💪How to Break a Banger: The Dirty Truth About Beating Aggressive Pickleball Players
- Tom Kiat
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
You know the type. They step onto the court with a paddle in one hand and something to prove in the other. (Here in Costa Rica we call them Larry The Banger. To all the Larry's out there, it takes one Larry to ruin it)
They’re loud. They’re fast. They’re hitting everything at your face like it owes them money. If you don’t have a plan, they’ll rattle you in five points flat.
Aggressive players are predictable.
They’re emotional.
And with the right approach, they’re beatable.
Nothing is more satisfying than watching a calm, composed player dismantle a banger without breaking a sweat.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Use Their Speed Against Them
Bangers thrive on chaos. They want fast hands, quick points, adrenaline.
Your job? Slow. Everything. Down.
Drop shots. Resets. Soft dinks. Anything that sucks the pace out of the rally. It’s like giving a racehorse a treadmill, looks powerful, goes nowhere.
And when they do speed it up? Just block. Don't swing. Let them hit three balls hard and watch the third one sail long.
Remember: you don’t beat fire with fire. You smother it.
2. Attack Their Patience (Spoiler: They Don’t Have Any)
Aggressive players don’t want to play long points. So give them exactly that.
Get into dink rallies. Make them move. Keep your returns low and force them to initiate. The longer the point goes, the more frustrated they get.
You’re playing the long game. While they’re trying to win with a punch, you’re winning with a chokehold.
3. Stay Colder Than Ice
Here’s what separates the smart players from the average ones: emotional control.
When the banger hits a body shot or yells “Let’s go!” like they just won a gold medal, don’t react. Smile. Walk back. Bounce the ball once.
Let them burn themselves out while you stay unbothered.
Frustration is their weapon, until it becomes yours.
4. Target the Right Spots
Most bangers have one thing in common: weak footwork.
They look powerful, but they’re off balance more than you think. That’s your green light.
Hit at their feet when they charge in.
Lob over their non-paddle shoulder when they crowd the net.
Force them to hit uncomfortable half-volleys low and off-angle.
Basically, make them move… and make them move wrong.
5. Take the Air Out of the Match
Aggressive players need momentum. They feed off quick wins and fast points.
So how do you kill that momentum? By playing boring, surgical, demoralizing pickleball.
You win a point with a third-shot drop.
Then with a reset.
Then with a soft lob and a kitchen-line stare down.
Suddenly, their power game is crumbling and you’re inside their head rent-free.
Listen, I get it. Playing a banger can feel like trying to survive a tornado.
But if you follow this playbook, you won’t just survive, you’ll own the storm.
The next time you see someone warming up like they’re auditioning for Top Gun, take a breath, lock in, and turn their highlight reel into your win column.
In the end, smart beats fast. Cold beats loud. And patient always beats pissed.
Share this blog with your doubles partner, your group chat, or anyone who’s tired of losing to bangers. Let’s flip the script and take back control of the court.
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