How to Beat a Pusher

Probably the number one question I’ve heard over decades of teaching tennis is “how do I beat a player that pushes the ball with not much speed and usually hits a very high ball over and over”?

Many levels have similar players. Even more advanced levels have those players that are difficult to play against. So- how do you beat this kind of player?

Does your game have the tools to beat this consistent, soft hitting opponent? A few shots you could draw from in your tool bag might include one or more of the following:

1. Patience
2. An ability to go to the net with solid approach shots or volleys when opponent is in trouble
3. a fairly aggressive shot you can hit accurately and consistently
4. Being fit so not to tire out
5. Drop shots, slices, lobs, and ability to change the pace (speed plus spin)
6. The ability to create a plan by understanding your opponents weaknesses and strengths.

A pusher does certain things well. What are those things?

1. Takes smaller backswings so there is less chance of racquet-to-ball contact errors
2. Hits high over the net but not hard enough to hit the ball long or give you too much pace.
3. Usually a pusher anticipates well, uses your power and reflects it back, and is usually fit.
4. Many times a pusher can direct the ball when they need to. I.E.- lob when you come in, or hit to your weak groundstroke when given the chance.
5. Pushers are usually pretty good at strategy that is more consistent than “bashers” (players that hit hard). They test your patience and understand tennis matches are “lost” not “won”.

Patience is very important. Normally a pusher wants you to overhit, hurry to end the point (impatient), or tries to tire you out (test your fitness). If you can’t be patient, you are defeated out of the gate.

If you have an aggressive, at least slightly faster shot that is consistent and accurate, this is an enormous advantage. Increase the pace (speed plus spin) by 15%, NOT 50%! This helps you stay consistent without making errors and creates trouble for you opponent. I teach that you have 5 gears of speed, like gears of a stick shift in a sports car. Third gear is a rally pace. If your opponent is hitting in “second” gear, try third gear for your shots. Let’s say you can hit the forehand with good placement either crosscourt or down the line. If you take the forehands and move the opponent around the court quickly, you can open up your chances to end the points with some finishing shots like slices, drop shots, or swinging volleys on high slow returns. Any opponent that is running will tend to make more mistakes. Use “shot combinations” rather than “one shot wonders”!

If you have a good net game, you can hurry the opponent by taking some high shots out of the air and get the opponent to have to run sooner and faster to get to the shot on their baseline. Then you can hit an easy, short volley to get the opponent off the baseline, which is their “comfort zone”. This is an example of a “shot combination”.

Also, if you are fit you can match up with running for shots until the match is over. If you are as fit or more fit than your opponent, you have the option to rally a bit and work the ball around the court without getting tired. Lack of conditioning will force ourselves to go for TOO MUCH, TOO SOON!!

If you have low slices or drop shots that are consistent, you can get the opponent off the baseline, and at the net where many of them are not comfortable. Then you can lob or pass to take the points. Once again, this is a shot combination.

As a player, it is important that you size up your opponent early in the match. This means you pick out any glaring weaknesses during the warm up and as play gets going. Then you will know where to hit when trying to win the point- in example; to their backhand. If the opponent pusher doesn’t lob very well off the backhand, and you want more volleys at the net, you can hit to the backhand and come in.

So beating a pusher is not as easy as you may think. They have a style of game that is consistent, smart and challenges your patience and fitness. In addition, they want you to overhit and try too many shots you don’t own. Get to the practice court and work on more variety in your game so you can play matches with more strategy and shot combinations.

Practice shots that can get the ball to areas of the court fairly aggressively and consistently, be patient and look for opportunities to hit low, short, spin, or shots that make the opponent run. Try to avoid “fighting fire with fire” unless you know you are that much better at it than them! Fight “fire” (their strengths) with “water”(variety and staying away from their strengths).

Thanks for reading my blog on “how to beat a pusher”. Good luck!