3 Shots that Punish Pushers (Mechanics & Drills Demonstrated)

[@nicolasX2602]

Having seen quite a few online tutorials about tennis a have to say that you are by far the most helpful channel. Keep it up...

[@johnpaulgarrett1]

This guy's instruction is on a higher level than everyone else online. Steven's level of knowledge and extreme detail is fantastic. How can someone so young know every nuance of EVERYTHING? I am going to watch this video over and over and take notes and practice all the exercises and blow away everybody! Thanks Steven.

[@15PointsOfTennis]

Thanks for watching! Hope it helped.

[@akifm6160]

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!!

[@Ananthvenkat01]

Your instructions are simply fantastic! I will put to test your instructions.

[@jeffarmantrout7868]

Great video and I love the humility that this guy has, which makes the content and techniques taught seem all the more achievable, even for beginner / intermediate players like me. Thanks Coach Steven!

[@mjlee5617]

Thanks for the tip :)

[@johnnytennis]

Fantastic content. Really love the way you explain things in a principled and yet practical way. You have a gift for instruction. Keep it up!

[@fibo2459]

Excellent tips...I command you for it.

[@starworldnew123]

i have watched this video twice and made some notes on my phone, very useful for me, thank you.

[@josemiguelphoto]

This is the absolute best video brother. I hope you're good where ever you are!

[@TheCvilay]

Awesome tennis lessons this video teaching me a lot, thank you for sharing

[@david-l6f6r]

This is amazing. Keep it up. You have the best videos out there!

[@louismaguina9783]

thank you 😎

[@anhvu3780]

Ahh, a new video for the new year.... Thank you bro. It's great! Keep them coming....

[@joehillyer993]

Really helpful videos - the volley is where I need the most work.

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

Thanks for this! I'm a wheelchair player and in our game there is A LOT of moonballing, at least at my (low-competitive) level. I can't wait to try this out! The part about moving into your shot (the football *tackling* analogy) is particularly helpful. In wheelchair, that is accomplished by rolling into and through the shot, which is something we really should be doing on practically every shot so perhaps the drills in this video might help us do just that. There is on caveat, though. Our moonballs have loads of topspin on them. This tactic, again at my level, is so common I would call it ubiquitous. I am writing this at only 9 minutes into your video so please disregard this if you cover my question later, but I'm curious to know how we compensate for this exaggerated topspin? (Aim higher?) Is there a opposite strategy for slice/underspin, and something similar for sidespin? We get a lot of chop in our game, this could literally be a game changer. Additionally, I have a (bad) habit of always moving forward, which feels natural to me probably from my earlier experience as an able-bodied player, and though I am working at correcting this (and instead turning and retreating back to a "hub" behind the baseline) like I'm being coached to do, I would LOVE to keep moving forward - granted only on anticipated weak replies - and CRUSH a few balls to discourage further, continuous moonballing!! I can almost taste the satisfaction as I sit here and type! Anyway, thank you for, if nothing else, this beautiful tennis fantasy, heh-heh. Let's hope - with your generous help, Steven - that I can turn this into a tennis reality! Thanks again for everything you do.

[@15PointsOfTennis]

Thanks for the detailed question... an incoming lob that has topspin is exponentially more difficult to handle than a moonball with no spin. My suggestion is not to try to hit a winner on a lob that’s spinning... you can still take it out of the air but maybe be more defensive with it and/or play a slice. By getting the ball back down low or short in the court it’s hard for your opponent to play a topspin lob. So in theory you have to respect their quality shot and run a two ball combo instead. Remember it takes a very skilled player to place the ball deep and high with topspin consistently. It’s still a waiting game to an extent.

[@vijaynarsapur147]

Respect to you. Just for playing.

[@kcazzzzz]

the most important shot to punish them is the approach shot. use it everytime you see a short ball to get either a winner or an off balance weak reply which you can then put away with the swing volley, volley, overhead or drop shot

[@wilimelano]

hello coach Steven! Thank you for this video. I started playing tennis not to long ago and even though I would love to play agressively I must confess I am an evil pusher! I am athletic and can reach balls and bounce them back, but if I try to hit hard I miss long or short. Can you make a video about how to stop being a pusher?

[@15PointsOfTennis]

Hey Andres.. thanks for watching. Pushers get a bad rep because nobody likes losing! In a way, by keeping your stokes simple and not hitting hard you can focus on all the other skills like moving with strength and balance, watching the ball, placement and strategy. Players who hit hard lose sight of everything else and play stupid tennis because they want to emulate what they see on TV. Depends what you consider a pusher... if you’re athletic watch part 1&2 on the volley and you can quickly develop a way to end points. Hitting hard from the baseline takes more refinement of your kinetic chain. I’d watch the whole stop and pop series - first vid thumbnail is “don’t follow though” and then practice getting power with what I call the “50% stop and pop”. Hope that helps!

[@SkyreeXScalabar]

Just in time for college tennis season :)

[@leisurefarm]

thanks for the video and tips! but gosh if we need these 3 advanced shots to beat a pusher, doesn't it mean that most non-pushers don't really stand a chance against pushers? Could you also give us easier shots/strategies?

[@anhvu3780]

Hello, I am not the instructor on the video but could share with you some of my experience. I think you only need 1 shot and some endurance/patience. The shot is the overhead. Here is my tactic and mindset: 1. Make no mistakes on your shots: Pushers don't have kill-shots/winners. They can't harm you. They only wait for you to make mistake. Mistakes will frustrate you to make more mistakes. So, in the first few games, you must hit the ball high over the net, in middle of court or where you are comfortable with. No risks. It forces them to take you seriously. 2. Mix it up: have some fun and hit the ball with different spin (flat, top spin, under spin), keep it high over the net and in safe zone. Again, the pusher cannot hit winners, so don't worry. This helps you improve your strokes/skills; eventually you will develop a "kill shot" (see the video). It also builds confidence and rhythm. 3. After a while, you will know when the pusher will give you a soft/short ball. This is how you set up for the kill: - Play short ball with a short ball (ex. hit a ball from inside you service box to his service box, straight in front of you, don't cross court) - This forces the pusher to the net. Pusher hates going to the net. It also force him to hit the ball high (because he has no power shots). - Hit an easy overhead to the open court. You don't have to hit hard, just a solid contact on the string bed. It sounds like a lot of work but I promise you. Once you hit that easy overhead winner. The game is fun again. Have fun practicing.

[@15PointsOfTennis]

There’s already a well thought out answer here but my 2 cents... you don’t need to execute these shots at a pro level. I certainly don’t, but good enough to put the ball away at the level you play at. Also, the 3 shots just gives you full coverage at net. If you have less options, then you just have to be more patient. Lastly, if you’re opposed to finishing points at net, any “combo” of shots can be used to finish points ie short slice cross then rip up the line or lob to backhand then runaround forehand, so def use your best shots as well. Lastly remember that your skills will continue to improve but pushing has its limitations.

[@leisurefarm]

@@15PointsOfTennis thank you very much! Love your lessons and your rally points highlights! They always look effortless!

[@wilimelano]

moar videos pliz!

[@FairwayJack]

like

[@AIMBOTKATFISH]

You were once a pusher? 1:33 Closes laptop. Tosses in dumpster. Sets dumpster on fire. lol

[@15PointsOfTennis]

Sadly yes. In the early years, I had worked hard on speed and strength but with no skills, it was the only way to compete.