tennis challenges...against pushers?

Question

my tennis coach told me to play a match against this girl who's a "pusher". She just hits the ball over the net and makes sure it doesn't go out. I hate playing one of those people because I want to be aggressive, but sometimes the ball can go out, then the point will be her's. I've only played tennis about a year, but I practiced A LOT, almost everyday. I learned the right way to do the strokes and such. My shots could be very nice but i'm not good enough to be consistent so there are occasions(especially under pressure) that i don't do as well. During the days of the preseason, i didn't do so well..mainly because under the pressure of the coach watching you. She concentrate on the scores more and not the skills of the individuals. I practice more than most of the players on my team. And this year, I want to get into varsity and i know my skills are better than some people. But when I play a challenge under pressure with a pusher there's a possiblity of me messing up.WHAT SHOULD I DO?

should i just play safe? or be aggressive and serve the right way with possiblities of getting it long(it happens to me to many times), while the other player serve the ball in the box and never loses score because of faults.

so..if i want to benefit my team(which i always try me best to), should i just give up on the technics..and just be a "pusher"? that would be much easier than practice my butt off to improve...

btw, i'm a girl...how's it possible to be a guy play against a girl for spots on the team? Guy's season is in the spring.

Answer 1

1. The coach is right that points count more then technique. Even if you have the best strokes of anyone on the team, if you can't win a game it doesn't make sense to have you play.

2. Don't play her (the pushers) game. She is an expert at it. If you try and match her stroke for stroke she'll beat you.

3. Find her weakness and keep at it. Most female players have a hard time with a "kick" serve. If she can't hit a deep lob, get to the net and slam every lob straight down so it bounces over the fence. I'd guess her backhand is weaker than her forehand try hitting it really hard to her backhand.

4.Know your own strengths and develop a strategy to maximize them. i.e. If you have a great inside out forehand wait for the opportunity arises then try and put the ball away.

Answer 2

If you wish to play more aggressively, perhaps you should take up racket ball. In school tennis, you are playing for the match and the points. You are playing for the TEAM. There is no I in team. It is not Wimbledon and it is not about you. It is about the team. Have fun and good luck.

P.S. There are many styles of tennis players you will come across during the season. Fit your style around the "pusher" and play your best game. You say the Coach concentrated on the points more and not the skills. I believe it takes skills to gain the points. Are you trying to say that the unskilled are winning the game and you the skilled are losing? You will probably find more of the game you are looking for in an organized tennis team at a recreational center or club. High School Tennis accepts everyone.

Answer 3

It is a pain in the neck to play that style of player. The pressure of a team tennis tryout is difficult also because you are finally playing some matches that the outcome matters more for a team atmosphere then just playing for yourself . Here is what you have to do. First know that the more you get in the arena with those gals the easier it is to play them. You said she was a "pusher" so she has a defined style of game. You have to figure out what your strengths are and tailor your game to that style. Do you have a big serve? Can you hit a big forehand. Are you one of the people that can volley well and has the speed and overhead to cover the net. Is your return of serve a major weapon like Agassi and you are going to set the point up of of that. You figure out what shots you feel comfortable with and you work with that. Know in your matches when A happens you will do B. If your opponent hits a ball down the middle you are going to step around it and hit your forehand inside out , delay for a second look for the highball and move in to volley it cross court for a winner. You have to define yourself on the court with a style , with shot making ability. When you know what kind of player you are that is when you will be able to impose your will upon others. When you know what your strengths are and you play to your strengths and lose you know you got beat instead of beating yourself. Then you just have to go back and train harder. You seem to feel you are not that consistent. If that is true the look for a highball early in the rally you can tee off on ad try and keep cutting the court down against her. You will figure it out by yourself what you feel most comfortable doing you are the only one who can do that. Good luck.

Answer 4

Those sort of opponents are definitely a royal pain, but if I were you, first thing i would work on is control. Learn and train yourself to pinpoint corners and paint the lines. Power is basically ineffective if you dont have control. Changing strings can help (lower the tension by a few pounds). Second, I would start to develop a big first serve. Junior year of high school, I learned to serve big, and it makes you dominate before a point is even played. Also with the serves, be able to direct them either wide or down the middle - this way you can catch your opponent cheating. Third, I would play very aggresively. Against those sorts of players, you'd be better off going for the point early, or else your opponent would have more chances to get you to lose the point.

One final tip: Hit the ball directly at your opponent... HARD. It makes for a difficult shot, and sometimes you can even hit them.

Answer 5

you will have to learn that patience is needed in tennis. If she just try to hit the ball over why don't you try to give her a deep ball and then come to the net? It works most of the time... Be agressive on her strength and play more on her weaknesses......
Good Luck

Answer 6

don't give up. a year isn't that long to be expecting to win against a girl that good. sure you can do the strokes and everything but can you do it every time? I've been playing for about 5 years and i can't even do my strokes correct every time. but when your coach watches you forget that he/she is there. that's what i do. here's some tips, find her weakness when you warm up with her. see how long she likes to hit for before it goes into the net. then see what shot is weaker. does she like to hit for hands or backhands more? does she like to come up to the net, does she like to hit volleys and overheads? try to find all of her weaknesses. that is what i do and it works so well. that's what i do. good luck.

Answer 7

I recomend to read one book that change my view of tennis forever, and also helpme to win 3 catergories in my country the book is: WINNING UGLY by Brad Gilbert

Answer 8

go for the shots that you know you can make. Go for corners and sharp angles. Hit volleys and make her run, then she will get tiered and give up pushing and try to hit the ball harder.

Answer 9

if your a guy you cannot lose to a girl haha but i have been in your position play hard at first you can rattle this person tennis is so mental and if you keep hitting it out just play safe until she messes up

Answer 10

be a "pusher" and see how she likes it! pretty soon she will get annoyed! and make sure u are in better shape than her so u can withstand the long match. good luck