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Can't beat this pusher!

by Tyler
(California)

I am 15 and I play for the varsity tennis team at my school... Now, when we play OTHER schools, i win... but when I play our players, I LOSE...

I'm getting way better on controlling my shots, and they are getting more powerful day by day along with my serve, BUT.............

I play this one (not too tall) person who on every shot, including his serve, just PUSHES the ball over... My coach says I have the best baseline play on the team, but I CANT BEAT THIS GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I try to go to the net, but he just pushes the ball to the side.... The worst part is, I GET SO AGGRAVATED WITH MYSELF......

I play every day with college level people on the college teams and have no problem keeping up, but I CANT BEAT THIS ONE GUY...............

Please comment, tell me what I could do...

Thank you for your time.

Comments for
Can't beat this pusher!

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Jan 10, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Drop shots!
by: Joe

Most true pushers are not comfortable at net. Try to draw him in. But beating a pusher is mostly mental. Be prepared for a long, patient match. Don't try to force risky shots, that's exactly what he wants you to do. But at the same time, don't be afraid to take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself!
Jan 11, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I've Tried.....
by: Tyler (the author)

ive tried that but he is too fast and is good at the net...
Jan 14, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Try this
by: Anonymous

What you have to do with pushers is first be able to control your mind state. Donīt get upset or nervous. After that if you canīt beat him by bringing him to the net then you have to rally with him for a while. Try to keep the ball deep and donīt try to force your shots. This will probably upset your opponent cause he is used to see you missing a lot. After this he will probably make an error or you will get a short reply to end the point
Jan 20, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		One idea
by: Nick

You mentioned before that this guy is "very fast"

One way you could beat him is if you improve your endurance both physically and in the amount of shots you play.

If you can play long enough to where he is tired he loses his primary strength.

Keep playing the shots that get him on the defense, you may not have "winners" but you can continually put him under pressure. Also to the point where he can't do anything other then "push"

If you can continually do this by your play or by tiring him out he should eventually "crack" by giving you the short ball or by missing entirely.

I'm not saying you should become a pusher but be a patient agressor.

-Just one idea, Nick



Jan 20, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		if you're better
by: Rick

If you are really the better player then I will leave the technique to your expertise ie. keep it deep, bring him in, etc. Against this player, I believe patience is only missing ingredient in your game. I don't even think it is a matter of tiring your opponent out, just keep the ball in play. This shouldn't be an issue if you are "the better player". It sounds like you may be more interested in looking good, hitting that big shot to win the point. If your goal is to look good, keep up your current style. If it is to win, consider patience and more high returns, almost a lob, even when he is not at net.
Depending on his committment to winning, be ready for a long match - over 3 hours.
If you would like to "discuss" this or tennis in general - rsrestock@aol.com
Best wishes.
Jan 21, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pushers vs Strokemasters
by: Rodrigo G / WestEnd

If a person does not have a spectacular game and is without a big weapon but wins they call that person a pusher. What many fail to realize is that the pusher is possibly the better player of the two as tennis is based on percentages not how nice you swing at the ball. So the belief that telling yourself your the better player just because you have a nice swing is setting you up for failure. Each mistake will bring you mentally to a place where you can never recover your game. The pusher wins when you lose your composure. Its like watching Federer play Nadal. One is a stroke master and the other one pushes the ball back until an error is made. The errors build up and eventually one starts trying to hit winners and lower percentage shots until all fails. It gets down to who wants to win the point and at what cost. Its a hard life being a pusher. Each round is exhausting for a pusher. If a Pusher wins then 95% of the time they are in better shape than there opponent. Tennis is physical. If you get tired you lose. The Pusher bottom line goes like this "Maybe hitting 2 more easy balls are more effective than going for a winner on the 3rd ball". Instead of winning trying to win the point on the 3rd shot against the pusher find out how many balls in play it takes before the pusher wants to go for the winner or starts to feel the stress. Its best to run the pusher and wait for your opening. Maybe the pusher will get tired. Try to use high looping balls to change pace and maybe a short ball or two. Hits drop shot approaches and drop volleys. Keep everything fresh. You have to deliver change in pace all the time. Maybe running him will win more points in the end so be patient and move him around more than he make like. Its always hard to beat the pusher but the pusher is your best teacher. Why because they stress your game to failure. This is what every player has to overcome at any level. Hitting great shots dont win matches nearly as many times as minimizing your errors.
Jan 21, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Who's the best?
by: Saggitar

As a player who is "pushing 60", but who likes to play full strokes, I can say that pushers in the older vets leagues are probably the majority. Whatever else you might say about them, pushers have longevity! But, "the better player" is always the guy who wins on the day! So has saying, "he's a pusher" become an excuse? - even if you don't intend it to be? I think Agassi once said, when asked, that the "secret" of tennis is to get the ball in one more time than the other player. Simple! - that's ALL you have to do: go out & keep the ball in play. But also perhaps there is a challenge to you current game here. You say you're praised for your baseline game - that's what your pusher is expecting. So go out & serve & volley a bit & hit a few nice drop-shot/lob mixes to keep him runnning forwards & back. Most players prefer the side-side stuff. Do you have a game plan specific to this "pusher", or are you just expecting that if you do what you always do, he'll eventually roll over for you? I don't think he will. He's got under your skin. You need to mix things up, get him doubting himself, get under HIS skin. He'll wish he'd given up after the first win!
Jan 22, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		OK
by: Tyler ( the author)

I understand what you are all saying... keep the ball in play, tire him out... I try that, and with all your comments ive noticed that maybe, im not the best baseline player, but the best " try to hit a winner" person... I'll try to move him around but, he is on the cross country team and is trained to not get tired... :(.... but I'll try... Thanx alot...
Jan 23, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Not so much about getting him tired
by: Anonymous

Its not so much as to tire him cause well most pushers have great stamina. The idea of deep shots is to keep him on defense and the crosscourt shots are to open up the court so you donīt have to risk too much to make a winner.
Feb 01, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		beating the pusher
by: Anton

If - I repeat if, you have better ball control (better timing, better intuition of where the contact point between your racket and the ball is going to be, better foot and body, particularly shoulder, preparation for the drive) then you should be able to play V tennis, ie making him run from one tramline to another while you stay in the middle of your court. I assure you that if he has a relatively long breath, he is relatively weak on sprints (and vice versa). Everybody is subject to mistakes while struggling to return a far-away ball. Just get your return far away from him, and his mistakes will increase.
Feb 03, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Feed him balls with no pace
by: Anonymous

I think my game is much like yours. I have problems with this guy ho used to be a ping pong player. The harder i hit the ball the more he finds good angles to control the game.
But when I feed him balls with no pace he seems to struggle because he needs my speed to control his shots.
Start hitting medium pace balls with length and good top spin. Wait for him to give you a ball in the middle of the court in a position that you know you can't miss. Then swith tempo and hit the ball deep to his backhand.
Either you know will win the ball or he will recover your shots and pushing back.
Now to the difficult part. If you've lost your opportunity to finnish him of, you have to start feed him lose balls again and wait for the next opportunity.
I think Murray is the one to watch for this type of game. He's an expert in switching tempo.

Good luck!
Apr 07, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Play slow ball
by: Ozwell

Since it seems he feeds off the power of your shots, "cut off" the power. Hit off-pace serves. On groundies, get used to slicing to the general area of the T, keeping it low, curving, and skidding. Try to force him into "no man's land" and get him off his game of pushing the ball. If he gets to net, lob him.
Mar 10, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		build a complete game
by: Anonymous

Firstly you need to decide for yourself if beating this guy is just an ego issue or do you need it for more practical reasons. If its purely for ego reasons, and you can make progress in achieving your tennis goals without beating him, I suggest you drop the idea that you have to beat him in the near term. Let go...

Having said that, the problems that these fit pushers, junkball hitters and unconventional players typically pose is their ability to test the completeness and variety in their opponents game.

It is hard to give specific direction without actually watching you both play. But there is almost always a solution to the problem. Even federer who seemed to have a perfect game found an opponent in Nadal (a very weird player) who could find one remote weakness of his (a sharply rising ball to his backhand, and animal fitness to chase everything down, ability to clinically finish a short ball with a sharp angle and a lefty serve). Questions is where you have all the tools. So, forget about this guy for now and accumulate tools - serve variety, slices, drop shots, drop volleys etc. Practice the specific items that you think you need to beat your future opponents on the practice session before the match.

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