Video of a 3.5-4.5 pusher?
- Thread starter amx13
- Start date
No video but I used to play this classic 3.5 level pusher who would just hit everything back to the center of the court. I would even experiment by hitting a weak sitter and seeing if he would attack it and hit to the corners but he still just hit the ball back safely to the center of the court. Very consistent and got a lot of balls back but no offense to his game, only defense, and he wasn't even that fast.
A good pusher is fast and consistent, slicing alot, able to hit with some depth and able to throw in some drop shot slices as well to keep you off balance. They don't hit with alot of power but can lob if you go to net.
Pushers don't hit many winners if any but win points by waiting for you to make an unforced error.
A good pusher is fast and consistent, slicing alot, able to hit with some depth and able to throw in some drop shot slices as well to keep you off balance. They don't hit with alot of power but can lob if you go to net.
Pushers don't hit many winners if any but win points by waiting for you to make an unforced error.
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johnny ballgame
Professional
The best way is to keep playing matches against new people. It won't take long to come across one. You'll know it when you see it.
cam2
Rookie
There are plenty of pushers that can beat 3.5 level players. Some can even beat some 4.0 because they are good at breaking someones rhythm.
ZPTennis
Semi-Pro
There are strong 4.5's that are pushers. You'd be surprised how good a 4.5 pusher really is. At the 4.5 level, they will all have tremendous foot speed and anticipation. Have perfect placement. And are still able to hit the ball hard enough for an effective passing shot. But their normal rally shot is slow and deep. And they hardly ever miss. Take them seriously, or you will get beat by them.
I'm now curious as to what defines a non-pusher. Is it one who hits every ball over 90 mph?
Thomas Bird-Itch
Semi-Pro
I think pusher basically means someone with ugly strokes, but on this messageboard it also seems to mean non-aggressive, which is percentage tennis to some extent. The first definition makes it easy to see why "better" players with aggressive, but inconsistent strokes get angry when they lose to them. There are no style points in tennis, so those people just need to get over it.
A pusher is someone who doesn't try to hit winners. That is the simplest definition. They usually slice but can hit slow topspin and tend to hit near the center of the court where it is safe. They run everything down and stay in the point and wait for you to make a mistake of going for too much. They usually don't have a full swing but a more choppy ugly looking one with little backswing and little follow through. Players who have spent alot of money on lessons hate losing to these un-schooled raw looking types.
Most pushers are 3.5's. Some pushers exist at 4.0 but have better looking strokes usually but just play the slow and steady game. Some guys at the 4.5 level could be considered pushers since they can be very consistent and not often go for winners but they can place the ball exactly where they want to but just may not have putaway power, so I would call them a steady baseliner and not a pusher. A typical pusher can't place the ball that well so he just gets it back over the net and goes from there.
Most pushers are 3.5's. Some pushers exist at 4.0 but have better looking strokes usually but just play the slow and steady game. Some guys at the 4.5 level could be considered pushers since they can be very consistent and not often go for winners but they can place the ball exactly where they want to but just may not have putaway power, so I would call them a steady baseliner and not a pusher. A typical pusher can't place the ball that well so he just gets it back over the net and goes from there.
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Unlike most other sports, tennis PENALIZES you for making a mistake. Miss an shot in basketball or fail to convert in the red zone in football? You didn't score points, but then neither did the other guy. Not so in tennis.
Unlike some players, I'm perfectly happy in the neutral stages of a point. There's no need for me to earn and attack a short ball against most players because:
1) lots of players won't even keep the ball in the court (point for me)
2) assuming they keep it in the court, they're going to cough up something short eventually (probable point for me)
3) assuming they're smart enough to keep it in the court, deep - THEN, and ONLY THEN will I pressure them with offense.
Why? Because I'm afraid? Hardly. I can stand around on court waiting for your mistake all day precisely because there's nothing in your game that requires my immediate attention. Especially not often enough for you to win the match. Besides, there's simply no need to waste my "A" game on someone who's going to hand it to me, anyway.
I can take the point or you can give it to me. I don't care which. The problem with players who whine about pushers is they have a mental malfunction that insists the only way to earn points is to take them.
Unlike some players, I'm perfectly happy in the neutral stages of a point. There's no need for me to earn and attack a short ball against most players because:
1) lots of players won't even keep the ball in the court (point for me)
2) assuming they keep it in the court, they're going to cough up something short eventually (probable point for me)
3) assuming they're smart enough to keep it in the court, deep - THEN, and ONLY THEN will I pressure them with offense.
Why? Because I'm afraid? Hardly. I can stand around on court waiting for your mistake all day precisely because there's nothing in your game that requires my immediate attention. Especially not often enough for you to win the match. Besides, there's simply no need to waste my "A" game on someone who's going to hand it to me, anyway.
I can take the point or you can give it to me. I don't care which. The problem with players who whine about pushers is they have a mental malfunction that insists the only way to earn points is to take them.
Yes, I have a video of a pusher. 
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
Budgerigar
Rookie
The best defn. and u can have high level pushers, they don't go for winners either at their level.
Budgerigar
Rookie
Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
Well he's older, I think of pushers as fit and fast and won't run out of gas causing other player to implode.
Swissv2
Hall of Fame
Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
now THAT is the best reply so far.
mucat
Hall of Fame
Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
The one who kept volleying to the middle?
madmanfool
Semi-Pro
Someone who constructs a point, or at least try to do so.
Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
This is a perfect example as to why a so-called "better" player loses against a pusher. The receiver hit two good groundies, forcing the pusher to cough up a short ball, and what happened? He hit a soft volley at the pusher, letting him dictate the point. A down-the-line or drop-shot would secure the point to the receiver.
The point is, if you have a weakness/inconsistency in your game, the pusher will exploit it, and don't expect them to make a mistake, unless you hit a series of quality balls at them.
Consistency AND good placements are what pushers are good at. They don't hit with good power or great techniques, but they control their soft balls pretty well.
Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
Thanks man, so the guy with the trucker´s hat won the set?. Hard to belive it was 6-1!. But just like rocket said, a good volley should have ended that point, I guess I see the "pushers" aproach now, Give them junk and wait for them to mess up.
35ft6
Legend
I would run this guy into a heart attack. Yes, he IS a pusher. Classic pusher. Short abbreviated swings, good hands, ugly but effective.Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
tennis_hand
Hall of Fame
Yes, I have a video of a pusher.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YxD3xyfuEQ
By the way, the score was 6:1 for the pusher (they played only one set).
so who is the pusher in the video?
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
tennis_hand
Hall of Fame
tennis_hand
Hall of Fame
a lot of men in 40s or 50s play like the one in the hat. I watched some of them play in my place, but guess what? it is ugly, but they can be quite fast to block ur shot and place it well. heheh.
OK, I guess I can still call myself a pusher then even though I have a couple 4.5 doubles wins this year. This guy is playing percentage tennis. He hits to the center of the court early, then hits crosscourt when in trouble. When the opponent comes to net he forces him to hit a stab volley and then puts the ball away to the open court. This is good smart tennis. I would call him a consistent baseliner.
A classic pusher would have sliced most shots and hit most of the them to the middle and then finished with a lob instead of a passing shot.
A classic pusher would have sliced most shots and hit most of the them to the middle and then finished with a lob instead of a passing shot.
35ft6
Legend
When I was in college, I played free at this one place that would call me in to play with their better members. One guy I played with a lot was a "pusher." the huge 115 square inch racket, a lefty, would hit lobs as a rally shot, the whole 9. If I was playing good, I would smoke him 1 and 1. But if I was playing bad, or just simply woke up on the wrong side of the bed, it would get close. Actually, he was very talented. The really good pushers have great hands. These guys don't like practicing, they like to play matches, so it's amazing how effective they often are considering they're not the type to go out and drill.
textbook strokes
Semi-Pro
I think Sapea is a pusher at pro level. He plays smart tennis, almost no pace, and relies on unfforced errors commited by the opponent.
Doubles is a whole different story. The total effect of having one guy start at net and two guys covering a court that's only been expanded by the doubles alleys is that classic pushing goes out the window much, much sooner. There's little room for neutral tennis in that situation.
This is also why many "shot makers" prefer to play doubles. They can bang away and feel good about their games without having to suffer the self-discipline necessary for surviving both yourself and the other guy in singles.
Taxvictim
Semi-Pro
In other words, TENNIS is what pushers are good at.
Dunno, is he wielding a Volkl?
Yep, they don't play a stylish tennis but it's tennis nonetheless. Their successes against more powerful but less consistent players prove their effectiveness.
35ft6
Legend
Good one.
beernutz
Hall of Fame
I'd say those players were weak 3.5s at best.
The hat guy had a weak serve and he hit a pretty short weak shot in response to a 'nothing special' shot from his opponent. I really don't agree that he is a pusher though because, at least based on that one point, he appeared to be in control as much or more than his opponent. That is not something I typically associate with pushers.
The receiver obvsiously is not good at volleying, missing one that most of the 3.5s I play with would have made or at least used to move their opponent out of position. As a result, he gave the hat guy way too much time to hit his passing shots.
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35ft6
Legend
I would say 4.5. You're saying they're 4.0's, but the guy who posted the video said one guy beat the other 6-1. Would beating a 4.0 player 6-1 give you the right to wonder if you're 4.5? I think that dude, especially on clay, would give even some 5.0 fits. I'm basing this on one point of course...
Well the serve is not 4.5 but his groundstroke consistency may be and on clay that would be important. I would like to see more video before I would give this guy 4.5 potential. Solid 4.0 is more likely his highest possible rating from looking at the pace of both his serve and groundstrokes. We never see his opponent serve. His opponent is likely a solid-strong 3.5.
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ZPTennis
Semi-Pro
No offense to the guy in the video, but a 5.0 would hit a winner off that guys serve. 4.0 at best..
beernutz
Hall of Fame
Are we watching the same video? The opponent hits a decent, but certainly not wicked, crosscourt topspin backhand and the hat guy responds with a high semi-defensive floater to the backhand side that looks like it will barely clear the service line. Opponent puts backhand volley in the center of the court almost at the T and nearly right at hat guy. Add to that the hat guys 3.0 serve and this is how 4.0s and 4.5s play in your leagues?
I guess I need to move, because both those guys would get bageled in the 4.5 leagues here and probably not do much better in the 4.0 leagues. I guess I should just be thankful for year-round tennis here.
I guess I need to move, because both those guys would get bageled in the 4.5 leagues here and probably not do much better in the 4.0 leagues. I guess I should just be thankful for year-round tennis here.
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oldguysrule
Semi-Pro
first of all, if those guys are not pushers, I can't imagine what anyone here would consider a pusher. Second of all, 4.0 or 4.5?. You guys are kidding right? I thought so.
I totally agree. They look like they are older men, and thats how most of them play. control and placementy, and no power. Also they look like 3.0 to 3.5 at best. If you want to see a pusher, go to a highschool match. There are always pushers. One of the kids at my school uses a head lm1, and hardly takes a swing. just taps it over the net. All his shots land around the service line. Its sad!
I'm not sure I'd say 4.5 for the dudes in the vid, but I know this: I wouldn't want to face the pudgy guy in the hat on a hot day on clay. His strokes don't look like much, but he's patient and totally composed when faced with an opponent at net.
Even worse, he's smart enough to go for the two step pass. First, neutralize the approach shot. Second, go for the pass. That implies a level of understanding that goes far beyond his beauty challenged strokes. He's also smart enough to air it out and loop it back deep to neutralize any offense from the other guy.
Further, with a game that doesn't look like much, he's able to grind out a couple of breaks on the other guy for 6-1. If he's not hitting aces, and he's not hitting forehand winners, and we didn't see the other guy hand him an error - he's doing SOMETHING right. I'd bet that something is enough to take down more than a few of you haters.
In fact, that should be a rule - if you see someone's game in passing and think he's getting killed, and later find out he killed the other guy? Watch out. Dude's a poor man's Gilbert, and he won't be easy to beat.
Even worse, he's smart enough to go for the two step pass. First, neutralize the approach shot. Second, go for the pass. That implies a level of understanding that goes far beyond his beauty challenged strokes. He's also smart enough to air it out and loop it back deep to neutralize any offense from the other guy.
Further, with a game that doesn't look like much, he's able to grind out a couple of breaks on the other guy for 6-1. If he's not hitting aces, and he's not hitting forehand winners, and we didn't see the other guy hand him an error - he's doing SOMETHING right. I'd bet that something is enough to take down more than a few of you haters.
In fact, that should be a rule - if you see someone's game in passing and think he's getting killed, and later find out he killed the other guy? Watch out. Dude's a poor man's Gilbert, and he won't be easy to beat.
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