"The Pusher" - my new ball machine idea

[Wuppy]

So I've been playing in a bunch of 3.5 tournaments and almost all these guys (except for 2 so far) have an incredible arsenal of awful shots which perplex, disorient, and eventually beat me.

I've been wondering how to train to defeat these guys, because when I'm out hitting I usually hit with guys who play deep, hard, baseline topspin shots.

So I'm thinking of coming up with a prototype for a ball machine that will allow me to train for these dudes. I call it The Pusher.

It has two different holes that the balls come out of. It only has two shots. One's a spinless, deep moonball, the other is a partially mishit slice drop-shot that clears the net due more to luck than skill.

The machine will alternate between these two shots, and will make a clunky frame sound when the slice drop-shot is played to properly simulate that shot.

I'm hoping that after a few thousand hours using The Pusher, I'll be able to beat these guys!

[Mick]

ball machines don't hit back like pushers do. IMO, if you want to beat good pushers, you have got to play them even if their games frustrate you.

[Wuppy]

You missed the point of the thread, didn't you? The problem with 3.5-level pushers is not that they hit back, it's that they hit such awful shots that they throw one's game off.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

You missed the point of the thread, didn't you? The problem with 3.5-level pushers is not that they hit back, it's that they hit such awful shots that they throw one's game off.

yeah but my point is your ball machine cannot re-create those awful shots

[Wuppy]

Just wait, it will.

[Vlad_C]

Put me on the waiting list for one of those.
I am having the same issue, I hit really well in practice with guys that play better than me. Then I go and lose matches against guys who hit nothing but junk, random shots with no pace. It's so frustrating.

[Wuppy]

An upgrade kit will allow the machine to simulate 45 mph slice serves that die as soon as they clear the net.

[sundaypunch]

You have found yourself in a "Catch 22". You aren't good enough to beat a dinker so you are frustrated by the 3.5 tournaments you are stuck in. However, if you don't play these you will never learn to beat them and progress beyond 3.5.

It ain't gonna happen hitting on a ball machine.

[Power Player]

This has already been invented. Its called a wall.

Practice more.

[Specialjustin]

I take it, poor footwork comes as standard?

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

So I've been playing in a bunch of 3.5 tournaments and almost all these guys (except for 2 so far) have an incredible arsenal of awful shots which perplex, disorient, and eventually beat me.

You know, pushers call those shots winners. Maybe it's not the shots that are awful. You have to play all kinds of opponents and shots.

[Wuppy]

Originally Posted by Specialjustin

I take it, poor footwork comes as standard?

It also grunts loudly with each moonball, a feature you can't turn off.

[dman72]

Throw some dead balls in the ball machine, you'll get some interesting results.

[ibjj]

Funny post......reading some of the replies leads me to believe some people have no sense of humor...

[corbind]

Funny thread and replies!