How to Beat a Pusher | Free Tennis Instruction

Рет қаралды 148,592

10 жыл бұрын

TennisNow.com/
How do you beat a player whose biggest weapon is their consistency? It's not going to be easy, but it's possible to beat a pusher if you follow these simple tennis tips.
Blair DiSesa Henley is a USPTA Certified (P1) tennis professional with over ten years of teaching experience. She is also a writer for Tennis Now.
For more easy-to-follow groundstroke tips, check out these videos:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0Tn3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxKTNR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJwS8m...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfINvW...
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Пікірлер: 128

@iamshadowbanned699 4 жыл бұрын

I am a pusher and let me give you some tips: 1. Use their speed against them by hitting behind them since pushers typically are great lateral movers. 2. Draw them to the net with low slices and drop shots since many of us aren't that good at net and transitioning to the net. 3. Use short angled topspin groundstrokes to move them to the doubles alley and prepare to knock away any floaters. I am speaking from experience.

@renanlevyfrancisco 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Pal !!!!

@renanlevyfrancisco 3 жыл бұрын

Perfect Tips !!!!

@ssenssel 4 жыл бұрын

I miss Blair so much! come back!

@nickwtennis 9 жыл бұрын

Nice video, one biggie that was missing though, is to bring THEM into the net. Use drop shots or short slices that land in the service box when you can. This gets them out of their comfort zone, and you don't have to be super accurate, because if you end up setting them up for a short ball, they unlikely have the skill to attack effectively, and you'll still be in the rally.

@JavaTutorialsDE 10 жыл бұрын

I think an important shot against a moonballer is the drive volley. When a moonball comes just step into the court and hit a drive volley, works very well.

@dkangan 9 жыл бұрын

Blair, thanks for putting this up. I always enjoy your stuff!

@jasonhorita5912 4 жыл бұрын

Love you instructional videos! Playing pushers can be so frustrating! Your points to beat a pusher are spot on!

@michaeldowd5545 6 жыл бұрын

One of the keys to beating a pusher is to keep hitting the ball to their backhand all the time. You want to take them out of their running game and stand them up. Remember they cannot really put you underpressure here because they do not have no attacking shot. When the time is right come into the net.

@bradymichel6762 8 жыл бұрын

One time I played a push and I was down big in the second set 2-5 after losing the first set 5-7 and I got so mad that I started to just go for winners on basically every shot and I don't know what happened but I couldn't miss the rest of the match and won the match in 3 sets 😀

@EnglishroG 9 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Thank you for making this video.

@TennisNowTV 9 жыл бұрын

EnglishroG No prob! Good luck.

@michaelflowers9253 9 жыл бұрын

Is it ok to moonball back and use the extended time to wink at my opponent's girlfriend, sister or mother during the rally to gain a mental edge? I think I can pull it off.

@TennisNowTV 9 жыл бұрын

Michael Flowers Absolutely. Just document it on video.

@richardd4990 9 жыл бұрын

Tennis Now great legs, but can you play barefoot next time please, just to see if it can be done

@syedhaniraza 9 жыл бұрын

Excellent !!!

@ricardoerdoscappon3640 7 жыл бұрын

very good video congrats

@davidloo721 7 жыл бұрын

Blair....Watched all of your You Tube tennis instructions. Nice and simple to follow. I had used these instructions to show my high school tennis team to improve their skills and to enhance mine further. It was a nice surprise to meeting you personally yesterday at the Western & Southern Open by luck that after your interviewed with Roberta Vinci. You asked my name and I introduced myself. It will be a busy week for you working there. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! Forgot to ask you which state are you teaching and coaching from.

@mixedstudio1207 9 жыл бұрын

Tennis Now thanks for all video !!

@DannyMcCaffrey 8 жыл бұрын

I always thought temperamental players were silly. Then I played a pusher one tournament. And broke my racket throwing it against the fence.

@ricardoerdoscappon3640 7 жыл бұрын

Lol u r not the only one

@krolldavid 3 ай бұрын

I played an amazing pusher once in his 70s. He was even a really nice guy while beating me with his style of play. I think I needed therapy after that 😂

@lewu2567 10 жыл бұрын

Great Video

@HauntingLane101 8 жыл бұрын

love this video

@billyjoehuggins 10 жыл бұрын

I love tennis now. These are the best videos!

@TennisNowTV 10 жыл бұрын

Billy Huggins Thanks, Billy!

@squishee7938 10 жыл бұрын

Blair's got game!

@TennisConditioningTV 7 жыл бұрын

awesome!

@FeniksArg 8 жыл бұрын

God, it's tough. I'll probably have to face one shortly in a tournament. I'm preparing mentally for it! Thanks for the video, I'll try with this tactic :)

@NozarMortazavi 10 жыл бұрын

Wise lesson...really.

@beeastman1235 7 жыл бұрын

Nice one-hander! 👍

@DeeeFoo 6 жыл бұрын

I have a lot of respect for pushers. They have stamina, patience, and consistency. They're also great practice/hitting partners since they rarely miss.

@oiram111 7 жыл бұрын

This is great video . I lost to a pusher last 5 times and yesterday we played again i lost first set .Then i started using this tactics and voiala won 62 60 . Great job !! After the match than he comented that i was playing him high balls and complained .

@Asthfghl 7 жыл бұрын

You used his weapon against him - that must've burned! :)

@smithcm14 8 жыл бұрын

Great one-hander

@djedd23 7 жыл бұрын

The problem I have is I play a guy who is not a pusher as such, but doesn't hit the ball hard at all but usually gets it back with very good defence and slice shots. rarely he hits a winner unless I have hit a short ball. It's the most frustrating thing because most of the time I'll hit a fantastic serve or shots and he just gets it back. He's not outhitting me, he;s just got mad slice and defence so I end up getting frustrated and make errors. I pull the trigger even more, and make UEs. However, I have learned to be smarter in my approach. unfortunately that meant just pushing the ball back, at least hitting it deep and being patient until the time comes to pull the trigger or hit a drop shot or whatever. I don't enjoy it as much to have to play that well as I think I have naturally aggressive instincts. but it's sometimes the only way to win.

@fedecasares 4 жыл бұрын

Since I was a kid I have always been a player to hit him hard and attack the net, but if I'm not very sure at some point in the game, there is nothing wrong with being a pusher. Of course, never use a moon ball because that does not go with my nature, unless the opponent attacks the net, but I remember the words of Vilas: to beat the opponent you always have to vary the shots. One deep and strong, another soft and high, another strong and short so that the opponent does not get used to it. That also makes you win games and there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, I have lost many games, even playing better, because I always wanted, literally, to destroy my rival with strong blows. In tennis not everything is strength and attack, but also intelligence. And anyone who says that being a pusher, even partially, sucks, is because he/she only knows part of tennis. PS: I agree with the video. You always have to respect your opponent because the goal is to win the game and not just show that you can play well.

@flamencofoundations5109 6 жыл бұрын

The "pushers " I play against use some specific techniques not addressed here. 1) They stand halfway up the court ,even to receive serve, and volley or half volley everything to take away time and space from you and to use your power against you 2) they take forever in between points to frustrate you and make you super anxious so that you will over-hit and make more unforced errors 3) they call all balls that land near the line 'out' so you get even more frustrated 4) they hit a lot of drop shots and lobs - i.e. drop shot followed by a lob - to make you run all over the court. Generally, I find this style of play gross. THe people who play this pusher style are generally not nice people.

@Editor_Hound 7 жыл бұрын

I played yesterday a pusher and it's a terrible experience to say the least. I got a reasonable start, got 4-1 in front in the 1st set, then I told myself: "Ok, you're in front, you have him on the ropes, finish him". And then came the unforced errors. My God, a ton of them. Long story short, I brought him back into the match. He took the 1st set 7/5, then I got the 2nd 6/4 and in the 3rd, he served at 5/4 for the match. I don't know how I managed to turn it around in the end, all I can say is that I played what I would call "ugly tennis". Just tried to keep the ball in play and put pressure on him, I saw he couldn't handle topspin shots and his backhand and I just played it there till he was 3 meters behind the baseline. Then I would serve him with some dropshots to sap away his energy. Won the third 7/5 after playing in 25 degrees Celsius for 2 hours and 15 mins. Very tough, but in the end, a win is a win. So, good tips by Blair here, put pressure on them, wait for that short ball, KEEP YOUR FEET MOVING and smash the living hell out of them when opportunity arrises!

@googlereviewer1944 7 жыл бұрын

Shame she's no longer with this channel. I liked her videos.

@bh5606 4 жыл бұрын

Being a pusher, I love to play top spinners. So easy to psych out.

@flukyreview9128 4 жыл бұрын

Ben Jonson where are you at? I would love to play tennis with you and send some hard overhead smash towards a body shot. I love beating and winning a match against a pusher/junk baller.

@bh5606 4 жыл бұрын

@@flukyreview9128 My tennis days are long behind me...sorry to say.

@harekrishnahareram5066 6 жыл бұрын

SUPERB SUPERB SUPERB SUPERB EXPLANATIONS DEAR GRAND GRAND MASTER

@stephencross4277 8 жыл бұрын

Placement not power beats the pusher.We have an almost county standard, at doubles anyway,example of the breed where I play.He has the psychological advantage over so many players who just act like petulant kids when they lose to him. Accusing him of cheating and refusing to play him ever again. The guy is proud of his reputation and works very hard on his fitness which none of his so called superiors ever do.I give them tips about how to beat him and then I see them rallying in the mid court getting legitimately beaten. A successful football manager would never field a team without any tactics, why would any tennis player worth his salt not do likewise.

@ShadowE1 9 жыл бұрын

Is there any tips for a beginner tennis player that trying to get in to it

@Societylee 9 жыл бұрын

+E1 Shadow Make the investment of getting a bucket of tennis balls. Something I wish I'd done when I was starting out. You're not always going to have a hitting partner and having a bunch of balls to use will improve your game really quickly. Also, don't focus on doing what wins you points in the beginning, focus on technique. I spent months hitting dinkers with a continental grip out of fear. Cheers.

@ShadowE1 9 жыл бұрын

+Societylee thanx I will start on it

@gkerrhome 7 жыл бұрын

Yes. Learn to be a pusher.

@joemarshall4226 6 жыл бұрын

Don't take lessons. Learn to be a pusher, by running everything down, and throwing up a lob to give you time to get back into the point if you are pulled wide. Slice is more consistent than topspin, is you can learn it, and it's easier on your body, and it throws a lot of players off....learn to slice form both sides naturally. If they hit an overhead, try to guess we are they are going to hit it, and block it back softly at their feet if they hit it from deep in the court, or lob agains if they hit from close in the net.....Never give up, try to get everything back. Consistency is your biggest weapon,a dn it comes form giving a big effort on every ball. Hit returns of serve like volleys, moving in toward the net on a slant, and just try to block the ball back deep in the court....if you mishit it a little, it will still go over the net....play against players who are at your level or a little worse most of the time,a nd challenge yourself against a better player when you are feeling good. Take lessons on your weak points if you want to improve your game once you've established it.

@brianlee4766 7 жыл бұрын

Cool I know how to beat Andy Murray now!

@bevthompson1228 7 жыл бұрын

I am assuming the same advice goes for when you have to play doubles with a Pusher. Wait for the opportunity to end the point?

@JX1900XJ 7 жыл бұрын

great video Blair - thank you. Can I just ask when playing a pusher on synthetic surface, where the ball hardly bounces and it's all slice to both sides - do you respond with a forehand slice (which is such an ugly looking shot) or generate pace using the footwork suggestions

@spartanskating6261 10 жыл бұрын

Thank you i always wanted to know how to beat a pusher

@voidsonvoid 5 жыл бұрын

I played one in my league match last night and ended up beating myself. I was exhausted by the second set having to generate my own pace every other shot.

@mschell350 8 жыл бұрын

Can you make a video on how to stop being a pusher? I hate being a pusher; people make me feel like im not even a legitimate player, even though I work so hard! I can't help it if I hate missing!

@jerrychristner9146 7 жыл бұрын

If it works, use it. A win is a win.

@AliPali207 6 жыл бұрын

Get coaching on how to drive through your shots. Pushers tend to get to every ball, stand still and swing their racquet in that order. They tend to wait for the shot to come to them and then comfortably put it back into play. To improve, work on coming up to the ball early - you must start hitting the ball on the rise; bouncing around the tennis court waiting for the next ball (keep moving is so key); and get coaching on how to drive through your shots so that you are moving forward through the shot. You should be moving forward about a metre every time you hit an easy shot. Start attacking with your movement and but no need to immediately change your stroke. Like they say in this video, attacking comes from moving towards the ball not from hitting it harder. By taking the ball early you will pick up the pace and the opponent will have less time to react. The basic sentiment for me is - take every ball as early as you possibly can. Have a rally and practice taking every ball on the rise! Good luck.

@ascendantrocket 10 жыл бұрын

Take note sharapova

@odin8776 8 жыл бұрын

Pushers are the bullies on the tennis court. One has to stand up and face them without fears. Use tactical shots, be a marathon runner, and look for opportunities to strike, whether hard shots or drop shots. Be a chess player out there and don't get intimidated. Works for me!:)

@krolldavid 3 ай бұрын

Also, make them uncomfortable in whatever way you can. It may be rhythm, pace, placement but don’t let them be in their comfort zone for more of the game.

@bailadorr 7 жыл бұрын

I hate pushers, but unfortunately I've losted several matches to them. I've lost my patience and always miss the shots :(

@TimmieTennis 7 жыл бұрын

Drop shot... bring a pusher to the net and pass or lob... or hit deep, come in and drop-volley...

@user-be5qg7mr1s 2 жыл бұрын

alot of guys suck at dropshots and don't practice them at 4.0-4.5 level

@exoxy 3 жыл бұрын

Im a pusher and I respectfully ask you to keep hitting every ball as hard as you can into the net

@lacheyrulez 9 жыл бұрын

I hate pushers I'm a very aggressive player with a fantastic defence, I'm like raonic or a male version of Venus. I'm very fit but it's frustrating hitting the winner 5 times in the one point

@Valisimal 8 жыл бұрын

+lacheyrulez Like Raonic? So you have a good serve but nothing else? tell us more. :P

@joemarshall4226 6 жыл бұрын

Now you know how Raonic feels when he plays Murray, Djokovic, or Nadal. IT's the scrambling pusher points that hey break you with.

@jmhagle 9 жыл бұрын

I'm completely scared to play a pusher now :(

@joemarshall4226 6 жыл бұрын

Learn to push yourself

@wijesekarafamily4341 5 жыл бұрын

Joe Marshall just hit it on the rise and attack their weakness

@sultanabran1 5 жыл бұрын

what if you keep dropping the ball really short so they have to come to net? pushers are scum.

@shanmugasundaram6625 4 жыл бұрын

i say just swing the racet at his head

@jaydenpham2983 8 жыл бұрын

I'm playing a pusher tomorrow

@boognish1 8 жыл бұрын

I finally found out what the term for my style of tennis is. I guess I'm a pusher.

@melissabeckham6917 8 жыл бұрын

+boognish1, me too I just dscovered this. Pushers unite!

@MrAshishras 7 жыл бұрын

i so fukin hate pushers i had to always play with one bcoz i have got no other player

@Mogamishu 8 жыл бұрын

I am a pusher and I am offended by this video. Now I am going to develop a strategy on how to beat people who want to beat pushers. What have we pushers done to deserve being beaten? Why does everyone want to beat us?

@classicalindia1 8 жыл бұрын

+Someone Else Because you people are a nuisance to the sport. Pushers are extremely boring to watch, and they really don't have any skills except consistency.

@Valisimal 8 жыл бұрын

+Someone Else Why are people so mean to us? Why? WHYYYY!!!? :(((((

@miguelbarahona6636 7 жыл бұрын

awesome epic guy 123: I think consistency is the most necesary skill in tennis.

@nolanmartino 7 жыл бұрын

Your not good no one likes playing you. Your are trash if you are a pusher

@jamievardy6100 7 жыл бұрын

nolanmartino And you are trash if you cant beat a pusher

@davidkumar9216 7 жыл бұрын

I fucking hate people that bump every fucking ball back. I lose to them everytime by losing every deuce point because I barely miss a winner. Then I lose the tiebreaker by one cause all my shots barely missed. I get so angry cause happens to me everytime.

@krustomer 8 жыл бұрын

Guess who lost to one today? Ugh!

@NeguAIT 9 жыл бұрын

Gamma string sucks. :))) Onestly!

@StuntDwarvesComm 8 жыл бұрын

+Adrian Negulescu Same with Gamma grips too

@jeniclark9529 8 жыл бұрын

I like Gamma grips.

@StuntDwarvesComm 8 жыл бұрын

Jeni Clark Wilson or Babolat are better IMO.

@mohamedkhayat4659 8 жыл бұрын

lad

@tributeact6995 5 жыл бұрын

i refuse to play them now, as soon as am 4 games behind and know its a pusher that has depth to his shot its over, i concede and save myself a 300 dollar racket that would have ended up smashed . id smashed up to 4 previously to pushers over the years, stuff the pusher , great for hit ups, horrible horrible to play against in competition. last time, i went to watch the last pusher i came up against in the next round, he won again, then in the next round he came up against a kid that could run all day with precision,volleys,massive top spin forehand ,hitting the lines many times, the pusher crumbled 6-2 6-0, said to him after wards , not easy when you come up against real players, if looks could kill.

@flukyreview9128 4 жыл бұрын

Jeeeze. Don’t let the pusher dictate the game and throw you off. Like she said pushers don’t hit hard they play defensively and win by your errors. Do not let Them push you back far behind the base line by sending you moon balls. Just don’t be afraid to use overhead smash back to them. Moonballers hate getting overhead smash directly to them. That’s how I win over those damn pushers and junk ballers.

@manco828 10 жыл бұрын

Take note Federer.

@miguelbarahona6636 7 жыл бұрын

I think he watched this video, hahaha. 1GS and 2ATP1000.

@eloneatmyshorts 10 жыл бұрын

Are you now hitting with a Six.One 95s, Blair?

@TennisNowTV 10 жыл бұрын

BodegaBay Truth be told, the strings on my racquet broke just before our shoot. I had to use a stand in;). Very observant, though.

@eloneatmyshorts 10 жыл бұрын

Tennis Now Aha. Well it seems to suit your strokes well! Did you ever find a new one or are you hitting with the same stick that you've used in previous tutorials?

@SJ-gy2rf 6 жыл бұрын

How to beat a pusher - throw a wrench into their cycle by being a pusher back

@tart8228 3 жыл бұрын

not a single video on KZfaq explaining what a pusher is tho

@user-be5qg7mr1s 2 жыл бұрын

its someone who gets every ball back and waits for you to miss...they may have decent strokes and very athletic

@erikthehalfabee6234 4 жыл бұрын

Be careful. Pushers watch these videos too

@user-vt8yh4sm6f 7 жыл бұрын

YOU HOT!!

@marylorraine11 9 жыл бұрын

SUPER annoying heavy metal music in background. WHat is the point of it? To make it harder to hear the announcer?

@joshuaagassi5527 9 жыл бұрын

marylorraine11 geesh, u must be having bad games.

@TheOrangeKou 7 жыл бұрын

Wait...... What's a pusher?

@tegg02 8 жыл бұрын

So a pusher is a player who gets the ball back in the court more often that a so called "better" opponent. Well then isn't the "pusher" the better player because the objective of tennis is to get the ball back in the court more often than opponent. Sort of seems like sour grapes for the loser who thinks they are a better player cause they can hit so called better strokes.

@charleswashburn6218 8 жыл бұрын

play a pusher

@IMightBeJesus69 8 жыл бұрын

I've played many pushers in my club over the years... they generally come from different sports like soccer and have much better physical prep than their amateur counterparts. they don't have variety in their game... most of it is just baseline high moonballs. the instructions here are actually great and I'll try them next time I play a pusher. ESPECIALLY the lob return and net approach...

@j-the-isso2087 5 жыл бұрын

I love a Pusher like Justin Timberlake

@jayteegamble 9 жыл бұрын

Pushing 4 Life Hit 5 winners and still lose the point, come on into the net where you suck, run around everything to your forehand. It matters not; i'll be on the other side of the net giggling.