Totally different games.
What's on a pusher's mind?
- Thread starter Curious
- Start date
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
Only for very defensive singles players. They need to make a lot of adjustment in doubles. But that is why it can help these guys increase their attacking intent, and take some of that new mindset and skillset back onto the singles court.
Attacking minded players can switch between the two games very seamlessly, provided they have the fitness.
Weak 2nd serves come in all sorts of varieties. Weak ones that sit up can be attacked. Weak ones that don't even bounce much...yes can be sliced but it's not easy to take advantage of those, especially in doubles. We've had many threads here over the years on why those weak serves/shots work at certain levels. One's technique to supply your own pace and spin for those weaker shots needs to be much stronger or else it results in a weak shot back or in UEs. That's in singles. Now in doubles you have the issue of the additional player already hovering over the net. Weaker servers tend to get away much more in doubles than in singles.
I'm an aggressive player and pretty fit too. If anything what gets me in trouble is being too aggressive with my shots.
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
Then you should do well in doubles, provided you have the skills to execute your aggressive intent and variety.
Doubles is also a very quick thinking game, you can't really get into a groove, need to really be present mentally and make fast decisions. But again, even if you lack that mental clarity, playing more doubles will improve it.
Agree there. I struggle because I rarely play doubles, and I don't take advantage of the extra width. However, whenever I've played a few days continuously, I can see a marked improvement. It's just that I like playing singles much more and the shots that seem to work for me in doubles (where I learn to take advantage of the extra dimensions) don't carryover much in singles. It might be different for others, where they can see that carryover effect much more.
Also, being extra aggressive, I am much more relaxed in singles, because win or lose it's on me. In doubles after a few errors, I tend to start playing not to lose because I don't want to let down my partner. It's not that my partner(s) is/are saying anything, but I start becoming more self conscious and more conservative. Even when my team wins those games, I don't get enjoyment out of it. Agreed that's a technique issue to hit with controlled spin that I need to get better at, but again, I'm just trying to explain why I personally don't enjoy doubles much. The way I play and run...I prefer singles much more and I also feel overall it's the more challenging version. Looks like many on this thread disagree. That's fine. It's my opinion and I could well be wrong.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I play both and enjoy both for different reasons: I like the one-on-one aspect of singles where I get to control everything that happens on my end of the court. I also like the team aspect of doubles, the quick exchanges at net, and the cat and mouse aspect.
I see them as very different games with different emphases on certain shots.
I see them as very different games with different emphases on certain shots.
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
People look for different challenges or sources of enjoyment. None are wrong, it's just personal preference. Some guys like to treat tennis as a form of exercise, to keep themselves physically fit. Some of these guys are probably not even fussed about improving their results at all. In fact people may actually purposefully try to be inefficient on court, meaning that they want to do as much running as they can, for the exercise. Not saying this is you, but just saying there are all sorts of personal motivations out there, and every single one is legitimate.
5263
G.O.A.T.
Really? that isn't what this means? ....
" in singles you have to run more and faster to hit those precise shots than in doubles."
'Run more and faster to hit precise shots' is the same as 'more precise shots' to you? Really?
I never said doubles doesn't require precise shots. I always get into these threads when someone says how doubles requires much more precision than singles, which is why I said that precision in doubles is overrated. Both require precision. It's my contention that it's easier to be more precise when you have to move less to hit the shots, and with wider court dimensions to boot.
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S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
As far as precision goes, it's much easier for me to hit in a court that's 9' narrower with no net man than one that's 9' wider with a net man.
Perfectly fine. So we disagree. There are many who disagree with me on this thread and I already conceded a few days ago that I could well be wrong because I don't play too much doubles, and the folks I play doubles with are all much better at singles. However, the statement I responded to yesterday was just to counter someone who believed that they found some inconsistency with what I wrote a few days ago. Agree or disagree with me, I've been consistent with my opinion on this.
5263
G.O.A.T.
I see your point now, but hopefully you can also see how your choice of words was a bit confusing.
Thanks
No worries...Yes...not the best choice of words.
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
You said it. "The first thing" is the key. A higher level skillset would be how to destroy pushers.
You gotta walk before you can run.
Quote from video: "It's not very effective when you play more advanced players."
newpball
Legend
His state of mind?Let's assume for a moment that there is such a thing as a pusher. Is this definition correct: it's the player who feeds on your unforced errors instead of their own winners? And what sort of mental state is this person in? Is he scared, clever, just focused on winning no matter what?
Something like this: "Man this sucker is fighting against himself, he must think he is some kind of a pro by making those ridiculously 1 out of a 1000 returns. This is gonna be an easy game, I don't even have to work hard to win here!".
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
when i play a retriever style of tennis (ie. not finish points when i could, and instead making you run down another shot)... i basically want you to suffer.Let's assume for a moment that there is such a thing as a pusher
often even if i lose the point, i'll win the next 4 because you're out of shape, winded, etc... (presuming i'm in better shape).
i've had folks flat out quit, because the effort would result in a pyrric victory.
that said, i'm not in the same shape to do that to any these days
Curious
G.O.A.T.
I have figured out that 'shape' is everything and equals to legs. Started working on them a few weeks ago with initially a pistol squat challenge and already seeing results. I wish I had done this long ago. The other day when I was watching Zverev I noticed a significant increase in his quad muscles and just googled his name and leg muscles quite sure of finding something and I came across an interview in which he was talking about how he focused on leg strength since last year and he added that he didn't worry about upper body as the power was needed in the legs. He said working upper body can even cause issues as it could reduce flexibility and fluidity there.
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
youtube search "borna coric workout" to get an idea of what they do...
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
For me, it's a race to see what gives out first: legs or lungs.
Curious
G.O.A.T.
Lungs much easier to fix I think if you are not carrying a lot of weight.
