Introducing the good 3.5 pusher...

[chunlimeyers]

Better players that watch this simply go, "Oh, there is a chance for an approach shot!".. "Wait, he just did what?".. "Oh, there is ANOTHER EASY ONE!.. NOOO.. what is he doing?!"

The tactical errors of blackshirt are mainly caused by his 3.5ness. 3.5's can't or don't have an approach shot to mention, let alone when they are under "pressure"(if U can call that match, pressurized). They have no clue where to stand, how to split step, et, et, et, when/if they make it up to net. They spend 98.9 percent of their time wasting away hitting baseline to baseline groundstrokes(thinking this alone will win them matches in the future?)

Even lately when I take the occasional(I nearly could take 1/2 of the shots my hitting partner hits and work on my approach shot/split step/volley and or overhead combination, my hitting partner will have a hissy fit over me just playing good 4.5 level tennis. Its annoying. But, i digress! haha

3.5ness has no ability to hit angles, and their timing is weak(probably didn't play any video games when they were young), and so their only goal is to get it into play. Most refuse to get proper instruction to develop any of this, and think just chugging along with their other horrible 3.5-3.65 hitting partner one day they will both win the local 4.0 b level tournament. They won't.. ever. I have seen many lose consistently to old, beat up 4.5's with a gut as big as Santa and then just quit the sport.

I now enjoy hitting with "pushers" like this, because i just now consider them pawns. Pawns I can simply have them hit back gentle sitters for me to practice much more aggressive play on them, work on my approach, footwork, volley, overhead, while they stay back and do THAT! haha I love it!.. Some have banned me for beating them consistently too badly, but most enjoy having a higher level player to "challenge" them.(thinking by "osmosis" while they are camped back at the baseline, they are going to "figure it out" and "be as good or better than me".. in time.. answer.. no freaking chance!)

Oh, and a couple not even well placed swinging volleys off of white shirts sitter floaters in the middle of the court would have him at least trying to do more with the ball!.. The options to beat these guys are many, but to the fellow 3.5, it seems like their are none.

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Oh my

The lofty heights of 'good 4.5 level tennis' (oxymoron much?) have graced us with their august presence..

I do hope you always contest your local open tournament, be a shame to waste all that technical prowess on 'pawns'

 

[Moz]

Chunlimeyers - you could have saved space by just writing "I'm vastly superior".

 

[TimeSpiral]

TimeSpiral, stop it already. It's tiring.

That is not my definition. I have given very specific definitions in terms of match statistics. If you are going to restate my definition, at least do it using my words and not your own passive-aggressive annoying approach.

BTW, I am not the only person that holds this definition. People who define "pusher" fall into two categories: 1) People who think pushers are disgusting, fundamentally evil tennis players, and 2) Everyone else.

Sorry, brother! Didn't have your definition on hand.

I have nothing against running around backhands - Nadal and Fed do it all the time. I was just saying that I don't have the energy to do it so I use the 1 handed BH (meant for lazy people).

Yes, the best players in the world can run around their BH's if they want, Suresh! Hahaha. Come on, brother.

At the rec level "finding the backhand" is a critical component of most successful shot selection strategies (assuming the BH is the weaker wing, which is typically is). When facing an opponent that slices his BH exclusively, you can cheat your court position and basically play in the ad-court the whole game. This strategy stops working once you face opponents who can put a little more on the BH and force you into a BH rally, lest you hit and inside out forehand from outside the double's ally.

I can see how these guys are 3.5 I guess. I don't know, it's ugly tennis, and yes I have filmed myself,and yes I have posted video.
[...]

Link!

If I ran the world I'd make everyone watch a video of themselves play before they commented on the standard of others on video.

Yes. Ten yeses.

 

[Power Player]

Hey man, go find it if you want. Honestly not even sure where it is now. Ill make some more. I think Mad Dog reposted it a while back.

My last attempt ended up too out of focus due to the iPhone screen leaning against the fence too much and refocusing itself.

 

[mr_fro2000]

Better players that watch this simply go, "Oh, there is a chance for an approach shot!".. "Wait, he just did what?".. "Oh, there is ANOTHER EASY ONE!.. NOOO.. what is he doing?!"

I agree this is annoying... a 5.0+ saying "why didn't he xyz!" doesn't usually help.

HOWEVER... i believe despite the level, there actually ARE strategies that any player can execute as long as said strategies are within the player's abilities. All players should know what shots they themselves can hit and what shots they are weak at. They should also quickly figure out their opponents.

The minute whiteshirt came to net and backed up, it was OBVIOUS he did not like to be at net. Blackshirt clearly has the ability to dink a shot short and bring him to net. Like EVERYTIME. In addition, its is clear whiteshirt is not putting away any short balls, so there is very little risk in bringing him into net. FURTHERMORE, blackshirt has nice, deep forehands... if whiteshirt peddles backwards and blackshirt hits his regular forehand, blackshirt most likely wins the point.

The other thing... blackshirt must know that whiteshirt has zero backhand. And although he may not have the pace and placement to force whiteshirt to hit a backhand, he can completely open up the court by
constantly forcing whiteshirt to run around the backhand. This alone would open up many point winning opportunities.

So yeah, i understand it sucks when higher level people say "why dont you just xyz"... however, all players should assess their opponents and figure out the best way to win based on the tools they have (and the tools their opponents dont).

 

[TimeSpiral]

I agree this is annoying... a 5.0+ saying "why didn't he xyz!" doesn't usually help.

HOWEVER... i believe despite the level, there actually ARE strategies that any player can execute as long as said strategies are within the player's abilities. All players should know what shots they themselves can hit and what shots they are weak at. They should also quickly figure out their opponents.

The minute whiteshirt came to net and backed up, it was OBVIOUS he did not like to be at net. Blackshirt clearly has the ability to dink a shot short and bring him to net. Like EVERYTIME. In addition, its is clear whiteshirt is not putting away any short balls, so there is very little risk in bringing him into net. FURTHERMORE, blackshirt has nice, deep forehands... if whiteshirt peddles backwards and blackshirt hits his regular forehand, blackshirt most likely wins the point.

The other thing... blackshirt must know that whiteshirt has zero backhand. And although he may not have the pace and placement to force whiteshirt to hit a backhand, he can completely open up the court by
constantly forcing whiteshirt to run around the backhand. This alone would open up many point winning opportunities.

So yeah, i understand it sucks when higher level people say "why dont you just xyz"... however, all players should assess their opponents and figure out the best way to win based on the tools they have (and the tools their opponents dont).

Tennis is a strategy game. There are tactics available to every level of play, and every player. If you're not employing some semblance of a strategy, even at the lowest levels, then you're doing yourself a disservice.