Beat The Pusher | Tennis Lesson | Key Shot To Handle Playing Pushers

Playing against pushers or counter punchers can be a nightmare for players. This playing style offers a lot of challenges for opponents.
#1 - They Typically don't beat themselves

[robertgenuario]

Low % shot. Step in, take it on the rise, move in to the net - apply pressure consistently

[rugcutter]

This is good in the drill shown when you are already standing at the service line and are fed balls to You. In a real match the pusher will keep you further back behind the baseline, at a distance where you would need to take the ball in the air (eg you have to rush forward and move)

[dkangan]

I find sometimes that I left that ball drop too low -- gotta move my feet a little more, step up to it!

[rizwanramzan]

Brad Gilbert is the greatest pro pusher ever...hilarious that he was Agassi's coach...and Agassi is the 'anti-pusher'...a true powerhouse from the baseline.

[felixwatkins]

Another option is to throw in a drop shot - pushers don’t tend to be comfortable near the net

[thomasmedeiros]

I would run this drill as a 3 ball drill. You would get a ground stroke first. Then move forward to take the second feed in the air. I would feed the third ball as a lob. I like to run lots of match situation drills at practice.

[jonizefox]

You miss half of the whole part : start the demo from the baseline. It‘s not easy to stop and find the right placement before the shot.

[maxpowers]

How do you know when to use this? Is there a shot you hit before moving in for a swinging volley or something you look for in the pusher that lets you know when to move in for it? I've lost to 2 pushers in a row, not from the tennis, but from defaulting after cramping or pulling a muscle from playing so long. I really need to shorten the points against them!

[notactiveanymore]

1.) Use their same shot to push them deep to the fence, once they are pushed deep enough move in to apply the swing volley or just an aggressive volley to take time away from your opponent. A great player wants you to approach at the wrong time so they can lob or hit a passing shot on your approach.
2.) Hitting on the rise, let opponent hit the high pushing ball but take time away from their shot by taking it on the rise (this is an aggressive method if you’re setup for a proper ball)
3.) Half-volley- take the ball even sooner as a more defensive shot option if your opponent decides to push the ball in your direction
4.) Serve and Volley- makes opponent uncomfortable on your serve and approach quickly before giving them the chance to return with a pushing shot end points faster and force them to come with a different game plan
5.) Drop shot- a pusher loves to sit at the baseline and use your power against you, bring them to the net and force them into the position they don’t want to be in (keep return low at the net for a passing shot)
I don’t recommend trying the swing volley simply because most players aren’t at the level of hitting such a high risk shot. Learn to use one of these 5 methods before putting yourself in a bad position and going for too much.
(USPTA Certified Professional)

[merebaap]

This will work only if you are in the middle of the court and the pusher has a weak passing shot. Most pushers have all the shots weak except for the passing shot.

[PauloWang]

amazing tip for the pusher!!! I've seen many at the net but this one is one of the best!!! I'll try it for the next game!!

[mariodorado]

Dude, you're sooo way off! Idk what kind of pushers you've been playing against, but the common, solid, strong pusher doesn't hit soft, 10ft-over-the-net balls, so you (in your fantasy world) may hit swinging volleys like there's no tomorrow!😆😁😂😂😂To beat a pusher, you must push harder + 1!!

[caldwellkelley]

Thank You ...I'm surrounded by them here! :-)

[emihrv]

my coach told me once I should never stay in the middle of the court

[watchman]

maybe a good old fashion classic volley do the same job with much less risk.

[a.k.vasudevan]

Short high ball you can hit the 'swing volley' well. I understand. When the pusher sends the high ball near the base line -to hit this baseline lob by swing volley is very difficult.

[clarktowne]

You are doing God’s work. I have been serve&volleying pushers but this is a great idea. Once their ball hits the ground it is near impossible to create pace.

[BigPapiBulldogs]

I would like to see less back swing and more rotation on the cross court swinging volleys that's why yours went a bit out lacking control.

[stevekim]

Oh my all of players in my club team are pusher :( I am stressed

[svarodzic]

Awesome tip! I always wonder how to play against those players!