High School Tennis: Beating Pushers- DOUBLES

[BumperJeep]

Anybody have any advice for beating two pushers in doubles. It's so frustrating to play these guys. I'm a strong 4.0, but I can beat this doubles team. they play very smart, but they don't hit the ball. what do i do?! i play them wednesday

[crocon]

In high school I probably lost most of my matches to people like this because I got to frustrated. The best advice I can give is to be patient and wait for the shot you can put away. Take your time and do what ya got to do to win no matter how annoying it may be.

[Zhou]

My advice to you is put pressure on them by coming to net. They have to make quick decision while you are at net so they hit an indecisive ball and you just put it away.

[herosol]

serve and volley thanks.

[Korangster]

if you read the post in tips and instruction, ull see that ppl reccomend making them move forward and backward on the court. since they dont usually have great volleys, drop shot them and bring them to net. then lob. see how that works

[ayyhwang]

just get to the net as fast as you can and as long as you have solid overheads then you're fine

[jjrl2004]

lol pushers in doubles...thats weird. pushers should get killed in dubs unless they can put away volleys and place returns and use drop shots well..usually pushers aren't like that.

btw lobbing a lot doesnt make someone a pusher, it's one of the strategies that works against tall poachers.

[rosenstar]

I've played in the state tournament for doubles the last couple years and have played teams like this, that just push balls that land on the service line, and then lob you. it's very hard to put the ball away. Here's my advice:

1. Serve and volley - get to the net, and keep playing doubles, try not to end up playing singles [strategy] with four people on the court. Against this type of team, it's surprisingly easy to do so.

2. DO NOT go for drop shots. My partner and I had a doubles lesson today since the state tournament is coming up in a few weeks and this issue (about drop shots) came up. As tempting as this might sound, it is a HORRIBLE idea. First of all, it a very hard shot to hit successfully, second of all, you'll most likely open up lots of angles for your opponent. Third of all, It's very easy to read, and very hard to play successfully. With two players on the other side of the net there's much less room to pass them. Finally, by drop shotting in doubles, your allowing your opponents to take the offensive. Even a pusher can put away an easy ball at the net.

3. Fence your overheads. (hit them so the ball bounces over the fence) Don't worry about putting them too deep in the court or off to an angle.

4. Play volleys down the middle against teams with two back. the pusher teams I've played often played both players at the baseline. Don't go for angles that aren't there. Even if you make the angled volley, unless it's a winner, you've just opened up more angles for your opponent to hit to. At least play the first few volleys deep.

5. Don't try to do too much with your volleys. They don't have to be amazing. Assuming you and your partner have decent volleys, it's going to be hard to hit through you when both of you are at the net.

6. Keep your cool and keep talking to your partner. This is a very frustrating type of team to play. don't make it any harder than it all ready is by losing your temper.

And of course, all of the normal stuff applies... Make as many returns as possible, cut down on double faults and try to start the point at an advantage. Be confident and enjoy it.

Tell us how it goes.

[jjrl2004]

You just gotta POACH..at junior level there aren't many good teams that are bad at poaching.

Pushers will get killed by 2-up or 1-up 1-back poachers because by definition poachers hit balls slow, which can be easily poached (even if they are placed well).

And since pushers run well, make sure volleys are fast enough/high enough..or you can set up an overhead.

[rosenstar]

You just gotta POACH..at junior level there aren't many good teams that are bad at poaching.

Pushers will get killed by 2-up or 1-up 1-back poachers because by definition poachers hit balls slow, which can be easily poached (even if they are placed well).

And since pushers run well, make sure volleys are fast enough/high enough..or you can set up an overhead.

You don't poach unless you have a target. Unless there's a chunk of the court open, a man at the net, or a ball that can easily be put away, poaching's just an unnecessary risk.

I'm assuming that the opposing team will be playing two back. otherwise, every floater should be returned right at the net man's feet.

[DrewRafter8]

Advice from a high school coach- get your butt up to net. My top team lost a match to the same doubles team twice last week because they failed to get their butts up to net.

[benne]

Last year my partner and I were expected to be in the doubles finals for state, we lost to 2 singles players who pushed lobs. My partner and I were both good at overheads but they had lobs that pushed us into defensive shots...Very frustrating. I'd say make them hit volleys and come to the net if they don't.

[Kaptain Karl]

I'm a HS Coach. I've never seen a "strong 4.0" who couldn't beat a pusher.

I conclude one of two things:

a) You are not a "strong 4.0."

-- or --

b) They are not pushers.

Pushers get clobbered by dubs teams who know what they are doing. Even 3.5 teams who play decent dubs beat pushers.

== == == == ==

Where do they play most of their points? Where do you play most of your points? (2-Up ... 2-Back ... 1-Up, 1-Back)

Answer this and help may be more readily offered.

- KK

[tennisdude083]

dude pushers should not be a threat in doubles... especially if you are a "strong 4.0"... just serve and volley and capture the net as soon as possible

[[d]ragon]

who ever is at the net needs to poach. if they're just pushers, theyre not gonna hav good passing shots so the net player should be trying to dominate. also try to hit at their net player because they probably wont be great volleyers

[JMS]

serve and volley thanks.

second that

[BumperJeep]

wow. thanks for all the help. i didn't think there would be this many responses. let me give some more details.
these guys are the smartest doubles players i've played against.
they don't put ANYTHING on the ball unless its from the net. i have alot of difficulty hitting against such a slow pace, because im used to playing with people who pound the ball from the baseline.
the hardest thing for me is that they are the only team better than us in the league and we have a rivalry that goes back a while. the pressure is basically on me because our 2nd and 3rd singles will definitely win, and 1st probably won't, so it comes down the the doubles. this makes me tight. lol

[TennisProdigy]

Just play your regular game. A strong 4.0 will never lose to a pusher.

[vndesu]

Just play your regular game. A strong 4.0 will never lose to a pusher.

i agree.
all in all id lure him to the net and then attack him :]

[BullDogTennis]

i've found alot of pushers will end up hugging the baseline, because of lack of speed your willing to put on the ball, so i find 2 things very helpful
assuming both are back:
1. put them in a predicament by hitting it reletively hard right inbetween them.
2. keep the ball very low, via slice, and try to hit it close to there feet, this way its very tough for them to do lobs: assuming both, or one(poaching) is waiting to put it away at the net.

[brayman9]

the pushers weaknes will always be when u are both up at net so i don't see what the problem is if u are a 4.0 your volleys must be solid just move in and pick of there slow shots with some angles and that good stuff

[Hatari!]

When you have 2 at the net, if they have good dippers get close. But if they lob a lot, stay on the service line.

[ufg8r]

Everything's been summed up here pretty much. u shouldnt have too much trouble w/ pushers.