June 11, 2026
At recreational pickleball play around the country, there are some senior females who will not play against men because they bang virtually every shot.
We are talking about men with no soft game, or, if they have one, don’t incorporate it because they find banging more fun. The women’s refusal to face these players may not be happening where you play, or it may be only a couple of women who refuse to face that type of opponent at your venue, but this is a real thing at rec play nationwide. I have seen it often while playing in many locations, including indoor and outdoor courts in Tucson, Arizona and Asheville, North Carolina. And I have heard from many other seniors who have witnessed it.
Peter LoCascio has seen it and knows more than the average player about it. The 81-year-old Salem, Oregon resident (who took gold last year at the Oregon Senior Games) runs the “Pickleball for Seniors” group on Facebook, which has more than 48,000 members.
“Senior players, especially women, are refusing to play against aggressive men who are insensitive or incapable of playing more of a finesse game and one without driving the ball at them on every shot,” Peter says. “There still needs to be a general appreciation [among aggressive men at rec play] that observes and appreciates cooperative, recreational and competitive style play and adjusts their play accordingly.”
We asked senior women players for their thoughts on playing against men who bang virtually every shot.
Inger Stahlmann, 71, Weaverville, NC:
Inger does play against male bangers but isn’t crazy about it.
My main concern in regards to male bangers is their lack of awareness of how they actually are putting other players at risk of injury. I wonder if they believe banging to be a way to put their masculinity on display?
Tenaya Asan, 73, Novato, CA:
I do tend to to avoid male bangers as it is simply not that much fun for me to be constantly trying to play against the hard shots. If I am playing against them, I use it as an opportunity, but will probably bow out on another game.
Rhonda Mullican, 67, Decatur, AL:
I feel they believe they have to prove themselves that an older lady cannot beat them, so they bang the heck out of [the ball]. I have some male friends that will play with me and I set up the play and they will finish it off. But if it’s two women against [male bangers] no, I will not play.
Patty Miller, 66, Fairport, NY:
I greatly prefer playing with and against women, but I am not at all intimidated by bangers, be they male or female. In fact, I make it a point to emphasize (through my reactions) that they do not frighten me.
Benji Algase, 85, Ashburn, VA:
I just hope that the male player is good enough to control his shots. I will try to avoid playing against a hard-hitting male who only tries to go through the woman because it is the macho thing to do and he doesn’t have the skill to do anything else.
Mary Gravelle, 62, Tucson, AZ:
I like playing against slammers! It has made me a better player, my reflexes are faster and my resets are improving. I am better able to control my return shots, instead of just reacting.
Lorraine Rupper, 59, Orem, UT:
Lorraine has a 4.50 DUPR and was profiled in this space last May after she played at least one game in all 50 states.
Yes, I play against aggressive males. If they want to hit the ball hard, that is fine with me. I have two options: I can always block the ball back down toward their feet, and they if they continue hitting it hard, I will dodge the next ball which usually will go out. If they want to play aggressively, let them. I will adjust my game to still be able to beat them.
Mary Hilton, 81, Weaverville, NC:
Most men are gentlemen and adjust their game to play with the ladies. One younger man says he loves playing with us and tries to work on his soft game, so dinking, lobs, and placement shots are the things he works on. Occasionally (and it is usually a newer player), I realize a player has no control over his shots, it is then that I try a little humor, and remind them that I need to preserve my beautiful face.
We asked two certified instructors for their advice on handling bangers. Steve Paranto is also in the Pickleball Hall a Fame. The 70-year-old Beavercreek, OR, resident says, “Generally, the men at this level are banging everything because they are winning with this tactic. Until they play against players that can counterattack, dodge or reset, they will keep doing it. I love teaching women how to build up these [same] skills to beat these bangers.”
Cheryl Horvath, a highly regarded, PPR certified teaching pro in Tucson, AZ, says, “A lot of bangers have success because we play to their strengths, allowing them to hit the ball out of the air, instead of keeping the ball down at their feet. Learning to reset the ball and being patient on defense goes a long way in frustrating the bangers. Bangers want the point over quickly, so forcing them to play more balls is key. Lastly, take a step back from the non-volley zone line if a banger is about to pounce on a ball. Stepping back quickly to get into a low ready position will give the player more time and distance from the banger when the ball is hit.”
Thoughts of the week, not all pickleball
· RIP Peabo Bryson. The singer and songwriter who died at 75 on June 2nd dominated the soul and R&B charts for nearly two decades. His hits included “Beauty and the Beast” (with Celine Dion); “Can You Stop the Rain; “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” and “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” (with the late, great Roberta Flack.)
· Are you ever in the middle of what began as a friendly discussion on Facebook when some angry person posts an argumentative comment? It is often just a nasty comment or something totally unrelated about politics. These trolls need to get out of their parent’s basement and go out and play some pickleball, don’t you think?
· The excellent paddle reviewer Matthew Khoury, host of the YouTube channel and website, “Matt’s Pickleball,” broke his left foot five weeks ago during a doubles match in Rosemount, Minnesota. He was wearing the new JOOLA pickleball shoes and while he’s not blaming the shoe for a bad landing, in a recent podcast Matt noted the round shape alongside the shoe’s edge, which theoretically could hurt lateral support. He returned to playing after three weeks. I like a few paddle reviewers but no one more than Khoury. His on-court paddle comparisons are the best, the guy’s a good writer and isn’t afraid of pissing off paddle companies when he gives a negative review. Matt’s injury was caught on camera. He is in the far court on the right.
· Speaking of paddle reviewers, I know a few who say every other new paddle they play with is the “best ever.” They have a lot of “best evers.” I’ve said this before: Giving rave reviews on every paddle gives those reviewers zero credibility in my book. I get that there are a lot of great paddles in the market now, but in my opinion some reviewers can find new adjectives and tone down the hyperbole. Some over the top reviews makes me wonder about the commissions that paddle reviewers receive. That’s the topic of next week’s blog.
· The Netflix series, The Four Seasons is funny and well-written. Not surprising considering Tina Fey is an executive producer and co-star, and that other co-stars include Colman Domingo, Steve Carell and Will Forte. The series accurately depicts middle-age relationships, unlike most Hollywood scripts.
· It stinks when your baseball team is virtually out of the playoffs before the end of May. I’m looking at you, Mets General Manager David Stearns, for making several ill-advised off-season moves.
· Since I can barely watch the Mets terrible offense these days, my attention is on the NBA Finals. I think the Knicks match up well against the young Spurs. This despite the towering presence of San Antonio’s 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama. The kid is unlike any basketball player ever. A 7 foot, 4-inch freak who can handle the ball, shoot 3’s and whose inside defensive presence alters opponents’ drives and shots. But I think the Spurs are a year away. Knicks in 6
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