A way to beat "pushers"

[Power Player]

I play with a guy who is a junk ball master (5.0 level player). I would not say he is a pusher because he can retreive shots and place them where he wants. But in playing him a lot, I notice that I win points off him when I do this:

1. Hit a deep ball to the corner that he has to retrieve.

2. Approach the net right after my shot and put away the return.

Those 2 things get me points off of him. Against a pusher, they are almost unfair because they make that guy hit a perfect lob on the run. Most pushers that just dump back shots are 4.5 or under and can not lob consistently.

Try it out.

 

[wihamilton]

Nice suggestion. Most players run into trouble vs. pushers because they're unsure of what tactics to employ. IMO, really just a matter of understanding when and how you should attack vs. when you should just roll the ball back / keep a rally neutral.

BTW, I agree that your opponent isn't a pusher. Pushers aren't technically sound players and are thus unable to hit certain shots and limited in their ability to improve past a certain point.

 

[user92626]

Also works if you do the opposit:

1. Hit a junky short ball. Pusher can only run up and push back, not put away.

2. Then, hit a deep ball to a corner.

 

[Power Player]

Yeah, Will I would agree. I think what is frustrating against a pusher for people is that they hit a few perceived winners that are returned, the player keeps getting the ball back and then many times they collapse and mess up the next shot. So a good approach negates a lot of this.

User92626, your way is cool, but a little too high risk for me. An inferior player should not require you to make deep corner winners to put them away..IMO. The window for that shot is just smaller when they are near the net. I'd rather have them lunging from the baseline, because I have a lot more space for that shot when it is a setup and not a winner.

 

[wihamilton]

Yeah, Will I would agree. I think what is frustrating against a pusher for people is that they hit a few perceived winners that are returned, the player keeps getting the ball back and then many times they collapse and mess up the next shot. So a good approach negates a lot of this.

I think this pretty much sums up the problem most people have -- they hit a good shot and that's that. That good shot isn't part of a larger sequence of shots that's designed to win the point. Relying on a single shot to win you the point causes people to over hit, while constructing a point = aggressive but controlled (thus consistent) shotmaking.

 

[Power Player]

Yep. I am going to put my money where my mouth is and practice this more tonight, but I think it also cuts down on unforced errors.

A lot of people go for the win and overhit into the lines/corner, when you can ease up a little and still get a corner shot that will get your opponent scrambling and set you up for the approach winner.

 

[smack that]

the best way to beat a pusher is to push back even harder

works for me

 

[mikeler]

I like to sneak in on the pushers. If I see my shot is going to be penetrating, I know the floating reply is coming back. So I rush the net and use that first volley like an approach shot. After that, I'm usually in a positive position to win the point up there at the net.