It can be really frustrating if you are constantly playing a pickleball banger, but there are three proven ways to counter a hard hitter in pickleball. Option #1 is to block the ball. Option #2 is to counterattack the ball. And there's also a secret option #3 to recognize and react to your opponent’s unforced errors.
Option #1: Blocking the ball
When should you block the ball versus countering the ball? When you're blocking the ball in pickleball, it will typically be on a ball that 1. Has a lot of pace and you may be late to it, or B. It's dipping over the net below net level.
If somebody drives the ball and it's dipping below the net, it will be a difficult ball to apply pace to and counter, because it's either going to sail out or it's going to sail right in the contact point zone. If the ball is dipping below the net or has a lot of pace and it pulls you off balance, that's a great time to block the ball instead of countering the ball.
Techniques to block the ball
Having a technique for blocking the ball will take your game to the next level and will help you beat people that just want to hit the ball at you.
Your grip
On a scale of 1 to 10 — if 10 is gripping the paddle as hard as you can and 1 is the paddle is falling out of your hands. When blocking the ball, you want to be at a two to three on the grip strength level. So you want to have a light grip, but not too light to where you're going to lose control of the paddle.
Pro Tip: Put some pressure at the bottom of the paddle with two fingers, and with your top two fingers barely laid on the paddle. That will help you stay in control when blocking the ball.
Paddle angle
Once you've found the right light grip, the next thing to consider would be your paddle angle. When you're blocking the ball, you want your paddle to be slightly open — tilted slightly towards the sky, but not all the way because you won't make contact with the ball or it will pop up. But you want to be slightly open to create an arcing motion when the ball comes off your paddle.
If you're completely flat or have your knuckles down when blocking, the ball is going to dump into the net.
Get low
When blocking, you want to get low and let the ball do the work. There's not a lot of extra movement with your hand, but you want to let the paddle absorb the ball a little.
To learn how to effectively block a shot, please watch the video above.
Option #2: Counterattacking the ball
Unlike a block, a counterattack is going to be used in a scenario where the ball is flying higher at you. It’s very difficult to counter a ball that's coming at you low.
When you are prepared, you will more likely use a counter instead of a block — a block is a great option for when you're not prepared. When you see a ball coming and you have the time to think about your next move, you should be able to counter back.
Techniques to counter the ball
A general technique to counter the ball is to keep your paddle out in front of your body. One of the biggest mistakes a lot of beginners, and even intermediate players, make is taking a big backswing.
Backswing
You have to remember that you're not on a tennis court, you're on a pickleball court — you don't need a big backswing when you're at the kitchen line.
Another tip is to make sure you never take your paddle back behind the kitchen line, this will keep you from having a really big backswing and keep everything very short and compact.
Follow-through
During a counter, you will also want to make sure that you have a very short and compact follow-through swing. Because you're at such a short level on the pickleball court, you want to make sure that your follow-through isn't very long because you have to get ready and reload to get ready for the next shot.
Ball contact point
The next thing you will want to do during a counterattack is to contact that ball in front of your body, which will help you with timing and making sure everything is short and compact.
Elbow & core placement
The next thing you want to do is make sure that you keep your elbows near your body. This will help you keep everything short and quick. The secret to adding more power isn't creating a bigger swing, it's actually rotating your body so that you can get your core involved in the shot. This way you still have a very short swing, but you're adding your core for the extra power.
Stay relaxed
Staying relaxed will also help you when you're under pressure. A lot of players get really tight and scared when a ball is coming at them quickly. But if you relax your shoulders, you're going to have a much easier time hitting the sweet spot when the ball comes to you.
To learn how to effectively counter a shot, please watch the video above.
Option #3: Letting "out" balls go
Another way you can beat pickleball bangers is by letting “out” balls go. There are (at least) three quick ways to let “out” balls go:
Reading your opponent
The first thing that you're looking for from your opponent is the size of their backswing in relation to where they are on the court.
- If they're back at the baseline they can have a slightly bigger backswing.
- If they keep getting closer to the net and they continue to have a big backswing, you should know that that ball might be going out.
- If the ball is at that shoulder level, you should be letting that ball go.
The closer your opponents get to the net, the shorter their backswing should be. When you see a big backswing from up at the net, that's a caution to you: That one might be going out.
Contact point
The second thing you should be looking for when deciding to let “out” balls go is the contact point of your opponent’s paddle with the ball.
- If they are contacting the ball down near their shoes, they can't hit the ball hard, or it's going to go out.
- When they're contacting the ball from a low position — if they're applying a lot of pace — the upward trajectory is going to cause that ball to fly.
- The higher the ball bounces, the harder they can swing.
If you see your opponent contacting the ball from a low position, you should be experiencing a slower pace ball from them because a lot of pace will let that ball fly.
Footwork & body positioning
You should also be watching to see if your opponents are under control with their footwork and their body positioning.
- Check if they are running through the shot or applying a lot of pressure or momentum, because it could mean that the ball might be going out.
- It's much easier to keep the ball in when you're planted versus when you're moving or off-balance.
To learn how to effectively allow unforced errors, please watch the video above.
Drills to practice blocking & counterattacks
Blocking drill #1
A drill to help you with your blocks is called the "Double Tap Blocking Drill."
- Line up across from your partner at the kitchen line.
- Start by volleying the ball.
- The goal is to catch the ball on your paddle, tap it on your paddle, and then volley it back.
- Keep a loose grip and absorb the pace with your stance.
- See how many you can get in a row.
The drill will help you have a soft grip and help you keep your paddle face open, practicing all the correct blocking techniques. It will help you with paddle control and practicing your blocks.
Counterattack drill #1
A drill to help you with your counterattacks is called the "Targeted Speed-Up Drill."
- Line up across from your partner at the kitchen line.
- Only one of you will be speeding the ball up.
- You and your partner will predetermine which one of you can speed the ball up.
- You should know beforehand where your opponent will be speeding the ball up to.
- For the sake of this drill, they will be speeding the ball up to your backhand side.
- In a real game of pickleball, you wouldn't know where the ball is going to be. But for the drill this is going to help you practice the technique.
- Start off with some cooperative dinks.
- When your partner gets a good ball, they will speed the ball up to your backhand.
- You should be waiting for the counter.
The point of the drill is to practice the technique of getting the pickleball counter, nice and low, getting your knuckles down, and having a short compact swing.
To watch these drills in action, please watch the video above.