Quick Summary
To beat a pusher in competitive tennis, stop chasing winners early and build a shot plan first. Keep the ball deep, target the backhand, and attack only short balls that land above net height. Patience and depth win these points more often than power does.
- Choose your shot from a decision tree based on ball height and your court position.
- Hit deep to the pusher’s backhand to force weaker returns and shorter replies.
- Take short balls early and move forward to finish points with approaches or volleys.
- Track unforced errors, short-ball conversions and approach win rate rather than power.
Table of Contents
- What’s a Pusher in Tennis and Why They Win Matches
- Step 1: Build a Shot Plan Before You Step on Court
- Step 2: Hit Deep and Target the Backhand
- Step 3: Take the Ball Early and Move Forward on Short Balls
- How to Beat a Pusher in Doubles Tennis
- How to Beat a Junk Baller in Tennis
- How to Beat a Pusher in Competitive Tennis as a Beginner
- Your Next Match Plan and How to Book a Coaching Session
- Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a Pusher in Tennis and Why They Win Matches
Last Updated: November 12, 2026
Every tennis player has faced one. The ball comes back deep, high and steady, rally after rally, and you keep waiting for an opening that never seems to arrive. That’s a pusher, and learning how to beat a pusher in competitive tennis is one of the most useful skills you can build.
A pusher is a defensive player who keeps the ball in play rather than trying to hit winners. Pushers rarely miss by much, and they rely on the other player making mistakes. For a full match plan against defensive players, read our league-play tennis strategy guide. A pusher’s consistency can be harder to beat than a big-hitting opponent.
The Pusher’s Defensive, Low-Risk Style
Pushers play a low-risk game. They aim for the middle of the court, keep the ball deep, and wait for you to go for too much. Their shots often arrive with extra height and spin, which gives them time to recover and reset.
Watch out: many players try to overpower a pusher early. That usually leads to unforced errors. Patience is the better first move.
Why Pushers Frustrate Stronger Players
Stronger hitters often feel stuck because a pusher takes away their best shots. Big swings sail long, and short balls get chased down. The result is a match that feels like it’s going nowhere.
The fix starts with a plan, not a bigger swing. The steps below show how to build one.
Step 1: Build a Shot Plan Before You Step on Court
Before the match starts, decide how you want to win each point. Compare options in this advanced tennis shot selection guide for winning points. A simple shot plan keeps you from drifting into random hitting. But a plan is only useful if it tells you which shot to hit in a specific situation, so build yours around a decision tree rather than a list of goals.
The Four-Shot Decision Tree
Every ball a pusher sends you falls into one of four categories. Read the ball first, then pick the shot.
| What You See | Your Shot | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Deep ball, you’re behind or off balance | High, deep reset to the middle | Buys time and removes the pusher’s angles |
| Deep ball, you’re balanced and inside the baseline | Drives deep to the backhand | Starts the pattern that produces short balls |
| Short ball above net height, you’re balanced | Approach down the line | Takes away the crosscourt pass |
| Short ball below net height or you’re stretched | Short angle or drop shot | Pulls the pusher forward and opens the court behind |
The order matters. Most players lose to a pusher because they skip straight to the attack row on a ball that belongs in the reset row.
Reading the Ball Before You Choose
Three cues decide which row you’re in:
- Height at contact. A ball that arrives above net height is an invitation to attack. A ball below net height is a reset or a short angle.
- Your court position. If your back foot is behind the baseline at contact, you are in the reset row no matter how good the ball looks.
- Your balance. If your weight is moving sideways or backward when you swing, choose the safe shot. Attack only when your weight is moving forward.
Turning the Plan into Two or Three Match Goals
Write your plan on a card or repeat it before warm-up. Keep it to two or three goals per match so your focus stays sharp. Good examples: “Reset to the middle on any ball behind the baseline,” “Drive the backhand until I get a short ball,” and “Approach down the line, never crosscourt.” Vague goals like “be patient” tend to fade in a tight game; specific shot rules hold up better.
Watch out: a decision tree only works if you rehearse it. If you have never practiced the reset shot under pressure, you will default to the hero shot in a match.
Step 2: Hit Deep and Target the Backhand
Most pushers have a weaker side, and for many players that side is the backhand. Keep the ball deep and aim there to force a weaker return or a shorter reply.
Hitting deep moves the pusher behind the baseline. Once they’re back there, they have less time to set up. Shots down the line or crosscourt can then create the short ball you need.
Mix up your targets so the pusher can’t guess. A shot to the backhand followed by a deep shot to the forehand keeps them moving.
Step 3: Take the Ball Early and Move Forward on Short Balls
Pushers give you time, but they also give you chances to step in. When the ball lands short, take it early. Reducing your reaction time means you hit before the pusher recovers.
Then move forward. To build speed for on-court movement, follow this tennis training schedule focused on moving faster. A short ball hit from inside the baseline is a great chance to come into the net. Approach shots, volleys and overheads finish points that a pusher would otherwise drag out.
Watch out: rushing forward before the ball lands short can cost you the point. Wait for the short ball to be clear.
How to Beat a Pusher in Doubles Tennis
Doubles changes the picture. Two players cover more ground, so pushers have a harder time finding gaps. Stay aggressive at the net and keep the ball low over the net to limit the pusher’s angles.
Communicate with your partner about who takes the short balls. Clear roles help you move forward together.
How to Beat a Junk Baller in Tennis
A junk baller, sometimes called a moonballer, hits high, slow shots with heavy spin. Their ball lands deep and bounces high, which can make your timing feel off.
Take these balls early, before they climb too high. Step inside the baseline and hit with a firm, controlled stroke. Keep your shots low to make the junk baller’s reply harder to control.
How to Beat a Pusher in Competitive Tennis as a Beginner
Beginners often try too much too soon. At the recreational and entry-level competitive stage, the pusher you face often has modest pace and limited court coverage. Your job is not to hit harder; it is to make more balls land deep than they do.
Level-Specific Expectations
- Recreational and league beginners. Expect long rallies and few winners. Aim to win points by depth and patience, not by shot-making.
- Junior and developing competitive players. Pushers at this level often move well but dislike high balls to the backhand and short balls that pull them forward. Add the short angle to your plan once your deep ball is reliable.
- Advanced competitive players. A pusher here may be a counterpuncher with real fitness. Depth alone will not win; you need the decision tree from Step 1 and a reliable approach-and-volley finish.
Three Drills That Build the Beginner Plan
- Deep-ball rally drill. Rally crosscourt with a partner and score a point only when the ball lands past the service line. Play to 11. This trains the depth that pushers hate.
- Backhand-target drill. Have a partner feed balls to the middle; you must direct every ball to the backhand side of the court. Count how many of 20 land in the target zone. Track the number each session.
- Short-ball reaction drill. A partner feeds a mix of deep balls and short balls. You call out “reset” or “attack” before you hit, then play the point out. This builds the read that makes the decision tree automatic.
Measurable Progress
Track three numbers in practice: unforced errors per set, the percentage of short balls you convert into an approach, and the percentage of approaches you win. Reducing errors will do more for your results than adding power.
Watch out: beginners often practice only the attack shot and never the reset. If your reset is unreliable, the pusher will keep you behind the baseline all match.
Your Next Match Plan and How to Book a Coaching Session
You now have a clear plan: build your shot goals, hit deep to the backhand, and take short balls early. Practice each step until it feels natural.
If you want hands-on help, Crunch Time Coaching offers step-by-step lessons, online coaching and in-person training camps built for competitive players. Explore the competitive coaching service covering match tactics to see what a session includes. To find a competitive tennis coach who can build a match plan with you, start with our guide. Pricing depends on the program, dates and format, so check the website for current options and a quote. Book a coaching session to start working on your match plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to defeat a pusher in tennis?
The most reliable way to beat a pusher is to keep your own errors low while forcing them to move. Hit deep, change direction with controlled crosscourt and down-the-line shots, and target the backhand or the weaker side. When a short ball appears, take it early and move forward to finish the point at the net. Most pushers crack when they are pulled off the baseline and asked to hit an extra shot they do not want to hit.
How do you beat a pusher without making unforced errors?
Stop trying to hit winners on every shot. Set a target of getting the ball deep and high over the net, then build your rally from there. Use a shot selection rule: attack only when the ball lands short or sits up in your strike zone. Practice this pattern for 20 minutes in drills before matches so the patience feels automatic when the pressure rises. Consistency beats power against a pusher.
How do you beat a pusher in doubles tennis?
In doubles, pushers rely on lobs and deep groundstrokes to keep both partners back. Serve and return with depth, then move the team forward together when a short ball appears. Target the pusher’s weaker side and use the middle of the court to create confusion. Poach at the net when your partner is stretched, and keep your volleys low to limit the pusher’s passing options.
Should you attack a pusher’s forehand or backhand?
Most players should target the backhand first, since it is often the less reliable wing for a pusher and is harder to hit with depth under pressure. Track the first three or four rallies to confirm which side breaks down. Once you have identified the weaker side, rotate between deep crosscourt and down-the-line shots to stretch the pusher without giving them a predictable pattern.
