Need Help against a pusher!!

[trigor]

Hello everyone, first post here, really excited to join the TW forums!

A few facts about myself. Amature player, have been playing for a long time, but took the game seriously for about a year or so. I have been taking classes, practicing, and as a result discovering many wonderful things I could have done in the past years to improve my game. Better late then never though!

So here is my dilemma. I am 32 yo, aggressive player. Prefer short points, aggressive shots, like to dominate. This, of course, brings a lot of unforced errors (my coach keeps telling me that I can not hit all shots the way I try to). I am getting better in playing opponents who play like me. However, I have a friend who is much older (about 50 yo), and he is a classic case of a pusher. All he does, is taking his oversize raquet out, and get my shots. Many of his shots are almost like lobs, and at least my shoulder level. I despise his game, but keep playing him because ... well, I keep loosing! I can lead the set 4:1 (this happened last weekend), and end up loosing the set 6:4 just because he keeps throwing the ball back into my court and sooner or later I mess up. I keep playing in hope of getting better and finally beat him two or three times in a row. Also, as a classic case, I get angry, start swearing, and as a result play even worse.

How do you play a pusher? What tactic do YOU use? Any valuable advise? I know I have to keep cool, but if I try that and push the ball over, he beats me by making a good shot, or, we push until I make a mistake. If I attack, I commit a u-error.

Help?

Thanks.
Trigor.

 

[LeeD]

At every level you will encounter different incarnations of the same guy.
Short angles off the court.
Dropshot him, knowing you will lob just to see him run..
Mix slice with topspin, with some sidespin or flat shots.
Get to net and prepare for overhead practice....but approach DEEP.
Use the length of crosscourt to take him out of his comfort zone...hit crosscourt, then drop same side....he's recovering to center after his return of your cross, then has to change direction to fetch your drop....
He wants to stay on the court. You have to finish him off before he gets happy and grooved.

 

[ChrisCrocker]

Short angles off the court.

, they tap serve on deuce side, hit short cross court, do it again next time, then they will run to that side trying to outsmart you and you hit dtl.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Is this guy tough at the net? I doubt it. Hit short balls to bring him to the net, then lob him. If he's over 50 he probably won't be able to chase down many lobs.

 

[zidane339]

I'm liking the bring to net lob idea, always works for me.

Or, if you really want to have fun, push right back. Show him you're not afraid to take all day. Even pushers make mistakes eventually, then capitalize on them. Works for me sometimes, except the matches take a longggg time.haha

 

[split-step]

You just need to get better.

Most sub 4.0 players do not play aggressive enough to dominate pushers.
They don't hit the ball hard enough, consistently enough and accurately enough to win playing aggressively (from the baseline).

In the meantime, try bringing him to net. Short low slice is preferred. Make him hit up and then either lob or pass him.
Traditional pushers are average at best at net.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Hello everyone, first post here, really excited to join the TW forums!

Since this is your first post, I'd thought I'd let you know that this problem comes up more than any other. They have titles like: 'Lost to a Pusher' and 'Arrgh, I Hate Pushers!', and so on. So if you want more advice just use the Search feature or scroll back and look at old threads. Even if the advice can't help you beat your pusher nemesis, at least you'll see that you've got alot of company!

 

[trigor]

Thanks all for the feedback. I will search to see other threads about this issue shortly.

Getting him to the net is an interesting idea. I will try it this weekend!

Thanks again!
T.

 

[Slicendicer]

Hello everyone, first post here, really excited to join the TW forums!

A few facts about myself. Amature player, have been playing for a long time, but took the game seriously for about a year or so. I have been taking classes, practicing, and as a result discovering many wonderful things I could have done in the past years to improve my game. Better late then never though!

So here is my dilemma. I am 32 yo, aggressive player. Prefer short points, aggressive shots, like to dominate. This, of course, brings a lot of unforced errors (my coach keeps telling me that I can not hit all shots the way I try to). I am getting better in playing opponents who play like me. However, I have a friend who is much older (about 50 yo), and he is a classic case of a pusher. All he does, is taking his oversize raquet out, and get my shots. Many of his shots are almost like lobs, and at least my shoulder level. I despise his game, but keep playing him because ... well, I keep loosing! I can lead the set 4:1 (this happened last weekend), and end up loosing the set 6:4 just because he keeps throwing the ball back into my court and sooner or later I mess up. I keep playing in hope of getting better and finally beat him two or three times in a row. Also, as a classic case, I get angry, start swearing, and as a result play even worse.

How do you play a pusher? What tactic do YOU use? Any valuable advise? I know I have to keep cool, but if I try that and push the ball over, he beats me by making a good shot, or, we push until I make a mistake. If I attack, I commit a u-error.

Help?

Thanks.
Trigor.

Ya know, there really is no answer or 1 tactic that will beat a pusher. You'll hear people say, you gotta play the pushers game, or you gotta hit short and pass/lob, etc.

The truth is... every player has a comfort zone and what I call a "shot tolerance" (maybe a coined phrase, maybe I made it up). I don't care who you are, enough of a certain type of ball is going to force you to play out of your comfort zone. Likewise, enough of ANY ball is going to force your opponent to try and hit a winner or press the issue. You just need to find the "uncomfortable" shot and what is your opponents shot tolerance (most player is 5-6 shots, and they ready to move on to next point.)

I will hit CC- BH, BH, BH, BH (at which point if I am hitting with depth and spin and not nuetral/defensive) BH, then either run around FH or DTL BH hard and flat. If that doesn't work, I try to set-up my FH to their BH rally.

 

[drummerdan]

Generally, I have found that the best way for me to beat a pusher is to attack him at the net. Force him to beat you but don't force it too much. In other words, don't come in on everything. Pick your spots.

Once, I played a guy that never missed. He hit a push forehand and a slice backhand. I found that if I took my time and came in on a short ball (he provided lots of opportunities) winning volleys were pretty easy. Pushers usually hate players to make them hit winners so you don't have to be a great volleyer. Just hit deep and make sure he understands you aren't giving up on the strategy. Eventually, he'll fold...and don't get angry - he'll feed on that!!!

 

[Skabeast121]

I have a game similar to Andy Murray's most people would consider this a counterpuncher game. The type of game I find to have trouble is when people hit very flat and low together this stops a counter punch from hitting deep.

 

[LeeD]

Pushers normally lob the best, over your backhand, just out of your comfort zone.

 

[user92626]

trigor,

From your description that person sounds like a trainee's dream. If you're in training mode, which anyone with that number of years should be, you should be thankful to have such a person around.

I freaking hate those winner fancy hitters who can't make the shots. Tennis, game or no game, goes to hell when all we do is picking up balls!

 

[RiosTheGenius]

Play your game.... whatever you do just don't get into pushing back cuz that's what he's good at... play deep balls side to side if you can and you should be fine. But whatever u do don't push back.

 

[trigor]

Thanks for all the tips and responses. Summer is around the corner: more time to play! Will try your suggestions and see how it goes.

 

[LuckyR]

Hello everyone, first post here, really excited to join the TW forums!

A few facts about myself. Amature player, have been playing for a long time, but took the game seriously for about a year or so. I have been taking classes, practicing, and as a result discovering many wonderful things I could have done in the past years to improve my game. Better late then never though!

So here is my dilemma. I am 32 yo, aggressive player. Prefer short points, aggressive shots, like to dominate. This, of course, brings a lot of unforced errors (my coach keeps telling me that I can not hit all shots the way I try to). I am getting better in playing opponents who play like me. However, I have a friend who is much older (about 50 yo), and he is a classic case of a pusher. All he does, is taking his oversize raquet out, and get my shots. Many of his shots are almost like lobs, and at least my shoulder level. I despise his game, but keep playing him because ... well, I keep loosing! I can lead the set 4:1 (this happened last weekend), and end up loosing the set 6:4 just because he keeps throwing the ball back into my court and sooner or later I mess up. I keep playing in hope of getting better and finally beat him two or three times in a row. Also, as a classic case, I get angry, start swearing, and as a result play even worse.

How do you play a pusher? What tactic do YOU use? Any valuable advise? I know I have to keep cool, but if I try that and push the ball over, he beats me by making a good shot, or, we push until I make a mistake. If I attack, I commit a u-error.

Help?

Thanks.
Trigor.

You're paying your coach for answers, he has the answer, are you after a "second opinion"?

 

[vndesu]

for me i just play my usual agressive style.
big serve to his backhand then take the volley or groundstroke.
after playing like 3 pushers what i notice is that if you get them off their comfortable area its pratically over.
then you go for the top spin loops. if they push it back with a loop give more topspin and depth then go up and take the volley.
all of these has helped me beat pushers