Why “Drive Everything Against Bangers” Is the Worst Pickleball Advice at 3.0

“Drive Everything Against Bangers”: The Most Misused Advice at 3.0

There’s no shortage of advice passed around the courts at the 3.0 level. Some of it is helpful, rooted in experience and solid strategy. Other pieces of advice catch on like wildfire but cause more harm than good. One of the most repeated — and most misunderstood — is this: “Just drive everything against bangers.”

On the surface, it sounds reasonable. After all, if your opponents are smashing balls at you, why not hit back with equal force? But in practice, this strategy often fails. Not only does it play into the banger’s strengths, but it also keeps the game fast, reactive, and one-dimensional. Worse, it can slow your growth as a player by discouraging the very skills that make pickleball more strategic and consistent over time.

To understand why this advice gets so much traction and why it's so often misused, it’s important to look at what actually happens during a 3.0 match and how player tendencies shape the game.

Who Are the “Bangers”?
At the 3.0 level, the term “banger” refers to players who favor power over touch. Instead of slowing the game down with dinks or resets, they prefer to drive the ball hard at every opportunity — on serves, returns, and especially third shots. These players often have backgrounds in tennis or racquetball and are comfortable swinging big, aiming to overwhelm opponents with speed rather than finesse.

For newer players or those without quick reflexes, bangers can be intimidating. The constant barrage of pace can feel like pressure, and if you’re not confident in your blocking or positioning, it’s easy to panic. That’s when the quick-fix advice comes in: “Drive it back at them.” In other words, fight fire with fire.

But here's the problem — bangers usually want a fast game. They’re far more comfortable hitting drives and defending against them than they are with touch play, resets, or extended dinking battles. So when you drive every ball back at them, you’re reinforcing their game, not neutralizing it.

Why “Drive Everything” Doesn’t Work
The idea of hitting drives to counteract pace makes sense in theory, but it breaks down for a few key reasons:

Fast equals less control.
At the 3.0 level, most players don’t have the precision or timing to consistently hit fast-paced drives with both power and placement. When the ball is coming fast and you're also swinging hard, your margin for error shrinks dramatically. One mistimed shot and you’re hitting long, into the net, or directly into your opponent’s strike zone.

You give up the soft game.
The most effective way to beat bangers is to slow the game down, force them to move forward, and make them play shots they don’t practice. Dinks, drop shots, and resets force bangers out of their rhythm. If you commit to driving everything, you never make them uncomfortable. You never change the pace. And that’s a missed opportunity.

Reaction time favors the aggressor.
When both sides are driving, whoever hits first or harder usually wins. If your drives are even slightly weaker than your opponent’s, they will simply volley them back with more pace. At 3.0, where volleys and resets are still developing, this turns into a reactive game where points end quickly — usually not in your favor.

It stalls development.
Driving everything might win you some points in the short term, especially against other bangers or passive players. But long term, it keeps you from developing critical skills like soft hands, controlled resets, and thoughtful shot selection. Players who rely only on pace tend to plateau early, especially when they move into 3.5 and above.

What Should You Do Instead?
Instead of driving every return or third shot, players need to learn when to use pace and when to slow things down. Playing against bangers is not about avoiding drives entirely — it’s about using them strategically, not automatically.

Here are better approaches to counteract bangers effectively:

1. Mix Up the Pace
The worst thing you can do is be predictable. If you always drive, they’ll adjust. Instead, mix in drop shots, lobs, and even soft returns that force them to bend and move. Many bangers are far less comfortable hitting third shots from below the net or transitioning through the kitchen. Make them work for it.

2. Master the Block and Reset
One of the most effective tools against aggressive play is a calm, soft reset. Instead of trying to match the speed of their shot, absorb it. Use your paddle angle and soft grip to deaden the ball and drop it gently into the kitchen. This forces bangers to reset the point — something many are not good at. Practice resetting from midcourt and the transition zone so you’re not scrambling under pressure.

3. Use the Drop Shot Wisely
A good third shot drop is the banger’s worst enemy. It neutralizes their pace and forces them to move forward and make decisions. Even if your drop isn’t perfect, it’s still better than sending a drive straight into their strike zone. At 3.0, many bangers are hesitant at the kitchen line. Bringing them there levels the playing field.

4. Stay Disciplined on Defense
When you're on the receiving end of hard drives, don’t overreact. Keep your paddle out front, stay compact, and aim for control. Instead of trying to hit a winner, aim to keep the ball in play and wait for your opportunity to change the pace. A soft block or controlled volley into the kitchen can reset the rally and give you back control.

5. Know When to Drive
Drives have their place — especially on weak returns or high balls in the middle. If you have time and a good setup, a well-placed drive to your opponent’s backhand or body can create a pop-up or win the point outright. Just don’t turn every ball into a power contest. The best players know when to hit hard and when to reset.

The Real Goal: Forcing Adaptation
What separates higher-level players from the 3.0 crowd is the ability to adapt. The goal in pickleball is not just to hit the ball hard — it’s to make your opponents uncomfortable. Bangers often rely on the pace they’re used to. By giving them something different — a slower tempo, an unexpected dink, a block instead of a drive — you disrupt their rhythm. That’s how you gain control.

The irony is that many players giving the “drive everything” advice believe they’re simplifying strategy for newer players. In reality, they’re making the game harder. The fast game demands quick hands, sharp reactions, and precision — skills that take time to develop. The soft game, while also demanding, allows for more margin, more thinking, and more control. It’s a far better place for players to build their game from.

Better Advice for 3.0 Players
If you want to improve and compete with bangers more effectively, here’s advice that holds up better than “drive everything”:

Learn how to hit a reliable third shot drop.

Practice your soft hands and reset volleys.

Mix in strategic drives, not automatic ones.

Play to your strengths, but don’t avoid the kitchen.

Make your opponents uncomfortable by changing the pace.

Final Thoughts
Pickleball is a game of momentum, rhythm, and smart decisions. The advice to “drive everything against bangers” may come from a good place, but it often leads players down the wrong path. Rather than playing into your opponent’s strengths, learn to use pace as a tool — not a crutch.

Driving has its place, but strategy will always beat speed in the long run. Be the player who sees the court, feels the rhythm, and knows when to change it. That’s how you move beyond 3.0 and start winning smarter, not just harder.