Pushers Anonymous (Pushers Only!)

SpinToWin said:
I never spoke about my enjoyment when playing pushers mind you. I quite enjoy playing pushers. It's like an extra training session for me. Try some new strategies and playing styles and win comfortably. Not much I can complain about.

I was discussing how it feels playing like a pusher. Everyone had that stage at one point, as did I as a junior. There was nothing more frustrating for me than not being able to play winners. It felt like I was playing bad tennis and I was ashamed of my level, especially when people complimented me for my win. So I started working on my tennis and now I am somewhat content (though as a perfectionist, I will never be completely satisfied). There is no greater satisfaction than playing a beautiful winner.
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Your first post was a bit unclear ,so thanks for clarifying. Though the bravado in your first paragraph here leads me to think your "overconfidence" in playing a pusher will come back to haunt you.

Brad Gilbert thought of himself as a pusher, as do many other well known pros. So you must be pretty good?

But, I do agree that playing a "beautiful winner" is a great satisfaction. The only greater satisfaction would be to win the match. At least in my book.
 
Topspin Shot said:
Counterpunchers and grinders have been called pushers so much that the terms have unfortunately become interchangeable. I put the word pushing in quotations in my previous post for this reason.
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I agree with you topspin. Worlds of difference between a pushers style of play, and a "push" stroke. Just because someone is a pusher doesn't mean their strokes are technically flawed. We at Pushers Anonymous will continue to fight that stereotype.
 
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Maximagq said:
I'm an example of a 5.0 "pusher" or grinder. The more evolved version of a pusher is a grinder/counter puncher.
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In watching your video the other day, I saw what I thought my game may look like should I ever reach a 5.0. Hitting strong, steady deep balls with few unforced errors. When the opportunity presented itself, you would hit hard deep, with angle, to opponents backhand. Outright winners were set up well and not forced.
 
Different paths up the same mountain

Wow, lots of interest here. I will admit to being a pusher/counterpuncher but I had an unintended revelation. I tore my hamstring and all of a sudden I couldn't rely on my legs to win points! Bummer.
So I finally had to rely on better strokes to win points. This lasted two years, but now that the leg is better, I have a much improved overall game, and actually beat some guys recently that I couldn't have before. Beat them bad! So pushers, you can play better, just have faith in your strokes and use them in matches.
And I agree with a previous poster, sometimes those big hitters will finally learn to keep the ball in play and then they will be great. For a while. Different path up the same mountain. Me, I always enjoyed winning on my way to the top, and that's why I was a pusher.
 
Mr.Lob said:
In watching your video the other day, I saw what I thought my game may look like should I ever reach a 5.0. Hitting strong, steady deep balls with few unforced errors. When the opportunity presented itself, you would hit hard deep, with angle, to opponents backhand. Outright winners were set up well and not forced.
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Yeah, I try to play opportunistic and with good margin. Happy hitting and keep up your tennis! :)
 
Everyone's definition of "pusher" seems to be different. I don't dink the ball over. I take full swings at the ball and hit moderately paced deep balls. I can hit hard fairly well, but often choose not to. Good forehand I can hit flat or with topspin, also hit an inside out forehand. Have a flat two handed backhand. Working on one handed slice. Short balls I'll come in and take the net. Love smashing overheads. Good first serve, a pushers second serve. Come in on me and I can hit a passing shot or lob. Good movement. So while I can play all styles fairly decently, I'm probably a pusher at heart, because I don't go for winners that often and will let my opponent take most of the risks.
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That's just an average all court rec player - you aren't a pusher - Matt Lin isn't a pusher and Brad Gilbert isn't a pusher.

The phrase 'pusher' comes from the stroke itself. Its an incomplete stroke hit with almost no backswing and some underspin. The player basically volleys all the shots - they are all 'pushes.'

No one like these guys so they have waged a disinformation campaign. Now people who play intelligent tennis and try to play shots with reasonable margins of safety are 'pushers.'

This makes the real hacks feel better about themselves. They are trying to pretend its some 'valid' form of play. Guys like Gilbert even made a buck off them...pretending he was a pusher.

Unfortunately if you actually watch youtube you will see a good athlete that can come in to the net, rip some nice passing shots and hit with decent pace from the backcourt. His strokes weren't that 'ugly' and his game wasn't that different.

About the only difference was that he was focused on attacking weaknesses instead of playing to his strengths. Almost all rec players would be delighted to hit as hard as Gilbert off the ground..

Nothing wrong with playing intelligent tennis but there is something wrong with people who have no forehand, no serve, and no backhand going around claiming they play like Santoro or Brad Gilbert. Even a non-fan of tennis can clearly see the large chasm of skill.
 
Mr.Lob said:
Everyone's definition of "pusher" seems to be different. I don't dink the ball over. I take full swings at the ball and hit moderately paced deep balls. I can hit hard fairly well, but often choose not to. Good forehand I can hit flat or with topspin, also hit an inside out forehand. Have a flat two handed backhand. Working on one handed slice. Short balls I'll come in and take the net. Love smashing overheads. Good first serve, a pushers second serve. Come in on me and I can hit a passing shot or lob. Good movement. So while I can play all styles fairly decently, I'm probably a pusher at heart, because I don't go for winners that often and will let my opponent take most of the risks.
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You're not a pusher. Pushers use truncated strokes i.e. they are just 'pushing' the ball over, not hitting it. Just playing conservatively is not pushing. At the rec level, it's just smart tennis.

I agree with everything GuyClinch has said in this thread.
 
Mr.Lob said:
Everyone's definition of "pusher" seems to be different. I don't dink the ball over. I take full swings at the ball and hit moderately paced deep balls. I can hit hard fairly well, but often choose not to. Good forehand I can hit flat or with topspin, also hit an inside out forehand. Have a flat two handed backhand. Working on one handed slice. Short balls I'll come in and take the net. Love smashing overheads. Good first serve, a pushers second serve. Come in on me and I can hit a passing shot or lob. Good movement. So while I can play all styles fairly decently, I'm probably a pusher at heart, because I don't go for winners that often and will let my opponent take most of the risks.
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you aren't a pusher then. You are a counter puncher. Fail of a thread.
 
Mr.Lob said:
I agree with you topspin. Worlds of difference between a pushers style of play, and a "push" stroke. Just because someone is a pusher doesn't mean their strokes are technically flawed. We at Pushers Anonymous will continue to fight that stereotype.
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you didn't remotely get what he was going for…
He was saying that many people are labeled pushers without being pushers. A pusher, by strict definition gets to almost every ball, but then plays a harmless ball to the middle of the court. That is pushing.
 
In tennis, a pusher is a defensive player who "pushes" back any shot they can chase down, without deliberately hitting a winner. They can angle shots, aim deep, as well as produce effective lobs. Pushers are extremely quick and consistent, rarely making errors. This style of play, similar to a "human backboard", often tires and frustrates more offensive opponents. They will try to win games by eliciting unforced errors from the opponent, i.e. by waiting for them to make the first mistake and losing the point.[1] Pushers love to "dink" balls back with sidespin or backspin, placing their shots at a disadvantageous locations for their opponents. The pusher's strategy also tends to involve a fair amount of psychological warfare.I

This is Wikipedia's definition of a pusher. Shows a photo of Brad Gilbert as the poster child of pushers.

Where the term "pusher" originated from is not important, or relevant to Pushers Anonymous. How the word is used in today's world of tennis, how it is defined by myself, Matt Lin, Brad Bilbert and other pros is what this thread is about.

I would say the above definition is fairly accurate of how I describe my game(not the kind of shots I hit), except for the dinking part.

A defensive player, quick, consistent, not going all for winners, human backboard, aim deep, effective lobs, various spins. That's a pusher.

If you want to call anyone a pusher who is just blocking the ball back down the middle, go right ahead. No one is listening to you. That's yesterday's news. The widely accepted definition of pusher is the one myself,Matt Lin, Wikipedia, tons of other media...and Brad Gilbert have explained.

So, that said, someone who does just block or "push the ball back with little backswing" would also fall under the category of pusher... as defined by Pushers Anonymous, as it meets all criteria set fourth in the P.A charter.
 
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I don't care that Brad claims he is a pusher. He is so far removed from the realm of pusher for a rec player if he is a pusher - the term becomes meaningless. Brad could hit with pace - and hit all the shots with good technique. That's just a tennis player..Every single pro - really - every single one of them plays defensive tennis. One of the first thing a 'non tennis' player will ask about the sport is why do pros hit cross court so often.. That's because that's just how its done. If Brad is a pusher every player is. And that's just stupid. Brad was just making a quick buck.

Let's sell books to a wide audience.. Let's make sure even the players with no game buy my book.. He did that. Bravo for him. That doesn't make him a pusher. It does matter what the word originally meant - if you want to use Brad definition its basically anyone who plays tennis with intelligence is a 'pusher.'
 
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Maximagq said:
I'm an example of a 5.0 "pusher" or grinder. The more evolved version of a pusher is a grinder/counter puncher.
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Hallelujah! Finally someone has the courage to say it!

I have never understood the antipathy for a style of play that works for so many people. I don't like playing pushers or counterpunchers or grinders but I don't have a problem if someone chooses to play that way and beats me. It just means I'm not good enough to win against him.

I don't see it as evidence of my lack of testosterone, just proof that I am not mentally strong and/or disciplined enough to carry out a sustained and concerted attack good enough to beat him.
 
Funny thing about this subject.I have been called a pusher but usually by someone that I just beat.When I lose I never here this comment.It's also interesting that I lose when I get in the mindset to hit hard.When I make my opponent work with different shots,make him provide his own pace,not bash my serve but angle it I get called that ugly word and also win...
 
Funny thing about this subject.I have been called a pusher but usually by someone that I just beat.When I lose I never here this comment.It's also interesting that I lose when I get in the mindset to hit hard.When I make my opponent work with different shots,make him provide his own pace,not bash my serve but angle it I get called that ugly word and also win...
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It's pretty normal - pusher is a negative word about a negative style of play. Two groups like to 'steal' the word for their benefit.

1) Real pushers like to pretend everyone who doesn't play stupid tennis is a pusher.

2) People who loses to guys that don't self destruct will call their opponent a pusher.

Both are ego boosting strategies. The first group - who don't really have any strokes or technical skill want to cast themselves in with Nadal and Hewitt..

The second group who hit marginally better with more technical skills don't want to acknowledge how bad at tennis they really are and try to denigrate their opponent calling them a pusher. It basically a sore loser.
 
My hometown had a hacker tournament. After I got eliminated I decided to checkout how the champions played. At first I thought, "They're not big hitters at all! How did they even get here?" Then I noticed that they were very stingy about giving away points. They weren't pushers. They would patiently work on getting an opening, and then they'd take it when there was almost no way they could miss.

It was quite instructive for me to see that at the time. Before that my tennis role models were the guys I saw on television. Now I learned that to improve I didn't need so much great shots as lots of good shots.
 
Brad Gilbert wrote that Borg, Evert, Chang and Krieckstein were pushers. "They have taken that style of play to its highest level.", which is an important distinction and concept some here are unable to grasp.

Pushing is a style of play. It may encompass players who just block the ball back with poor technique, to players at the highest level like Borg.
 
Mr.Lob said:
Brad Gilbert wrote that Borg, Evert, Chang and Krieckstein were pushers. "They have taken that style of play to its highest level.", which is an important distinction and concept some here are unable to grasp.

Pushing is a style of play. It may encompass players who just block the ball back with poor technique, to players at the highest level like Borg.
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Borg was a pusher… Guess what, I'm Jesus
 
I played a guy a couple of years ago who was a great pusher...he dominated 4.0 and got bumped, and was about 50% win rate at 4.5. He ran down absolutely everything and had a great, deep lob. His second serve was his undoing, it was so light I crushed it and won almost every point on it. I barely beat him and was so exhausted from the match I lost the next one easily later that day.
 
Brad Gilbert wrote that Borg, Evert, Chang and Krieckstein were pushers. "They have taken that style of play to its highest level.", which is an important distinction and concept some here are unable to grasp.
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Gilbert doesn't get to redefine words because he wants to make a buck. Pushers don't use complete strokes - defensive pros they are called counterpunchers.

Virtually EVERY SINGLE PRO will WAIT for an opportunity to attack. So then the word 'pusher' has become the same as 'pro' and now the word doesn't describe the style of play it was meant to..That's if we go with Brad definition of the word.

If we start calling "Borg" a pusher - well then Hewitt is. And certainly Nadal is. Hmm maybe Agassi is - didn't he hit cross court a lot? Wait what about Federer - he waits for a shorter ball to hit his inside out forehand.. Haha.

Its a recipe for stupidity... Let's not go there. Real pushers dink/lob EVERYTHING back to the middle of the court. They are not common - if you get to see one its actually kinda special. The good ones are like human backboards - they get to everything and just send it back..

On the clay in NYC you would see a guy every now and then who could do this..The clay would slow things down enough such that even shots the opponent thought were winners were easily lofted back. That's a pusher..

Its not some dude with dog standard strokes that waits for an opening..Come on now.
 
GuyClinch said:
Gilbert doesn't get to redefine words because he wants to make a buck. Pushers don't use complete strokes - defensive pros they are called counterpunchers.

Virtually EVERY SINGLE PRO will WAIT for an opportunity to attack. So then the word 'pusher' has become the same as 'pro' and now the word doesn't describe the style of play it was meant to..That's if we go with Brad definition of the word.

If we start calling "Borg" a pusher - well then Hewitt is. And certainly Nadal is. Hmm maybe Agassi is - didn't he hit cross court a lot? Wait what about Federer - he waits for a shorter ball to hit his inside out forehand.. Haha.

Its a recipe for stupidity... Let's not go there. Real pushers dink/lob EVERYTHING back to the middle of the court. They are not common - if you get to see one its actually kinda special. The good ones are like human backboards - they get to everything and just send it back..

On the clay in NYC you would see a guy every now and then who could do this..The clay would slow things down enough such that even shots the opponent thought were winners were easily lofted back. That's a pusher..

Its not some dude with dog standard strokes that waits for an opening..Come on now.
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Sorry, but I think future hall of fame tennis pro, author, and award winning broadcaster, Brad Gilbert, knows a little bit more about tennis than you do.

As I've noted earlier, there are various levels of pushers. Pushing is a style of play... not technique or shot repertoire. Pushers can rate at anywhere from 2.5 to a pro like Gilbert, Chang or Borg.
 
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I've heard Cahill refer to Gilles Simon as a pusher. Stupid.

I don't understand people's definition of pushers here. IMO, pushers do not use proper full strokes. People here seem to think that any defensive style is pushing, which it isn't. To me, what is being described in this thread is a Retriever.

Also, I'm a little tired of hearing counterpunching being grouped as an entirely defensive style. Counterpunching does require aggression. IMO, this style deserves respect since it requires patience, discipline AND offense used at opportune times.

Maximaqq is not a pusher, by any stretch. Counterpuncher maybe.
 
Mr.Lob said:
Brad Gilbert wrote that Borg, Evert, Chang and Krieckstein were pushers. "They have taken that style of play to its highest level.", which is an important distinction and concept some here are unable to grasp.

Pushing is a style of play. It may encompass players who just block the ball back with poor technique, to players at the highest level like Borg.
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And not forgetting, the greatest of them all, Rafael Nadal.
 
Spin Doctor said:
I've heard Cahill refer to Gilles Simon as a pusher. Stupid.

I don't understand people's definition of pushers here. IMO, pushers do not use proper full strokes. People here seem to think that any defensive style is pushing, which it isn't. To me, what is being described in this thread is a Retriever.

Also, I'm a little tired of hearing counterpunching being grouped as an entirely defensive style. Counterpunching does require aggression. IMO, this style deserves respect since it requires patience, discipline AND offense used at opportune times.

Maximaqq is not a pusher, by any stretch. Counterpuncher maybe.
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Brad Gilbert described a pusher and a retriever as the same thing, in his book.

I think most people are a mixture of styles. I'd say the largest part of my game is pushing, some counter punching, and on occasion a little serve and volley. And no that doesn't make me an all court player. What use to be called a baseliner is now often called a pusher. You have to change and adapt your game in relation to what your opponent is doing. So if you're getting thumped by pushing, try something else.
 
I don't understand people's definition of pushers here. IMO, pushers do not use proper full strokes. People here seem to think that any defensive style is pushing, which it isn't. To me, what is being described in this thread is a Retriever.
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You are correct. A pusher doesn't use full complete strokes and the ones that come close don't swing out. Brad Gilbert might be a tennis pro - but he was just trying to sell books.

If we call Gilbert a pusher then every player is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjaMpN0MRm4

Gilbert was trying to make a buck by claiming he plays the same style..as a pusher..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8SZynE4N1w

That guy is a high level pusher. These two guys (Gilbert and Shirtless) don't really play the same.

You can argue that because Gilbert said so - its not something that you can argue. But I think if you watch the videos you will see the truth.

Don't get me wrong - I personally think the shirtless guy was just messing with the Asian kid and likely could hit out and hit winners. But his style is close to what you see out of a legit pusher. True pushers are actually rare. What happens with most players is they end up pushing when they weren't trying too because they were out of position or unprepared..

But using pushing as a winning tactic - by hitting everything back to the center of the court and running everything down - its very rare actually.
 
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GuyClinch said:
You are correct. A pusher doesn't use full complete strokes and the ones that come close don't swing out. Brad Gilbert might be a tennis pro - but he was just trying to sell books.

If we call Gilbert a pusher then every player is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjaMpN0MRm4

Gilbert was trying to make a buck by claiming he plays the same style..as a pusher..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8SZynE4N1w

That guy is a high level pusher. These two guys (Gilbert and Shirtless) don't really play the same.

You can argue that because Gilbert said so - its not something that you can argue. But I think if you watch the videos you will see the truth.

Don't get me wrong - I personally think the shirtless guy was just messing with the Asian kid and likely could hit out and hit winners. But his style is close to what you see out of a legit pusher. True pushers are actually rare. What happens with most players is they end up pushing when they weren't trying too because they were out of position or unprepared..

But using pushing as a winning tactic - by hitting everything back to the center of the court and running everything down - its very rare actually.
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You think Gilbert's going to be selling more books based on his definition and talk of pushers? Doubtful. Only a tiny, 3 pages, part of his book.

A Gilbert and shirtless comparison? LOL. You're comparing a great pro and a 3.5.

As I've said before, many different levels of pushers. At the core is a pusher being a human backboard... that doesn't mean he bunts every ball back to the middle. As Gilbert pointed out, top level pushers, like Borg and Evert, can do it all.

To conclude, at Pushers Anonymous, we will be using the widely known and accepted definition of pusher, as defined by Mr. Lob, Brad Gilbert, and Matt Lin.

So let's move on to other issues important to pushers.
 
Mr.Lob said:
Sorry, but I think future hall of fame tennis pro, author, and award winning broadcaster, Brad Gilbert, knows a little bit more about tennis than you do.

As I've noted earlier, there are various levels of pushers. Pushing is a style of play... not technique or shot repertoire. Pushers can rate at anywhere from 2.5 to a pro like Gilbert, Chang or Borg.
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that is some of the biggest bs I have ever read. So because some brainless fool who used to be a tennis player says something you find it to be true? Gilbert has always played at the highest level, so he has no understanding of what a real pusher is, he has been playing counter punchers. Also, I vaguely remember several award winning broadcasters making basic mistakes on tennis, be it the gear of the pros or whatever.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=58284

Here is a wonderful description of what different playing styles entail.

Also, if you've ever seen Borg play in Wimbledon you would never say that he is a pusher. He rushed to the net and finished points there almost as much as anybody else and on clay he was a counter puncher. NO PRO IS A PUSHER YOU DOLT! Every pro can at least play offensively given the chance and that is the definition of a counter puncher, not a pusher!
 
i am interested in becoming a pusher. do you just focus on playing high percentage tennis and trying to get everything back?
 
Glorious day to be a pusher... fellow pushers! Today, this high 3.5-low 4.0 ( self anointed pusher) destroyed a horde of ballbashers.

It was a fast feed for 3.5's and up. A sister club to the one I usually hit at. I'd say out of the 7 players, 2 were solid 4.0 and 3 were 4.5's... one of the 4.5's could have been a 5.0. One dude in particular hit the ball as hard as the club pros do. Doing warm up drills the club pro warned me that this guy hits really hard. First couple shots he hit to me torqued my raquet sideways.

I have to say, playing with this many players who hit the ball so hard was really fun. Also dealing with the hard spin was equally challenging. Usually I'm playing with 3.5's and one or two 4.0's.

Out of all the best 2 out of 3 drills take over that we had, I would say I was in the top 2 or 3 players. Yes, they would hit amazing winners regularly, but my keeping the ball in play usually resulted in an error for the ball bashers. At one point the club pro commended my play, saying I was very "crafty". Brad Gilbert would have been proud.

My shot selection varied between moderately paced forehand deep balls, lobs to the backhand, a few slice forehand, a couple drop volleys, and a large number of shots I hit at net players feet.

They tried to test me at first with power. When I showed I could handle the power, they started to hit more to my partner. When I was at the net, I thought I did okay. I had some trouble with the low hard shots, as most people do, but overall not bad. Pro said he thought I had good hands.

Yeah, I know it was just a fast feed. Don't think I could beat the 4.5's in a real match. I think I could win my fair share against the 4.0's though. :-)
 
pushers really make the amateur tennis look bad. we are all trying to pretend like we are pros and imagining we Are pros when we get on the court.

You pushers makes us look BAD. please go play Golf
 
Nostradamus said:
we are all trying to pretend like we are pros and imagining we Are pros when we get on the court
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Yeah, one shot out of 10 you look like a pro. The other 9 times you ball bashers are an embarrassment.... by hitting into the net or over the fence. Learn to play within your ability. You'll make us all look better. :-)
 
^^Do you feel that people often underestimate you because you don't swing as hard as you can? Hard hit shots are obvious, it takes longer to notice differences in consistency.
 
It was a fast feed for 3.5's and up. A sister club to the one I usually hit at. I'd say out of the 7 players, 2 were solid 4.0 and 3 were 4.5's... one of the 4.5's could have been a 5.0. One dude in particular hit the ball as hard as the club pros do. Doing warm up drills the club pro warned me that this guy hits really hard. First couple shots he hit to me torqued my raquet sideways.
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In a drill class lots of guy will try to hit out.. because it doesn't really matter if they shank balls. If its a match some players get a lot more selective..
 
SpinToWin said:
that is some of the biggest bs I have ever read. So because some brainless fool who used to be a tennis player says something you find it to be true? Gilbert has always played at the highest level, so he has no understanding of what a real pusher is, he has been playing counter punchers. Also, I vaguely remember several award winning broadcasters making basic mistakes on tennis, be it the gear of the pros or whatever.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=58284

Here is a wonderful description of what different playing styles entail.

Also, if you've ever seen Borg play in Wimbledon you would never say that he is a pusher. He rushed to the net and finished points there almost as much as anybody else and on clay he was a counter puncher. NO PRO IS A PUSHER YOU DOLT! Every pro can at least play offensively given the chance and that is the definition of a counter puncher, not a pusher!
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You just called Brad Gilbert a brainless fool who used to be a tennis player. Someone please tell me this is just a dream.
 
Mr.Lob said:
Glorious day to be a pusher... fellow pushers! Today, this high 3.5-low 4.0 ( self anointed pusher) destroyed a horde of ballbashers.

It was a fast feed for 3.5's and up. A sister club to the one I usually hit at. I'd say out of the 7 players, 2 were solid 4.0 and 3 were 4.5's... one of the 4.5's could have been a 5.0. One dude in particular hit the ball as hard as the club pros do. Doing warm up drills the club pro warned me that this guy hits really hard. First couple shots he hit to me torqued my raquet sideways.

I have to say, playing with this many players who hit the ball so hard was really fun. Also dealing with the hard spin was equally challenging. Usually I'm playing with 3.5's and one or two 4.0's.

Out of all the best 2 out of 3 drills take over that we had, I would say I was in the top 2 or 3 players. Yes, they would hit amazing winners regularly, but my keeping the ball in play usually resulted in an error for the ball bashers. At one point the club pro commended my play, saying I was very "crafty". Brad Gilbert would have been proud.

My shot selection varied between moderately paced forehand deep balls, lobs to the backhand, a few slice forehand, a couple drop volleys, and a large number of shots I hit at net players feet.

They tried to test me at first with power. When I showed I could handle the power, they started to hit more to my partner. When I was at the net, I thought I did okay. I had some trouble with the low hard shots, as most people do, but overall not bad. Pro said he thought I had good hands.

Yeah, I know it was just a fast feed. Don't think I could beat the 4.5's in a real match. I think I could win my fair share against the 4.0's though. :-)
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You're not a pusher. You really need to get over the fact that you're not a pusher.

A real pusher would get killed in doubles with any decent opponents at net. And most pushers suck at net.
 
darthpanda said:
i am interested in becoming a pusher. do you just focus on playing high percentage tennis and trying to get everything back?
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Actually becoming a real pusher isn't as easy as most pple think. By real I mean some success and respect from fellow players.

First and foremost rule of pusher is you have to have the fitness. This rule alone probably turns away about 90% of rec players out there. There's a reason why majority of people are overweight and people play recreationally.

Second rule is you have to play in competitive groups like tournaments, leagues, ladders, etc.. If you don't play a few competitive matches a week, forget it. You don't have the heart to be a pusher. No weekend or casual or social players can be a pusher.
 
Topspin Shot said:
You just called Brad Gilbert a brainless fool who used to be a tennis player. Someone please tell me this is just a dream.
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I don't know him, sorry, but from what I've heard from him in terms of what he's said, that's what he appears like to me. Feel free to correct me.
 
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