How To Beat Pushers

[thomas daniels]

At the junior and the adult level of competition.

We have a lot of pushers playing the game.

You need to know how to play them and you need to know how to beat them.

In this post.

I'll cover both here today.

First thing is this.

Understand that pushers want you to get frustrated and start going for too much on your shots.

So, never play their game.

Play this one instead.

Bring them in.

"Most pushers can't volley and many of them don't even have an approach shot in their game either".

Give them a drop shot at the right time and then look to pass them on your next shot.

I would fire a few balls right at them, to get in their head too.(It always seems to work for me)

The other thing you need to do is.....

Come in on all short balls.

Keep attacking them.

Now when you come in, give them a short angle volley or a stop volley one and bring them in.

Believe me.

This will upset their game plan fast and in a hurry.

Make a note.

Don't rush things.

Wait for that short one and then use a good approach shot and close in on them.

Bottom line here.

Pushers don't even have a plan B to work with.

So when you use these tactics on them, they will mentally breakdown!!

When they do break down.

Keep the pressure on them and finish off the match as fast as you can.

I used to love playing pushers, because I could always PUSH their mental buttons.

And so can YOU!!

 

[styksnstryngs]

What if they do k ow how to volley? What's your plan B then? It seems kinda hypocritical to laugh at pushers for not having a plan b when you don't have one yourself.

 

[J011yroger]

Thank god for you!

You saw a need and you filled it.

There was a total lack of threads on how to beat pushers and you have given us a comprehensive guide.

Well done!

Good on ya!

J

 

[rogerroger917]

What is a pusher?

 

[styksnstryngs]

Thank god for you!

You saw a need and you filled it.

There was a total lack of threads on how to beat pushers and you have given us a comprehensive guide.

Well done!

Good on ya!

J

This guy's poasting is incredible. He loves poasting GOAT threads--
and so can YOU!!

 

[rogerroger917]

We can ALL do it!!!! I believe.

 

[rogerroger917]

What if they do k ow how to volley? What's your plan B then? It seems kinda hypocritical to laugh at pushers for not having a plan b when you don't have one yourself.

That's obvious duh. Only hit aces and service return winners. That's how you beat a pusher.

 

[Chadillac]

There isnt a strategy that works against everyone. No matter what style they play

 

[mightyrick]

Good luck, OP. There is no single-way to beat any pusher. Pushers might all have the commonality of "getting the ball back", but they tend to do it in very different ways. Some pushers like you to run them side-to-side, some like you to bring them in because they have a good chip lob. Some like you to hit the ball at them and they take all the pace off it and dink you to death.

Pushers come in wide variety of players. After playing pushers for years, the only common thing that I see that beats them is waiting for the right ball to make your move. You can't get any more specific than that because different pushers give you so many different looks. But if you go after the wrong ball, you'll lose. It takes patience.

Another thing for sure... unless you have a complete command of all shots, you will not beat all pushers. I beat most 4.0 pushers, but there are a couple who still give me trouble... simply because of the looks they give me. I don't have the shot (yet) to beat those particular guys, but I will get there.

The best you can do is improve any shot you are lacking and be patient.

 

[styksnstryngs]

I think the "pushers" Thomas likes to wreck are 2.5 hackers with aluminum Walmart racquet that bunt the ball back over. Congrats, op. You can beat a noob.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Bring them in.

Good advice. However, it needs to come with a caveat: don't try to hit too good of a drop shot and end up making a lot of errors.

The problem then becomes hitting a short enough ball that makes it more painful for the pusher to retreat than come in: if you don't hit it short enough, they'll bunt it back and retreat to their comfort zone at the BL.

And not everyone who plays pushers has this control.

Come in on all short balls.

The thing to consider is how comfortable is the player at the net? If the player is more uncomfortable at net than the pusher is hitting passing shots, it's a losing proposition. Furthermore, the pusher will almost certainly pull out the lob so the player had better be comfortable with his OH.

Pushers don't even have a plan B to work with.

I don't know if I'd go so far as to make this universal statement. I've seen more than one pusher who could adapt if plan A wasn't working.


There seems to have been a spate of pusher threads over the last few weeks: what do you think of what's been written there?

 

[_GOATbis]

drop shot to the net

OR

topspin moonball to their backhand and volley approach for a winner

 

[Traffic]

Good luck, OP. There is no single-way to beat any pusher. Pushers might all have the commonality of "getting the ball back", but they tend to do it in very different ways. Some pushers like you to run them side-to-side, some like you to bring them in because they have a good chip lob. Some like you to hit the ball at them and they take all the pace off it and dink you to death.

Pushers come in wide variety of players. After playing pushers for years, the only common thing that I see that beats them is waiting for the right ball to make your move. You can't get any more specific than that because different pushers give you so many different looks. But if you go after the wrong ball, you'll lose. It takes patience.

Waiting for the right ball is definitely a component.

I played a pusher last week. And OMG what a test in patience. It took me the better part of a set to finally figure things out and also dial my own shots to playing against zero pace lobs all the time. The best tactic I came up with was to vary my own shots in a controlled manner. No winners. But just vary from return lobs, to flats to topspin. Keep my shot safe and wait for him to return a short lob or a lob that's too low. But it took a ton of UE's to dial it in.

At the junior and the adult level of competition. We have a lot of pushers playing the game.

Understand that pushers want you to get frustrated and start going for too much on your shots.

So, never play their game.

Not sure there are a lot. %-wise, it seems rather small. I think one of the reasons why we have so much trouble is because they are less frequent and we don't have experience dealing with it.

I think advanced pushers know they frustrate their opponents and that in itself is a weapon. Others just do it because "it works."

My son melted to an advanced pusher who hit 80% slice lobs. He let the frustration overwhelm him. He tried hitting deep, but it's met with slice lobs that fall just beyond the service line. The arc of the ball is different than typical lobs and the spin adds another variable that makes it very hard to take an OH.

Bringing opponent into the net. Well, he's a very good net player. And it's tough to mount an attack off of slices that land and don't bounce.

 

[ChaelAZ]

There isn't a one-size formula to beat pushers because they bring different skill sets along with the pushing. Some might be out of shape so moving them is key. Some might be beginning and just don't have great hitting so they moonball to keep the ball in play, but they are those back board people too and get to everything, so you have to find ways to take away time by closing the net and trying to take the ball early. And even in both of those scenarios either of those tactics may need to change.

What won't change is that when facing a pushers you NEVER try to beat them at their own game and always apply your game at your pace.
The moment you dink one back is the moment they won.

 

[Dartagnan64]

What won't change is that when facing a pushers you NEVER try to beat them at their own game and always apply your game at your pace.
The moment you dink one back is the moment they won.

I've done that sometimes to a pusher to show that his game isn't all that special and I could resort to that if I wasn't concerned about becoming a better tennis player. Just do it for a game. I have no problem hitting deep moonballs and floaters to guys BH's if I want and am happy to meet moonballs with moonballs to prove a point. It's just a way to get into their head. When they realize their style isn't "all that" they start to get a bit less confident.

 

[jm1980]

What won't change is that when facing a pushers you NEVER try to beat them at their own game and always apply your game at your pace.
The moment you dink one back is the moment they won.

What if I can outpush them?

 

[thomas daniels]

Waiting for the right ball is definitely a component.

I played a pusher last week. And OMG what a test in patience. It took me the better part of a set to finally figure things out and also dial my own shots to playing against zero pace lobs all the time. The best tactic I came up with was to vary my own shots in a controlled manner. No winners. But just vary from return lobs, to flats to topspin. Keep my shot safe and wait for him to return a short lob or a lob that's too low. But it took a ton of UE's to dial it in.


Not sure there are a lot. %-wise, it seems rather small. I think one of the reasons why we have so much trouble is because they are less frequent and we don't have experience dealing with it.

I think advanced pushers know they frustrate their opponents and that in itself is a weapon. Others just do it because "it works."

My son melted to an advanced pusher who hit 80% slice lobs. He let the frustration overwhelm him. He tried hitting deep, but it's met with slice lobs that fall just beyond the service line. The arc of the ball is different than typical lobs and the spin adds another variable that makes it very hard to take an OH.

Bringing opponent into the net. Well, he's a very good net player. And it's tough to mount an attack off of slices that land and don't bounce.

Same tactics apply though, come in on them with great approach shots, tell your son to work on his smash and his net game and then mix it up in his matches, pushers are still limited by what they can do during play, if your son develops ball control and a heavy topspin forehand, he will start eating them for lunch, because they can't deal with the spin at all, then he can just come in on the short balls and volley short angles on them. I learnt how to dominate pushers from my high school coach. And I never had any problems with them again

 

[thomas daniels]

What if I can outpush them?

You should never try that tactic though!!

 

[thomas daniels]

Good luck, OP. There is no single-way to beat any pusher. Pushers might all have the commonality of "getting the ball back", but they tend to do it in very different ways. Some pushers like you to run them side-to-side, some like you to bring them in because they have a good chip lob. Some like you to hit the ball at them and they take all the pace off it and dink you to death.

Pushers come in wide variety of players. After playing pushers for years, the only common thing that I see that beats them is waiting for the right ball to make your move. You can't get any more specific than that because different pushers give you so many different looks. But if you go after the wrong ball, you'll lose. It takes patience.

Another thing for sure... unless you have a complete command of all shots, you will not beat all pushers. I beat most 4.0 pushers, but there are a couple who still give me trouble... simply because of the looks they give me. I don't have the shot (yet) to beat those particular guys, but I will get there.

The best you can do is improve any shot you are lacking and be patient.

You still have to take the match to them and take them out of their game. The tactics I gave will help you do that.

 

[Dartagnan64]

You should never try that tactic though!!

I disagree, if you are a better pusher than them it really erodes their confidence. I'm not saying to do it for an entire match. But do it for a game or so to give them an illusion that you are toying with them.

 

[ChaelAZ]

What if I can outpush them?

The point is, being able to apply your game. Most people tend to try and play a pusher's game and end up losing, but if your pushing game is strong...go for it.

 

[thomas daniels]

The point is, being able to apply your game. Most people tend to try and play a pusher's game and end up losing, but if your pushing game is strong...go for it.

Okay, well said!!!

 

[zaph]

The problem with all the advice about beating pushers, is it given by players who have forgotten about the limitations of 3.0-3.5 level players like myself. Your ploy would not work for me, because I don't have a drop shot which is reliable or accurate enough to pull people into the net. Neither am I a great volleyer.

I am beginning to beat pushers more consistently, because I blast them off the court with my forehand. Generally I don't need to volley, because my forehand approach turns into a winner.

So new advice, 3.0-3.5 level players playing pushers should hit hard into the backhand and then put away the shortball with the forehand? Nope, equally useless, because without a forehand which can generate pace and has directional control; that will not work.

Pushers are hard for players at my level, I still sometimes lose to them, because our weapons are not strong enough or reliable enough.

My advice, for what it is worth, is to play conservatively for the first few games, to prevent score board pressure killing you. Then get more aggressive, once you are on the scoreboard and have found your timing.

Then follow a game plan. That plan doesn't have to be mine or the OPs. Honestly look at you game , its strengths and weaknesses. Then play in such a way that allows to use your strengths. I know obvious, but I think allot of 3.0-3.5 players panic when they play pushers, desperately hit shots they don't have. Horrified they are being beaten by a player with such poor technique and no power.

I know I did that. Coming on to the court with a plan helps, because you know where and how you want to hit the ball. Mine is to hit to backhand corner, unless there is an obvious opening. It can be that simple. Having a plan also makes it easier to deal with missing, if you miss trying to do the right thing, so what? Even Nadal misses sometimes and you're trying to play the right shot.

 

[AllCourtHeathen]

What if I can outpush them?

What's the point of playing then?
TimeToPlaySets is right "death before dishonour" LOL

Move them laterally, bring them to the net then lob them, make the slobs move, I found whilst playing these types of spazzs in mixed doubles that they have good depth control when hitting from good position, just dinking everything back, but once you made them hit on the run, or hit whilst moving forward or back, they lost that depth control and coughed up a short ball before too long which I happily monstered or drilled at the net spazz for an error.

Of course they were only yellow belt pushers, and not black belt pushers like the feared Baskin Park pusher, and it was doubles, so take it for what its worth.

 

[ptuanminh]

I am a pusher and I am learning from this muahahahah

 

[zalive]

I am a pusher and I am learning from this muahahahah

 

[AllCourtHeathen]

I am a pusher and I am learning from this muahahahah

LOL!!!

 

[Traffic]

Same tactics apply though, come in on them with great approach shots, tell your son to work on his smash and his net game and then mix it up in his matches, pushers are still limited by what they can do during play, if your son develops ball control and a heavy topspin forehand, he will start eating them for lunch, because they can't deal with the spin at all, then he can just come in on the short balls and volley short angles on them. I learnt how to dominate pushers from my high school coach. And I never had any problems with them again

No. His opponent is actually very good. But that is his style of play. He can also pummel and hard shot when needed. But only when it's wide open and my son gifted him a sitter.

But you are right. My son tried to put the ball away rather than hit a pressure return shot like he usually does. When he became frustrated, he either hit hard flat shots or pulled back on his swing and lost much needed topspin.

It was a great learning experience for him. I'm sure he would beat that opponent for sure the next time they meet.

 

[Traffic]

The problem with all the advice about beating pushers, is it given by players who have forgotten about the limitations of 3.0-3.5 level players like myself. Your ploy would not work for me, because I don't have a drop shot which is reliable or accurate enough to pull people into the net. Neither am I a great volleyer.

I am beginning to beat pushers more consistently, because I blast them off the court with my forehand. Generally I don't need to volley, because my forehand approach turns into a winner.

So new advice, 3.0-3.5 level players playing pushers should hit hard into the backhand and then put away the shortball with the forehand? Nope, equally useless, because without a forehand which can generate pace and has directional control; that will not work.

Pushers are hard for players at my level, I still sometimes lose to them, because our weapons are not strong enough or reliable enough.

My advice, for what it is worth, is to play conservatively for the first few games, to prevent score board pressure killing you. Then get more aggressive, once you are on the scoreboard and have found your timing.

Then follow a game plan. That plan doesn't have to be mine or the OPs. Honestly look at you game , its strengths and weaknesses. Then play in such a way that allows to use your strengths. I know obvious, but I think allot of 3.0-3.5 players panic when they play pushers, desperately hit shots they don't have. Horrified they are being beaten by a player with such poor technique and no power.

I know I did that. Coming on to the court with a plan helps, because you know where and how you want to hit the ball. Mine is to hit to backhand corner, unless there is an obvious opening. It can be that simple. Having a plan also makes it easier to deal with missing, if you miss trying to do the right thing, so what? Even Nadal misses sometimes and you're trying to play the right shot.

Very good post. It is very frustrating to play a pusher because you get in your head that you should be better than them. Yet, anything you try ends up in the net or long.

I know that I was struggling a lot trying all sorts of different tactics. And a lot of it was getting used to the different way the ball bounces and being happy with just getting the ball back over the net. Once I got back into the mentality of just getting the ball back into play with my normal warm-up strokes (easy topspin that bounces on the service line) I was able to start to groove my strokes. This allowed me the confidence and the feel to start playing more aggressive later in the match.

As long as opponent doesn't have a weapon, then what's to fear? Just play out the point like a warm up session. Once you start to develop a feel and a groove for the pace, then you can start to add a little more pressure,...slowly. I found that once I started doing that, my opponent started to up his game by changing his strokes. Once he changed his strokes, I was able to exploit it when he gave me an opening.

 

[SinjinCooper]

Play your game. Facing a low level pusher is like being at a clinic or a coaching session where the points count. Slow feeds to ideal positions in the middle of the court, over and over. It's a perfect litmus test for the state of your developing game.

If your game isn't good enough to beat pushers, improve it.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Honestly look at you game , its strengths and weaknesses. Then play in such a way that allows to use your strengths.

Exaclty. Apply your game.

 

[MisterP]

We need more threads on how to BE the pusher.

 

[ptuanminh]

Play your game. Facing a low level pusher is like being at a clinic or a coaching session where the points count. Slow feeds to ideal positions in the middle of the court, over and over. It's a perfect litmus test for the state of your developing game.

If your game isn't good enough to beat pushers, improve it.

Good point. Playing a pusher you will get to hit more shots under not so much pressure, sweat out a bit from running around, learn to be patient and know your capabilities. I feel like playing someone who push everything back, extra pressure is created by yourself, making you try harder to hit a winner ---> lose the point.

 

[Gazelle]

You beat pushers by improving after which the former pusher is nothing more than a noob to you.

'Pusher' is usually a better player who beats you with consistency. You can work out any tactics you want in your mind but most of the time you aren't beating a better player anyway.

 

[MisterP]

'Pusher' is usually a better player who beats you with consistency.

I actually think that really good pushers beat you, not with their consistency per se, but by forcing their opponents to play less consistently than they even normally would. It's similar, but not quite the same and it takes recognizing that crucial difference to know how to beat a pusher.

 

[watungga]

If you have a simple stroke that generate loud punch or spin on the ball, the pusher will eventually start on "survival mode" and mistakes will start to happen.
I say simple-stroke, just to make sure you will be consistent on that basis.

 

[VoodooChild24]

You have to hit confidently against a pusher without going for broke. If you can outrun them, you can beat them. You can't beat a pusher having poor fitness.

 

[rogerroger917]

Pushers in the rec sense are easy to beat just by improving technique.

The counter punchers at higher levels are the hard people to beat.

 

[bitcoinoperated]

What if I can outpush them?

Enjoy your 5hr match

 

[rogerroger917]

Enjoy your 5hr match

Bring a chair and big jug of water. I have done it.

 

[jm1980]

Enjoy your 5hr match

Not necessarily. Some pushers when facing someone who can outpush them will get frustrated and attempt to hit riskier shots they don't have. That's when they realize the tables have turned.