The Power Player. The Banger. You know them. They’re at the local outdoor courts, gyms, Pickleball Kingdoms, and even at Walmart buying some toothpaste and deodorant. Yes, they’re human, not monsters! Big forehand. Big serve. Some of them grunt. They’re hitting third shot drives 95% of the time with no commitment to anything soft.

But you? You’re not them, and you’re not here to play their game. You’re here to win your game — a calmer, more cerebral style. Let’s take a look at how to dismantle their game and style so you have a fighting chance and one that counters what they are bringing to you. Let’s go!

Step 1: Stay Calm and Adopt the Hypnotic Vibe

Power players thrive on chaos. They want pace. They want the firefights.

Your job? Be so calm it's unsettling. Treat the pickleball court as the calmest place on earth. Feel it. Almost expressionless. Have you ever seen the best pros in the world in other sports? On the mound during a no-hitter. No expression, just pure focus. That is what that look and calm feeling really is. It is the focus! And, your opponent sees it.

Body language matters. Breathe slow and deep. Stand tall. Act like every ball lands exactly where you wanted. This quiet confidence is mental warfare. If they are not a focused player, it can start to creep into their head. I have seen it myself. The Banger is cocky. Overly confident. Even sings songs out loud to try to get in your own head. Nope. Not today. The banger starts thinking: “Wait…why aren’t they panicking?”

Step 2: Control the Tempo Against Power Players

This is one of the most important! Don’t speed up just because they do. They’re the Camaro. You’re the Toyota Sienna minivan. Yep, you heard that right. I said it. That Toyota drives like a champ, is quiet inside (the sound of the engine, not the screaming kids!), is reliable, long lasting, and can go the distance. It just won’t hit 100 MPH very easily. Is that ok with you? What if I said the Toyota will win the race, but goes at its own tempo? Is it a deal?

Here are some key things to adjust the tempo so you can regain control of it:

Take your time between points. Wipe your paddle, breathe, and reset.
Reset the point often. Use drop shots, dinks, and resets to slow the game down.

Coaching tip: If a ball comes fast, use your paddle as a redirector, not a hammer. Does that make sense? The hammer represents hitting the $*&t out of the ball without placement. A well-placed block or drop volley can neutralize their power and bring the point right back to your rhythm and tempo.

Example: They drive a third shot with authority. Instead of hammering back, you angle a block to the side and pull them into a softer rally. Now the tempo is yours.

Step 3: Precision Over Power – Pickleball Shot Placement

Power players expect fast returns. Don’t give them what they want. Be aggressive with placement instead of pace. Plus, it is a bit of a disruptor when you can still hit those areas of the court, even without the speed and power they bring.

Aim at their feet, especially at the kitchen line or when they are in the transition zone. Short-hop central. Nothing powerful can be created that way.
Use sharp angles to pull them wide off the court, then change direction and go to the inside (where the center line meets the kitchen) and push them there.
Target spots that force awkward backhand dinks or weak defensive shots.

Bangers hate bending down and reaching sideways. They cannot turn into those shots like the others. Give them the balls they don’t want, and you’ll control the rally.

Step 4: Reset the Point to Neutralize Hard Hitters

One of the most effective weapons against power is the reset.

If they rip a drive? Don’t fight it. See it and absorb it and reset. Think of catching a foul ball with bare hands. Now, you are not catching a 100 MPH fastball, but more like a looping foul ball that you want to catch for your son, but you forgot to bring the glove to the ballpark. You get your hands in position and let that energy absorb into the catch and your hands. You are using your entire body to absorb that energy. Legs, midsection, arms, and hands.

With your paddle, use that same principle: absorb the pace and drop the ball gently into the kitchen or at the corners of the kitchen. You just gave that fastball a nighty-night nap. Now lastly, tuck it in…into the corners that is.

Step 5: Turn Their Power Into Mistakes

The hard hitters often sacrifice control for speed. It’s not their fault. They have fallen deeply in love with that sound. CRACK! POP! Dang, Howard must be hitting the gym and benching a lot lately. I am kidding. Howard just has not learned the importance of softness, tempo change, and winning by getting to the line.

Here are some ways to make it more difficult for them to hit mechanically perfect, crushing power shots.

Send lower balls. Force them into short hops and defensive dinks. Pop-ups or net errors follow.
Make them lunge. Bangers often overcommit at the kitchen line. Stretch them out and force awkward contact.
Mix in spin and depth. Use short slices, looping topspin, and pace changes to keep them off balance.

Beat Them Without Becoming Them

In other words, do NOT get caught up in their game. If you do? You just got baited!

Power is flashy, it gets on Top 10 on SportsCenter (I have said that before). Calm. Focus. Finesse. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses. AND Yes, the game does involve harder shots, big forehands and backhands too, but all of the time, no. It has to be balanced. That all leads to winning and more importantly, becoming a better, well rounded, constantly improving player.

And remember: the next time a banger lines up a 100-mph drive straight at you during rec. play, use it to practice the reset. It is why we practice, isn't it? And be calm. You know it’s coming.

About the Author: Neil Friedenberg is a certified pickleball coach and Head of Education for Empower Pickleball. He is passionate about helping players of all levels grow their skills and confidence on the court. A lifelong player with deep roots in the sport, Neil also brings experience as a paddle company owner, blending technical expertise with a love for the game.

How to Beat a Power Player in Pickleball Without Matching Their Speed