No pusher believes they are a pusher

[badmice2]

I think pusher is a word use to describe a certain style of play and they get a bad reputation on the boards. They are some of the hardest players to beat at any level as they know exactly who they are and don’t try to get out of their comfort zone. I have played few of them in my career and lost sometimes to them and wondered how I lost but in their minds, they feel great, so I acknowledge the thread title that no pusher believes he/she is a pusher.

Strongly disagree pushing is a style. Someone 1) who doesn’t have the ability to end the point, 2) who is not a risk taker, 3) who out plays their opponent should not be view as a pusher. They’re doing exactly what every coach says to do…from juniors to adults…make your opponent hit one more ball.

if Pushing is such a bad tactic, then I like someone who teach tennis to clarify / challenge the idea of hustle to get one more ball in play.

anything anyone does outside of “pushing” is simply trying to develop better odds on high risk tactics. In fact, having better technique is creating better odds of keeping the ball in play…therefore is that pushing?

 

[Anni.Angel]

All the pros are training to be great pushers. All coaches insist on consistency.

Loads of drills where you have to keep a lot of balls in play whether it is on forehand or backhand or nose or tongue or whatever you want.

Most pushers who deny their level and skill are saying they are not pushers because they hit with topspin or they hit hard. That's not changing anything, you are still a pusher.

Tennis is pushing.

The term pusher is just as stupid the vulturing term. Some people think Nadal should stop playing/winning just because winning in certain circumstances, in their opinion is vulturing.
They expect Rafa to come with a typed request asking for signature approval and stamp to win a tournament.

You go there and play, it's not your problem who will come there or not, and you can't do anything about it.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Strongly disagree pushing is a style. Someone 1) who doesn’t have the ability to end the point, 2) who is not a risk taker, 3) who out plays their opponent should not be view as a pusher. They’re doing exactly what every coach says to do…from juniors to adults…make your opponent hit one more ball.

if Pushing is such a bad tactic, then I like someone who teach tennis to clarify / challenge the idea of hustle to get one more ball in play.

anything anyone does outside of “pushing” is simply trying to develop better odds on high risk tactics. In fact, having better technique is creating better odds of keeping the ball in play…therefore is that pushing?

At some point, it's just semantics.

Instead, I try to look at strengths and weaknesses. Every player and style has them, just different ones in varying degrees.

If I've accurately diagnosed my opponent as a pusher, I'm confident I know the optimal way of playing [whether I can execute is a completely separate matter].

People who complain about pushers usually fall into one or more of the following categories:
- They lost and are trying to soothe their ego by tearing down their opponent
- They've spent a lot of time, effort, and money on lessons and practice and have to justify their decision given that the pusher is perceived to have done none of those things
- They like pace on the incoming ball and dislike having to generate most of it
- They think the pusher's strokes are ugly
- They believe it's a cop out to play to not make an error vs playing to hit a winner
- They value aesthetics: their strokes have some but the pusher's does not

 

[socallefty]

Every time I see this Scottish guy I know in a pub, I call him ‘pusher’ and he tells me to call him Sir Andy.

 

[chatt_town]

“Pusher” is somewhat derogatory, most pushers will acknowledge that they are defensive players, grinders, or counter punchers who win matches because of their fitness. Most of them took up tennis later in life and may have backgrounds in racquetball or track.

Yea, it's a term used by so called better players that can't deal with speed and fitness...many are fat@$$es that can't come off the baseline unless a steak is thrown in the service box.. I use to get accused of that...or me and the wife win a lot because we throw up a lot of top spin lobs...and we do. Lobbing is seen as a bail out to some older 4.5's that don't want to learn how to play aged Tennis. You can't play aged Tennis the same way you played 4.5. Most people will lose some fire power. So you hitting a below average to average ground stroke and bomb rushing the net is just going to get you ran to back of the court. lol So I would just make a mental note of anyone that says that and the first thing I'm going to do when they get out there is lob or push them. lol

 

[chatt_town]

At some point, it's just semantics.

Instead, I try to look at strengths and weaknesses. Every player and style has them, just different ones in varying degrees.

If I've accurately diagnosed my opponent as a pusher, I'm confident I know the optimal way of playing [whether I can execute is a completely separate matter].

People who complain about pushers usually fall into one or more of the following categories:
- They lost and are trying to soothe their ego by tearing down their opponent
- They've spent a lot of time, effort, and money on lessons and practice and have to justify their decision given that the pusher is perceived to have done none of those things
- They like pace on the incoming ball and dislike having to generate most of it
- They think the pusher's strokes are ugly
- They believe it's a cop out to play to not make an error vs playing to hit a winner
- They value aesthetics: their strokes have some but the pusher's does not

As was once known as a certified pusher...I approve this message entire message. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[LuckyAC]

I'll admit to being a pusher (certainly been called that by plenty of kids and a few adults), but it's all relative. My neutral rally ball is harder than a 4.0 and I'll be hitting winners and finishing balls at net against them, but against someone at my level (8-9 UTR) who is hitting deep, heavy balls, my strategy is generally to let them make the errors.

 

[mpnv1990]

Mixed 18 league is coming up and there was a lively discussion as my team was planning partners. One guy, let's call him Sam, is a well-known pusher. Sam is described as a pusher by everyone I have ever talked to about him and a very successful one; he rarely loses in singles. Captain wants to pair Sam with a very aggressive net player to compliment his steadiness, let's call her Sally. Sam and Sally are cool with this and start talking a little bit of strategy. This is when the team socially oblivious guy, Dick, speaks up. Dick uses the dreaded P-word in suggesting how Sam's pushing should provide a steady deuce side and to place Sally on Ad to get her forehand on the net. Sam loses it and is incredibly offended at being called a pusher declaring he's an aggressive baseliner. Dick doubles down and a few people try to diffuse things in a nice way but agree with Dick essentially. Sam threatens to leave the team due to the disrespect and Dick tries to assure him we value him specifically because he is a winning pusher. Everyone eventually calmed down but you could tell Sam was really bothered by being known as a pusher.

I was shocked. I assumed Sam knew he was a pusher (and maybe even delighted in it) but clearly he saw himself differently. He's described opponents as pushers before who play identically to him. How many pushers don't think they are pushers and are calling other people pushers being totally in denial?

I mean, I'm a basher and I know it. Trying to correct that but it's my default mode. Anyway, I was surprised by the whole thing.

It would only be fitting if the other guy’s name was Bukkake!

 

[ChrisJR3264]

I'll admit to being a pusher (certainly been called that by plenty of kids and a few adults), but it's all relative. My neutral rally ball is harder than a 4.0 and I'll be hitting winners and finishing balls at net against them, but against someone at my level (8-9 UTR) who is hitting deep, heavy balls, my strategy is generally to let them make the errors.

Some people confuse counter puncher with pushing. Those who do are either mad they lost or don’t fully understand the game.

 

[Moon Shooter]

I consider myself a pusher in singles. I have no true weapons except the ability to chase down balls. I think I also have ugly strokes and frustrate my opponents. It is not something I am proud of - and I am not even a good pusher - but it is hard to deny.

 

[chuckersthenut]

Mixed 18 league is coming up and there was a lively discussion as my team was planning partners. One guy, let's call him Sam, is a well-known pusher. Sam is described as a pusher by everyone I have ever talked to about him and a very successful one; he rarely loses in singles. Captain wants to pair Sam with a very aggressive net player to compliment his steadiness, let's call her Sally. Sam and Sally are cool with this and start talking a little bit of strategy. This is when the team socially oblivious guy, Dick, speaks up. Dick uses the dreaded P-word in suggesting how Sam's pushing should provide a steady deuce side and to place Sally on Ad to get her forehand on the net. Sam loses it and is incredibly offended at being called a pusher declaring he's an aggressive baseliner. Dick doubles down and a few people try to diffuse things in a nice way but agree with Dick essentially. Sam threatens to leave the team due to the disrespect and Dick tries to assure him we value him specifically because he is a winning pusher. Everyone eventually calmed down but you could tell Sam was really bothered by being known as a pusher.

I was shocked. I assumed Sam knew he was a pusher (and maybe even delighted in it) but clearly he saw himself differently. He's described opponents as pushers before who play identically to him. How many pushers don't think they are pushers and are calling other people pushers being totally in denial?

I mean, I'm a basher and I know it. Trying to correct that but it's my default mode. Anyway, I was surprised by the whole thing.

This is humanity in general. Nobody sees themselves as others see them.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

I consider myself a pusher in singles. I have no true weapons except the ability to chase down balls. I think I also have ugly strokes and frustrate my opponents. It is not something I am proud of - and I am not even a good pusher - but it is hard to deny.

Moon shooter = moon balls? Sorry I had to

 

[Jono123]

Pushing is a grinding but consistent unaesthetic style of tennis, played by 3.5-4.0 players of questionable ability who are content to remain at their level.

You know who you are

 

[Moon Shooter]

I just watched a year old video of my play. Oh my lord, am I a pusher! I even watched one long rally in slow motion because it was funny. I am chasing down every good shot my opponent hit and just popping it up and back over the net. I'm just not a good pusher so I don't win at singles very often.

 

[Creighton]

I just watched a year old video of my play. Oh my lord, am I a pusher! I even watched one long rally in slow motion because it was funny. I am chasing down every good shot my opponent hit and just popping it up and back over the net. I'm just not a good pusher so I don't win at singles very often.

You also play up a lot. So while I don't admire your logic, I admire your enjoyment of tennis.

 

[Fintft]

This is humanity in general. Nobody sees themselves as others see them.

But on the other hand trying too hard not to be a pusher can also be detrimental, like going for more power with XL racquets, poly, trying to improve technique.

Got a bit of a TE as a result (it had also been flaring a month ago):

It was the FH yesterday though.
L4 to L2 happened over 2 years.

It migt be about the XL, as:
a)I've done a technique change these past few days. And I might be hitting late as a result
b) It was doing a lesson, when things are more demanding, or at least more changes are forced.

I'll hit with the regular length and lighter racquet, same model. Will string the XL with gut at 52/50.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

I just watched a year old video of my play. Oh my lord, am I a pusher! I even watched one long rally in slow motion because it was funny. I am chasing down every good shot my opponent hit and just popping it up and back over the net. I'm just not a good pusher so I don't win at singles very often.

Even “ good” pushers will lose often when they go up against an opponent with proper strokes.

To me- pushers catch aggressive baselines by surprise on a bad day. Doesn’t have to be a bad day from a ground stroke perspective. Just being mentally exhausted from work then you come in and have to play a pusher in a league match - probably will make them impatient thus giving the huge edge to the pusher.

 

[tennis3]

This is humanity in general. Nobody sees themselves as others see them.

Everyone sees me as the sexiest, smartest and just plain greatest person alive. But I don't think of myself that way.

 

[chuckersthenut]

Everyone sees me as the sexiest, smartest and just plain greatest person alive. But I don't think of myself that way.

By everyone you mean @ChrisJR3264 and @ Klitz right?

 

[jxs653]

To elite players' eyes all the rec players are pushers. So it's really a pot and kettle thing.