We've all run into "pushers," or steady players who just get every ball back in the court. These players can be frustrating to compete against because they make very few mistakes and it's not often that you can win a point without putting pressure on them.

  

To beat a pusher, you must be very patient. Pick your shots wisely and put pressure on your opponent to finish off the point. The common mistake most players make against a pusher is to try and force the point and hit a winner before it's time. What most people forget, is that a pusher simply gets the ball back in play and typically poses no real threat with their shots. This means if you can be patient and not go for too much at the wrong time, you should have success. Don't feel the pressure to hit winners or to take control of the point too quickly, as this is exactly what pushers rely on. They expect that you will beat yourself trying unnecessarily difficult shots.

  

When you're having trouble beating a pusher, stop and ask yourself, "Are they beating me, or am I beating myself?"