Finally beat a pusher w/ the swinging volley technique

[GrandSlam45]

Note: this is for 4.0 level and below...

Like many of you, I've struggled with pushers for many years. When you first begin a match against an opponent you've never played before, and they start hitting those super high top spin moon balls that bounce mid-court, usually your reaction is "oh ****, here we go..."

A true pusher is someone who can't hit a winner. They can only moon ball ad nauseum, and usually their balls land mid-court. If you succumb to that style of play, you hit their balls on the bounce and get trapped into an awful rally that lasts forever and goes nowhere.

I finally found a solution... move the f--- up and hit their balls with a swinging volley rather than let them bounce! You don't need to worry about being passed, because they can't hit a winner. So move up and put their weak *** shots away.

I personally find this really easy. If you're not comfortable with this shot then practice! I think it's time the 4.0 pusher be extinguished. This seems to be at least one solution.

 

[downdaline]

That's a great tactic!

Unfortunately, the swinging volley isn't quite in my repertoire.

An alternative would be to hit flat on the rise. It takes time away from them like the swinging volley and is slightly higher percentage.

Not as awesome though. Haha.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Note: this is for 4.0 level and below...

Like many of you, I've struggled with pushers for many years. When you first begin a match against an opponent you've never played before, and they start hitting those super high top spin moon balls that bounce mid-court, usually your reaction is "oh ****, here we go..."

A true pusher is someone who can't hit a winner. They can only moon ball ad nauseum, and usually their balls land mid-court. If you succumb to that style of play, you hit their balls on the bounce and get trapped into an awful rally that lasts forever and goes nowhere.

I finally found a solution... move the f--- up and hit their balls with a swinging volley rather than let them bounce! You don't need to worry about being passed, because they can't hit a winner. So move up and put their weak *** shots away.

I personally find this really easy. If you're not comfortable with this shot then practice! I think it's time the 4.0 pusher be extinguished. This seems to be at least one solution.

Good strategy. But a 4.0 pusher can do a lot better than just midcourt bouncing moonballs.

You may be able to exterminate the 3.0 and below pushers, but come on... you ain't going to eliminate a good pusher on just a swinging volley.

 

[martini1]

Yes. Better pushers will hit a moonball landing in nml and bounces high. You will have to be very good to be able to swing volley with pace to hit the corners, draw him to pop up a short one. I rather hit on the rise and try to swing him side to side first. I would drop shot him when the chance comes. Pushers are not great net players.

 

[dominikk1985]

yes it works, but a Player that can consistently hit Swinging volleys should be easily able to beat pushers with baseline Play or conventional net Play too.

 

[mightyrick]

If someone can be consistent enough to beat a good pusher with swinging volleys, then why in the heck wouldn't you do even better with standard groundstrokes?

Sounds like a lot like low-percentage trolling to me.

 

[0d1n]

If someone can be consistent enough to beat a good pusher with swinging volleys, then why in the heck wouldn't you do even better with standard groundstrokes?

Sounds like a lot like low-percentage trolling to me.

I can see it. Good pushers usually have good movement, and that's how they win. One can be a pretty consistent and fairly technically sound hitter from the back but give them enough time to retrieve when hitting from there.
Not everybody can generate huge power from soft high-ish balls from behind the baseline. If you can...then you won't stay at 4.0 for long.
When hitting swinging volleys you don't need to hit it hard or to the corners, you take enough time away by just hitting it much earlier.

 

[mikeler]

I use the swinging volley all the time against pushers so that they can't keep resetting the point.

 

[Fintft]

yes it works, but a Player that can consistently hit Swinging volleys should be easily able to beat pushers with baseline Play or conventional net Play too.

Not my significant one, she's got no net play, but I envy her swinging volleys

 

[sundaypunch]

I can see it. Good pushers usually have good movement, and that's how they win. One can be a pretty consistent and fairly technically sound hitter from the back but give them enough time to retrieve when hitting from there.
Not everybody can generate huge power from soft high-ish balls from behind the baseline. If you can...then you won't stay at 4.0 for long.
When hitting swinging volleys you don't need to hit it hard or to the corners, you take enough time away by just hitting it much earlier.

Well said.

The key is taking time away from the pusher / moonballer. Staying at the baseline and hitting hard usually is what they want you to do.