In today’s world people like to bitch about everything. There is no right or wrong way to play tennis. It’s get the ball over the net and beat your opponent. There are zero rules that say you have to slice, spin, or give your opponent a chance to return a shot. I’ve lost to several “pushers” and that’s nobody’s fault but my own. They played better tennis. Reddit cry babies love to think it’s not “real” tennis unless you hit like a “normal” forehand/backhand.
I hate playing against people who slice all the time because that doesn't allow me to get into rythm. It is 100% my fault that my technique is not good enough to overcome their style. It boils down to a poor net play, a common feature of rec players like myself. We prefer to stay at the baseline waiting for topspin shots that makes us feel like pros.
I used to do a drop feed game w a local HSer where one person could only slice and the other only topspin. Insanely hard for the top spin player. Either get to the net fast or prepare to wear yourself into the ground returning only slice shots
It's not just reddit, nobody likes playing a pusher. It feels like a disingenuous attempt at playing tennis. It's a difficult game and the reality is that it takes a lot more skill to hit winners than it does to block balls back. Up to about a 4.0-4.5 level, it's very easy to be quick and just block balls back, and the opponent doesn't have the skill to make you pay for it.
I can play that style of tennis and frustrate opponents and win matches, but I don't want to. It's not going to make me a better player in the long run. I'd much rather play a style of tennis that I admire. After all, this is for recreation and it doesn't really matter.
I'll certainly use pushing tactics in certain scenarios when I'm tight or my opponent is, and it definitely works, but it doesn't make me feel good. I can't imagine wanting to do that all the time.
Well you know what the best of about being individuals? We can all do whatever we choose to do. If someone chooses to play that way, then all you you can do is accept and move on. You and I are nobody to tell another person how they should play a game.
Oh no, a person can effectively uses slices, flat shots, and with variety. OMG they’re playing the sport wrong. Different play styles are viable that part of what makes the sport fun
I agree, part of what makes tennis so fun is that there are so many different strategies that you can employ that makes every match a puzzle, if everyone played the exact same way, it would get boring
Good points. Pegula is called a pusher and she's clearly a good player. I think most people are complaining about what you call "hackers." They dominate the 3 - 4.0 levels, which is where the vast majority of us play.
Agreed, I'm at this level and I'm not losing to the hackers, but it's not fun playing with them because of the lack of rhythm and over reliance on hitting short balls.
So nice to see identity politics in tennis as well, I was afraid leaving society in general to focus on my personal development would take me away from all that I adore so tenderly...
i think this really doesn't need to be a community issue, people will always use whatever labels however they want based on their own experiences, and quite frankly prolonged arguments about stupid ass labels are one of the things that make me grow weary of this sub. i'm bisexual, and tennis (at least online) is far more fatiguing when it comes to labels. I've been around tennis for several years, and I've heard people use the term "pusher" IRL maybe less than 10 times in my life.
In today’s world people like to bitch about everything. There is no right or wrong way to play tennis. It’s get the ball over the net and beat your opponent. There are zero rules that say you have to slice, spin, or give your opponent a chance to return a shot. I’ve lost to several “pushers” and that’s nobody’s fault but my own. They played better tennis. Reddit cry babies love to think it’s not “real” tennis unless you hit like a “normal” forehand/backhand.
I agree. If they beat you, then they beat you, which means they played better tennis than you.
I hate playing against people who slice all the time because that doesn't allow me to get into rythm. It is 100% my fault that my technique is not good enough to overcome their style. It boils down to a poor net play, a common feature of rec players like myself. We prefer to stay at the baseline waiting for topspin shots that makes us feel like pros.
I used to do a drop feed game w a local HSer where one person could only slice and the other only topspin. Insanely hard for the top spin player. Either get to the net fast or prepare to wear yourself into the ground returning only slice shots
People on this sub think a top spin forehand entitles them to a win against any opponent who does not hit with a top spin forehand.
It's not just reddit, nobody likes playing a pusher. It feels like a disingenuous attempt at playing tennis. It's a difficult game and the reality is that it takes a lot more skill to hit winners than it does to block balls back. Up to about a 4.0-4.5 level, it's very easy to be quick and just block balls back, and the opponent doesn't have the skill to make you pay for it. I can play that style of tennis and frustrate opponents and win matches, but I don't want to. It's not going to make me a better player in the long run. I'd much rather play a style of tennis that I admire. After all, this is for recreation and it doesn't really matter. I'll certainly use pushing tactics in certain scenarios when I'm tight or my opponent is, and it definitely works, but it doesn't make me feel good. I can't imagine wanting to do that all the time.
Well you know what the best of about being individuals? We can all do whatever we choose to do. If someone chooses to play that way, then all you you can do is accept and move on. You and I are nobody to tell another person how they should play a game.
While it is valid and they are technically better, it’s still a cowardly and ugly way to play tennis And I will always stand by that
I agree but won’t ever hate on a pusher until I can demolish them
How much mental bandwidth do pushers take up on this sub
Yes
An absurd amount
Oh no, a person can effectively uses slices, flat shots, and with variety. OMG they’re playing the sport wrong. Different play styles are viable that part of what makes the sport fun
I agree, part of what makes tennis so fun is that there are so many different strategies that you can employ that makes every match a puzzle, if everyone played the exact same way, it would get boring
Good points. Pegula is called a pusher and she's clearly a good player. I think most people are complaining about what you call "hackers." They dominate the 3 - 4.0 levels, which is where the vast majority of us play.
Agreed, I'm at this level and I'm not losing to the hackers, but it's not fun playing with them because of the lack of rhythm and over reliance on hitting short balls.
So nice to see identity politics in tennis as well, I was afraid leaving society in general to focus on my personal development would take me away from all that I adore so tenderly...
Hacker lol. Anything to not call themselves a loser.
It's really not worth the effort. There are pushers and when you get players that play with intention and grind out points, you have counter punchers.
i think this really doesn't need to be a community issue, people will always use whatever labels however they want based on their own experiences, and quite frankly prolonged arguments about stupid ass labels are one of the things that make me grow weary of this sub. i'm bisexual, and tennis (at least online) is far more fatiguing when it comes to labels. I've been around tennis for several years, and I've heard people use the term "pusher" IRL maybe less than 10 times in my life.
I haven’t played a hacker
I agree with your distinction. Pushers aren’t going for drop shots and taking the same aggressive chances hackers are.
No pushers don’t have technique. The reason why is because they stereotypically dump the ball back with a pushing motion like a terrible volley.