it goes it in a win win for me. This was what I was saying with with bangers if people get mad at you your doing it right. I’m banging the ball at you and I’m making points. I’m not going to stop.

Better footwork, would help!

Yea this won’t work when you have no idea where the ball is going...

Only a dumb banger is going to aim for your chest. In singles, the banger in your video will hit crosscourt to his right.

Kung Fu grip

Volleying requires better footwork. Flat footed is not good.

No "thumbs up or down" here because of "entry level" players. That said you need to get on your toes and have that guy hit from KITCHEN LINE!! Bangers from the baseline rarely hit hard enough to be an issue. If you got a guy(s) who hammer away, just block one back and say, "you can't hit it hard enough"!! They'll get pissed and hit everything out or in the net.. Remember, it's only a plastic ball. Cheers-

Thanks for the video but I completely disagree with your Bangie comment about let’s get to the dink game. First you started off saying people get frustrated with bangers. If I’m playing someone who gets “frustrated with bangers” I’m gonna bang every shot at them then if someone said let’s get to the dink game I’m gonna bang every shot at them. This is the same thing people talk about with third shot drop, “try to get that third shot drop”. Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t third shot drop. Don’t dink, DON’T Play the game “they” want you to play. I hit a third shot drop maybe 20% of the time and half of those times result of a winner smash after words because they are expecting me to hit a really good drive at them. #1 dinking means your are equally as good as your opponent. Not saying don’t ever dink but dink when your not in control of the point if you have the advantage you better not start dinking. #2 there’s a saying if your can’t beat them join them, “quoting WoW” I say if you can’t beat them, beat them. Because they will be expecting you to join them and you will have the element of surprise. Basically doing what your opponents expect you to do, third shot drop or dink, is doing what they want you to do or joining them. Now saying all of this if I come up against some bangers I’m going to do this soft shot like your saying to do I just disagree with you saying don’t bang. You should play to your opponents weakness and if that’s banging don’t be a hater bang that ball right at their face

I think I’m a banger but I’m a banger from the back not the front

Let me say something about your video that's very misleading. I am a banger as you coined and I hit the ball probably 50% faster than what they're hitting at you. The odds are high that you either pop it in the net totally miss it or pop it up for a slam. Another thing that guy is just hitting you the ball straight on and you're waiting for it. If I'm hitting it so it'll come a lot faster and you have no idea where it's going to go. But yes you do have the right idea but it doesn't work out so well as I've proven it against really good players that there's that try and diffuse my shot. My serves as well are about as fast as you can hit a ball as they have a world of top spin on them and players either hit him too far him just right and if I let up they don't hit it far enough. But I'll leave it at that and you have a great day.