Played a "very consistent player" today...

[martini1]

Originally Posted by luishcorreia

I have to be honest.. I've known all along how to beat a pusher.. at least on paper.

The thing is when I go out on the court two things happen.

1) fear of losing by playing a game thats not my normal (going up to the net, hit at 60%).

2) pride... I just want to beat him at his own game

well.. but since I am losing... whats the diference right? Might as well go for it.

Dude, your mental game is not very strong. You need to get stronger and stay relaxed.

NEVER try to beat somebody at their game just because. Watch the AO Federer Santoro game on youtube. Even Federer cannot win every point the Santoro way. He beat Santoro by playing the Fed game. Having said that, there are many variations. So your variation is not to blast every ball deep behind the baseline.

If he doesn't moonball but hit with a low pace ts shot, it is even easier for you to change direction and take time away from him. You could be playing what people called the ball machine or the wall. They get a lot balls back with decent placement but just not aggressive enough to hit straight up winners. You need to come in to finish the point!

[ATP100]

Originally Posted by luishcorreia

I do not play very far behinf the baseline.. i'm normally on the baseline or 1 meter behind.

Based on your op, should you be behind the base line at all??

[rufus_smith]

Originally Posted by Mick

what kind of courts did you play at when you lost to this player? Hopefully not a clay court because if so, it would be difficult to implement the strategy that forum members have recommended

this.
if you are playing on red clay , strategy changes a lot.

[luishcorreia]

Originally Posted by rufus_smith

this.
if you are playing on red clay , strategy changes a lot.

This last 46, 46 game was on hard court. The one before where I won the first set 62 was also on hard court.

On clay he usually plays better for sure.

One time I had 4 match points against him on clay, but lost the match. On that particular game the difference was concentration. I struggle to find the patient to keep up with hat type of game...

[johnchung907]

I hate pushers. Strategy: Hit their moonballs on the rise. Try to get your finishing shots to be more consistent. I sometimes play against my dad who also is a pusher. I just take it early then approach the net and finish him off.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by johnchung907

I hate pushers. Strategy: Hit their moonballs on the rise. Try to get your finishing shots to be more consistent. I sometimes play against my dad who also is a pusher. I just take it early then approach the net and finish him off.

not sure why you and other people in the forum hate playing pushers because unlike all the other types of players, pushers give you time to set up your best shots and deliver them. If you play a good counter puncher, power hitter, or serve and volleyer, these players won't give you any time at all. You will feel rush all the time and if you hit a weak shot, they will make you pay, whereas, pushers would just block the ball back.

I would understand if you said pushers pose no challenge because you can beat them easily but this clearly is not the case for the people who seek advices on how to play them.

[martini1]

Originally Posted by Mick

not sure why you and other people in the forum hate playing pushers because unlike all the other types of players, pushers give you time to set up your best shots and deliver them. If you play a good counter puncher, power hitter, or serve and volleyer, these players won't give you any time at all. You will feel rush all the time and if you hit a weak shot, they will make you pay, whereas, pushers would just block the ball back.

I would understand if you said pushers pose no challenge because you can beat them easily but this clearly is not the case for the people who seek advices on how to play them.

Because at 3.5-4.0 (?) there are still a lot of players winning games relying on other's UE. Pushers by nature got the lowest UE possible for their level. So in a way it magnifies the player's UE. It is really easy to think anybody can easily beat a pusher because they got no weapons and they don't really hit winners.

It goes back to the thinking of "the better player losing the game". I think we all watch too much TV. All the fancy shots and winners matter more than anything.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by martini1

Because at 3.5-4.0 (?) there are still a lot of players winning games relying on other's UE. Pushers by nature got the lowest UE possible for their level. So in a way it magnifies the player's UE. It is really easy to think anybody can easily beat a pusher because they got no weapons and they don't really hit winners.

It goes back to the thinking of "the better player losing the game". I think we all watch too much TV. All the fancy shots and winners matter more than anything.

I see. Thanks.
well, these players will get a doze of reality when they good players who don't push. They won't like playing them any better than those pushers that they hate so much

[martini1]

Originally Posted by Mick

I see. Thanks.
well, these players will get a doze of reality when they good players who don't push. They won't like playing them any better than those pushers that they hate so much

LOL true, but I guess when they got outclassed they would just shut up and got nothing interesting to write on TT. Who wants to rant about "This guy's fh beats mine", or "I cannot return his serve at all".

[johnchung907]

Originally Posted by Mick

not sure why you and other people in the forum hate playing pushers because unlike all the other types of players, pushers give you time to set up your best shots and deliver them. If you play a good counter puncher, power hitter, or serve and volleyer, these players won't give you any time at all. You will feel rush all the time and if you hit a weak shot, they will make you pay, whereas, pushers would just block the ball back.

I would understand if you said pushers pose no challenge because you can beat them easily but this clearly is not the case for the people who seek advices on how to play them.

But I like feeling rushed . See with pushers... they hit the ball so high. I have the ability to hit consistent winners against their high balls but... it kinda gets boring. I usually like to play against power hitters and still find myself hitting winners. It's just more comfortable to hit medium to low balls for me.

[Rjtennis]

Like you said it's mostly mental. If he is hitting slow moonballs he has time to recover and won't be out of position too often so only be aggressive when you have a good opportunity. Also, when you do have the guy moving and in a defensive position try to finish at the net. I'm more of a baseliner but when I play defensive type players I end up at the net a lot. You also probably don't want to try to play 30 shots rallies and wait for him to miss if that's no how you typically win matches. Don't try to beat him at his own game. Once you figure out a game plan to beat this player you will be set.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by johnchung907

But I like feeling rushed . See with pushers... they hit the ball so high. I have the ability to hit consistent winners against their high balls but... it kinda gets boring. I usually like to play against power hitters and still find myself hitting winners. It's just more comfortable to hit medium to low balls for me.

I see. Me, I don't like being rushed because when that happens, sometimes i don't have time to hit my strokes the way I want to hit them but it's unavoidable if you play against good players who don't push.