Pusher (in tennis)
Encyclopedia
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. Pushers tend to have great success at the lower NTRP rating (National Tennis Rating Program) levels. 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. Pushers love to "dink" balls back with sidespin or backspin
, placing their shots at a disadvantageous locations for their opponents. The pusher's main weapon is psychological warfare. However, they are usually beaten by players with a more aggressive strategy or by those who possess Serve-and-volley skills, which rob pushers of the time they require to chase down a shot.
The word pusher has also been used as a pejorative term towards defensive professional tennis players like Brad Gilbert
, Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki
.
, allowing a relatively leisurely overhead to end the point. In some cases, players may be able to outlast the pusher by hitting several cross-court strokes and waiting for the pusher to hit a ball that can be volleyed away. If a player does not put a lot of topspin
on their shots, their opponent may well try to control the center court. This forces the pusher to go for more deeper and angled shots, which are harder to hit without topspin.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, 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
Backboard (tennis)
A tennis backboard is a simple wall usually made from some kind of fiber-board and located at a tennis court attached to a fence. It should have a tennis net either drawn or painted at the proper height. It is designed to allow a single person to practice by hitting a tennis ball against the wall...
", often tires and frustrates more offensive opponents. Pushers tend to have great success at the lower NTRP rating (National Tennis Rating Program) levels. 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. Pushers love to "dink" balls back with sidespin or backspin
Backspin
In racquet sports, backspin , is a shot such that the ball rotates backwards after it is hit. The trajectory of the shot involves an upward force that lifts the ball...
, placing their shots at a disadvantageous locations for their opponents. The pusher's main weapon is psychological warfare. However, they are usually beaten by players with a more aggressive strategy or by those who possess Serve-and-volley skills, which rob pushers of the time they require to chase down a shot.
The word pusher has also been used as a pejorative term towards defensive professional tennis players like Brad Gilbert
Brad Gilbert
Brad Gilbert , is an American tennis coach, a television tennis commentator, an author and former professional tennis player. He was born in Oakland, California and graduated from Piedmont High School ....
, Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
.
Counter-strategies
Playing pushers, especially in the lower levels of competition, can be difficult for players unaccustomed to their style. However, there are several counter-strategies players use to defeat pushers.Playing the net
Bringing pushers to the net is a good way to move them out of their comfort zones. Players use drop shots or chip and charge tactics to accomplish this. Volleying from the net can also be effective against pushers. Hitting the ball at the net cuts down on the time that the ball takes to reach other side, making it harder for the pushers to run down the ball. Even if they do reach it, chances are that their return shot will be an easy put-away. Varying the placements of volleys, so they do not become predictable, is also a good tactic.Timed aggression
Players try to never let the pusher see them being frustrated. The thinking is that “It's a lot more frustrating to make a mistake than to have an opponent hit a brilliant shot that no one could have gotten.” A pusher's mental game is key to his or her success, and a player who is obviously tired and angry will make their opponent more confident. Players try to stay calm and focused to outlast and beat pushers. Most pushers do not have good winners or passing shots, so their opponents wait for the perfect ball to attack on. Being aggressive on the second serve is also effective as it could be the only short ball the pusher will hit during the whole rally. Because many of the pusher's balls float deep, have backspin, or very little pace, their opponents recognise the importance of moving to the ball quickly, as the pusher wants them to be lazy when approaching their shots. Getting to the ball early allows players to hit balls on the rise, generating more pace and making the ball harder to return.Pushers' weaknesses
Hitting a moonball to a pusher's backhand side will often force them to hit a lobLob (tennis)
A lob in tennis is hitting the ball high and deep into the opponent's court. It can be used as an offensive or defensive weapon depending on the situation.-History:...
, allowing a relatively leisurely overhead to end the point. In some cases, players may be able to outlast the pusher by hitting several cross-court strokes and waiting for the pusher to hit a ball that can be volleyed away. If a player does not put a lot of topspin
Topspin
In ball sports, topspin is a property of a ball that rotates as if rolling in the same direction as it is moving. Topspin on a shot imparts a downward force that causes the ball to drop, due to its interaction with the air . It can be generated by hitting the ball with an up-and-forward swing, with...
on their shots, their opponent may well try to control the center court. This forces the pusher to go for more deeper and angled shots, which are harder to hit without topspin.