Body bag shots – hitting the ball directly at your opponent’s body – have been getting a lot of attention in the pickleball world recently. We’re seeing more pros taking shots at each other in important games and using it as a strategy at the highest level.
With paddles being so powerful nowadays, it’s top of everyone’s mind. It’s why I always wear pickleball glasses when I play because I’m getting more worried that someone’s wild shot will go too high and hit me in the eye.
With this one of the hot topics right now, let’s take a closer look at body bagging in pickleball.
What is a body bag shot?
Body bagging is the name given to a controversial shot where a player fires the ball directly at their opponent’s body to force contact. Because the ball hits the player, contact is made, but they don’t have the time to react and return the ball. The ball falls flat and the opponent loses the rally.
It’s a way to score an easy point, but it’s a shot that a lot of players frown upon. We see a lot of players using really strong power paddles to rip balls at people standing 15 feet away, with the intent of hitting them before they can move.
It’s crept into the game so much that people have also started doing fake body bag shots. They shape up to hit one, their opponent gets a fright and turns or freezes, and then they hit a soft roll instead.
My take on body bagging
I think body bagging – especially full-swing, high-speed shots aimed directly at an opponent – is a strategy that doesn’t belong in competitive or recreational pickleball.
I’m a 5.0-level player and I love to play aggressively and competitively, but with skill and strategy. Sportsmanship is important to me and I want to win (or lose) fairly. That’s what makes any sport enjoyable, and pickleball is my favorite sport.
When players like Hayden Patrick Quinn take aggressive swings at their opponents in tournaments, it crosses a line for me. I don’t think there’s any joy in winning through deception or underhanded tactics. I would rather not win at all.
Should body bag shots be illegal?
In my opinion, this kind of behavior should be penalized – similar to how flagrant fouls are handled in basketball. Some people say it’s too difficult to call a foul on a body bag shot, but there are clear elements to look for:
- a visible wind-up.
- aiming above the shoulders.
- striking the ball so hard that the opponent has no chance to react.
That said, there is a strategic place for hitting at the body – especially the shoulder area – but it should be done without the excessive wind-up or intent to harm. Just like in basketball, where there’s a difference between a hard foul and a flagrant foul, we can draw a similar distinction in pickleball.
The bottom line – don't do it
At the rec level, body bagging is a recipe for getting blacklisted from games. Most people aren’t skilled enough to execute it effectively, and even if they are, nobody wants to play with someone who’s consistently trying to hit others. It’s a losing strategy.
At the pro level, it’s even worse. It makes the sport look immature and unprofessional. There’s no other legitimate sport where athletes are allowed to aggressively target opponents without consequences.
In my opinion, if pickleball wants to be taken seriously, these kinds of shots need to be monitored and penalized. It’s not just about safety – it’s about the image of the game.
