Hey,

This week, I’m in Newport Beach for the APP tournament.

I just finished a weekend full of strategy discussions and content creation (more on that later) with Tanner Tomassi, my men’s doubles partner for the tournament.

So, it’s been busy but very fun and productive!

If you happen to be in Newport, make sure to say hi!

Let’s get to the newsletter.

How to Beat Bangers in 2024

Today’s lesson isn’t new, but I like to revisit it every couple of months. It’s all about beating bangers.

You know - those players who smash every shot like they’re in a home run derby?

By the end of this, you'll not only understand how to handle bangers but you’ll learn how to turn their strategy against them.

Even if you’ve seen this video before (or another like it), check it out again because none of us are the same players we were six or nine months ago (hopefully), and you might be surprised about what you didn’t catch the last time that you will notice this time.

And, if you don’t have time to watch right now, here’s a quick synopsis for you:

👉 First, Know Your Enemy

To beat a banger, you need to get into their head.

What’s a banger? It's simple: they hit every shot hard. From the first to the last, their strategy is power, power, power. Knowing this is key to beating them. So, instead of being surprised by the constant barrage of hard shots, expect it.

Get in the mindset: If they bang, they pay.

👉 Nail Your Return

One of the most important ways to combat a banger is to nail your return.

Don’t stand right on the baseline when they serve. Give yourself a little space. If you’re too close, a deep serve will push you back, messing up your momentum. Stand a few feet behind the line, so when they hit it, you’re moving forward, ready to control the shot.

So many points from bangers are won because their opponent simply stands too close to the line.

👉 Hit it Deep, Get to the Kitchen

When returning, aim deep.

The deeper your return, the more time you have to get up to the kitchen, where the magic happens. A deep return also forces the banger to move back, buying you even more time to prepare for their next shot. And, as an added bonus, now, when they drive the ball, they’ll have less on it, and you’ll have more time to react.

If you’re having trouble getting to the line, use a higher arc on your return to give yourself – REMEMBER, depth equals time.

👉 Don't Let Them Smell Blood

Bangers are like sharks—they can sense when you’re uncomfortable with their hard shots.

If they think you’re scared of the pressure, they’ll keep coming after you. The solution? Don’t just play defense. Push back! Even if you miss, send a message that you’re not intimidated.

You don’t have to change into a banger yourself, but sometimes, a bully just needs to get hit in the mouth.

👉 Block with Confidence

Blocking bangers isn’t about simply holding your paddle up.

You need to block with purpose. Stay low, keep a firm (but not too tight) wrist, and make contact with the ball out in front. Compact, controlled swings are your best friend. Don’t try to swing big when a banger smashes the ball at you—it’ll likely fly out of bounds.

Use their power against them.

👉 Final Thoughts

Bangers can be intimidating, but if you anticipate their moves and stay confident in your strategy, you can make them pay for their one-dimensional style.

So get out there, return deep, stand tall, and make those bangers rethink their game plan!

You’ve got this! 💪

The Overhead Misdirect Smash…In Under 60 Seconds 🛜 🏆

I mentioned earlier that Tanner and I shot some content together. Here’s one of those videos… in under 60 seconds (you know I had to do it 🤣).

Behind-the-Scenes with ThatPickleballSchool 👀

One of the awesome things about ThatPickleballSchool is the exclusive videos that only our Skool members get.

That picture 👆 is a little tease of something extra special we have coming. Basically, Tanner and I spent 45 minutes just talking strategy and we even recorded it because we thought what we discussed could help other players improve THEIR game.

While I can’t share all of it with you, I do plan on giving you all a taste of what it’s like “on the inside” every now and again.

Hopefully, you don’t mind. 😊