How to Beat a Pusher (Without Losing Your Mind)
Quick answer
To beat a pusher, stop trying to blast through them and start earning the short ball. Hit with depth and heavy topspin to push them back, change height and pace so they never get a rhythm, then step in and finish at the net. Most of all, accept that consistency is a real skill. Beating it is the gate to the next level.
Why pushers beat better-looking players
A pusher returns everything, takes no risks, and waits for you to miss. Players with prettier strokes lose to them because they try to end points too early, overhit, and pile up errors. The first fix is mental: the player who keeps the ball in the court is genuinely better today. Respect it, then beat it with patience and a plan.
The game plan that works
- 1Hit deep with margin. A heavy, deep ball pins the pusher behind the baseline and produces the short ball you want.
- 2Change height and pace. Mix heavy topspin, a low slice, and the occasional flat ball so they never groove a rhythm.
- 3Earn the short ball, then approach. When you get a short reply, step in, hit an approach, and finish at the net.
- 4Use the drop shot. A pusher who camps five feet behind the baseline has a long way to run in, so a disguised drop shot off a deep ball pulls them somewhere they hate to be.
Win the net, not the baseline war
You will not out-steady a steady player from the baseline, so do not try. Use your depth to draw the short ball, then close. That means your volleys have to hold up under a little pressure, so it pays to fix the pop-up volley before you need it.
Keep your head
The pusher's real weapon is your frustration. The moment you start overhitting out of anger, you lose. A between-point routine keeps you patient, which is the same skill that helps you stop choking in matches. Pushers are the gatekeepers. The day you can beat one calmly is the day you move up a level.
The short version
Deep and heavy to earn the short ball, change height and pace, approach and finish, stay calm. Patience beats consistency.
Frequently asked
How do you beat a pusher in tennis?
Hit deep with heavy topspin to push them back and earn a short ball, change height and pace so they cannot groove a rhythm, then step in and finish at the net. Do not try to out-steady them from the baseline.
Why do I keep losing to worse players who just push?
You are likely overhitting and piling up errors trying to end points early. Consistency is a real skill. Add margin, build the point patiently, and approach the net on the short ball instead of going for low-percentage winners.
Is a drop shot good against a pusher?
Yes. Pushers often stand well behind the baseline, so a disguised drop shot, especially after a deep ball, pulls them forward into uncomfortable territory and sets up an easy pass or volley.
Sources and further reading
Written by
Bolor Enkhbayar
Tennis coach and founder of CoachesNote
Bolor coaches serious juniors and adult competitors. She builds every weekly plan, reviews the video and match notes, and decides the next job, in person and remotely through CoachesNote.
Keep reading