Beating a Pusher
Also known as: pusher, how to beat a pusher, playing a pusher, playing against a pusher, pusher in tennis, moonballer, junkballer
A pusher gets every ball back with safe, slow, often high shots and waits for you to miss. To beat one, rally patiently with margin, step in to take short or floating balls early, and finish at the net. Use drop shots and short angles to pull them forward and wide.
A pusher, also called a retriever or moonballer, wins by making fewer errors. They chase everything and send it back high, deep or slow. The trap is trying to hit winners from the baseline off balls with no pace. That raises your error count and plays into their plan.
Start by accepting long points. Rally with margin through the middle until you get a short or high ball you can attack. Take high, slow balls early, either out of the air as a swinging volley or on the rise. That stops them from resetting the rally. When you get a short ball, approach and finish at the net. A player at the net forces the pusher to hit a passing shot or a lob under pressure.
Change the shape of the court. Short angles and drop shots drag a pusher forward, out of the deep position they like. The next ball can then go deep or past them. Take some pace off your own shots too. Slice and loopy balls give them nothing to redirect. Above all, keep your own unforced errors low. Against a pusher, the player who misses less usually wins.
Tips by skill level
Decide before the match that points will be long. Count how many balls you can rally in a row with margin, and attack only short balls or high, slow ones.
Use the swinging volley and the approach to take time away. Mix in slice to the backhand and the odd drop shot. The pusher then has to create pace and move forward.
Example
Down a set to a player who returns everything high, Leo stops going for the lines. He rallies crosscourt with margin, takes a floating ball out of the air near the service line and follows it to the net. He wins the next two sets with volleys and short angles.
Why it matters
Pushers are common at club and league level, and they beat many players with better-looking strokes. A plan built on patience and forward movement turns their style against them.
Common mistakes
- Going for winners off slow, deep balls from behind the baseline
- Letting high moonballs bounce and push you far back
- Getting impatient and missing after a few shots
- Staying at the baseline when a short ball invites you forward
Frequently asked questions
How do I beat a pusher in tennis?
Be patient, rally with margin and wait for a short ball or a high, slow one. Take that ball early, approach and finish at the net. Use drop shots and angles to pull them out of their deep position.
Why do I keep losing to pushers?
Usually you are trying to end points too fast. Pushers make few errors and give you no pace, and going for the lines leads to misses. Build the point and attack only the short or floating ball.
Related terms
- Moon BallA moon ball is a very high, heavily topspun groundstroke. It disrupts rhythm and buys recovery time without going as high or defensive as a lob.
- Counter-Punching StyleCounter-punching is a defensive-minded style that absorbs an opponent's pace, redirects it back with consistency and depth, and waits patiently for the opponent to make the error.
- Approach ShotAn approach shot is struck off a short ball as the player moves toward the net, designed to put the opponent under pressure while allowing time to close into a volley position.
- Drop ShotA drop shot is a soft groundstroke or volley meant to die just over the net. It draws the opponent in from the baseline to win the point with touch.
- Unforced ErrorAn unforced error is a point lost to a player's own mistake. They had reasonable time and position for the shot and little pressure from the opponent.
- Rally ToleranceRally tolerance is a player's ability and willingness to extend rallies without forcing a risky shot. It shows in rally length and patience under pressure.
Related guides & benchmarks
Have a question about this?
There is nothing here to film. Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question, or keep reading the related terms above.