Playing The Artful Pusher

The question I probably get asked the most by aspiring tennis plaers is how to beat a pusher.

The answer --it's not easy and I'm going to explore this in the next few blog entries.

The first thing though is that you have to get over the idea that because you hit the ball harder than the pusher you are therefore a better tennis player.

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

You hit with pace - the pusher usually hits with precision. Isn't precision as important if not more so than pace?

You lose your cool - the pusher maintains his. Isn't controlling your emotions an important part of winning tennis?

You get sucked into patterns you don't like - the pusher controls the patterns. Isn't being smart tactically part of winning tennis?

So lesson 1 -- GET OVER YOURSELF. The pusher may be a better player than you are.
Don't get overconfident just because you hit the ball harder and don't lose your cool when you are forced to hit the shots you're not used to.

Next time we'll explore some of the patterns that pushers like to use.

Glenn Sheiner M.D. - author of INSIDER TENNIS STRATEGIES The Ebook guaranteed to make you a smarter tennis player and take yout tennis to the next level.