|
Public Access Page
  |
|
 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
As is most court sports, a racquet is absolutely the most important piece of equipment because it's the primary link between you and the ball. With a little effort and advice from your local Pro, you can find the right racquet that will complement your style of game. Racquet technology has dramatically changed during the last decade, allowing players to generate more power and control due to the larger "sweet spots" and overall hitting surface. Once you move up to the intermediate and advanced levels of play, the "right" racquet can be a catalyst towards helping you improve your game.
Selecting a good pair of shoes is also very important. A good squash shoe is light, but strong enough to withstand more twisting and turning than a normal running shoe. A squash shoe should also have a soft "gum" sole, allowing for better traction and non-marring of the floor surface. Dark sole shoes are not allowed by all court clubs.
Eyeguards are encouraged for obvious safety reasons. Invest in a good
pair of protective eyeguards that do not restrict your vision and have a snug
fit.
The Grip
Taking the shaft of the racquet with your spare hand, pint the racquet head upwards and away from you. Now take the racquet handle lightly in your playing hand, so that the "V" formed between your thumb and forefinger sits over the inside edge of the racquet.
Space your fingers along the shaft and keep your thumb down, wrapping it around the shaft. The heel of the palm should rest near the end of the handle. As a general rule, this grip remains the same for both the forehand and backhand shots. Holding the racquet incorrectly affects your ability to strike the ball consistently and effectively. Your grip should be firm, but not too tight. Hold it as if you were holding a writing pen.
Holding the racquet correctly is very important in squash. But, did you know that the speed of
your wrist and power can be enhanced with a slight adjustment to your grip.
The standard grip says to hold the racquet at an angle as if shaking someone’s hand. It also
says to hold the middle of the grip. Combining both keeps your swing steady.
But, sometimes a fast wrist is needed for a quick kill or a quick reflex shot; and
sometimes a players needs that extra power to drive the ball deep into the corners. If
you’ve ever fallen into this sort of a situation, which I’m sure all of you have, then
a little grip adjustment could give you an edge.
If you hold the grip up high or choke up, you’ll notice a faster wrist immediately. Practice
hitting the ball with adjusting your grip. Hit a few shots in the middle grip position, then hold
the grip higher. You’ll notice a faster and lighter racquet head. This is ideal for a quick
volley and digging out those hard to get deep backwall shots. The higher grip shortens your
swing radius helping to make your wrist roll through a shot more comfortably. The more
comfortable your wrist, the faster you’ll snap it. Use the high grip for all tight shots from the
back corners to delicate drops. For drops a quick wrist isn’t needed, but the higher grip
helps your racquet handling to hit the winner.
Keep practicing alone and now hit the ball while holding the end of the grip. You’ll notice
a shift in weight to the head of the racquet. This will increase power. I always slide my
hand down to the end of the racquet for that crushing power sometimes needed. But,
since the racquet feels heavier, I use it when I have time to take a full swing at the ball.
If you practice adjusting your grip, it’ll become subconscious during match play. The best
titanium or graphite racquets will never improve your wrist or power game unless you
know how to do it yourself.
To get into the proper court position for an offensive return, watch the ball at all times, then move as your opponent swings. Remember, you want to dominate the "T".
However, it is important to note that a squash ball can do a lot of damage if it hits you, with most injuries occurring at the beginner stage. When the ball goes behind you, do not watch the front wall and wait for it to come back into view. You may feel it before you see it!
Even more dangerous is to let the ball travel out of your field of vision and then remember you are supposed to be watching it and turn to see it. You should look "over" either your left or right shoulder, following your opponent and the ball. Never turn and face your opponent if he or she is behind you. Now you understand the importance of protective eyewear.
When your opponent is in front of you, it is easy to see where and when your opponent is going to hit the ball. The secret is to stay as close to your opponent as possible, without crowding, as he or she is striking the ball. This adds mental pressure to your opponent because by doing this your opponent knows you're ready, especially for a drop. If your opponent is in front, remember the drop is the most likely shot to be executed. And this means trouble. So get close to your opponent when he or she is in front of you.
When your opponent is next to you or behind you, try not to look directly at the ball. Use your peripheral vision. The reason to do this is that it may be physically impossible to follow a fast crosscourt and turn your head at the same time. Use your eyeballs instead of your head and neck. A good reference point is the serve line that runs across the floor of the court. Follow the ball with your eye to this line and then lock your eye at the serve line area and let your peripheral vision track the ball to your opponent's racquet. The only exception is if you've hit a high length shot that comes off high on the backwall. In this instance you need to watch your opponent closely. Just make sure you're watching from the front while on the "T".
Do not crowd your opponent. Let him or her make their shot. If you are too close, there is a good chance you will be hit by your opponent's racquet. If there is a risk of physical danger, simply play a "let". A "let" is played when a player is unable or unwilling to play because his or her opponent is impeding or is in the way or if there is danger of physical contact.
Executing shots and clearing are unique aspects in the game of squash. While many players focus on developing better winners, I suggest a concentrated effort in proper clearing. I state this because I have seen many players hit great shots when not distracted, but whenever a rally gets tight, their shots seem to loose their punch. This is usually caused by a fear of close contact with their opponent. Therefore, proper clearing must take precedence over improving shots.
I have seen many players neglect proper clearing. Some players don’t clear at all; while others use more energy getting out of their opponent’s way rather than hitting a well-executed shot. The players that over clear have an untapped potential that can be developed.
Since players that over clear are afraid of getting close to their opponents, they tend to hit shots away from themselves. This player hits mostly crosscourt and boasts. Usually, these shots become very accurate over time and should be formidable weapons except that the shot selection has become so predictable their opponent has relative ease in anticipating each shot. This makes it easier for your opponent to beat you. Therefore, over clearing hurts your strategy. Over clearing also depletes stamina a lot faster. This fear must be overcome to become an effective squash player.
Hitting the ball so that contact is avoided with your opponent is easy; but your opponent may not have the fear of close contact. He or she may deliberately welcome a closer exchange of shots. In this scenario the over clearing player is distracted. He or she can’t settle into the game. There is a slight hesitation when retrieving shots. Shots are hit into the tin. Lets are called more frequently and your opponent becomes too much to handle. The best remedy for this is to practice the rail drill with a partner.
In this drill you and your partner mimic a rally that is strictly a deep rail hit along the wall. The objective is to get your partner behind you. As the both of you fight for position to stay in front, you’ll discover a circular pattern you and your partner will be engaged in. Focusing on this movement during the rail exchange is vital. Try to move quickly and smoothly around each other. Don’t be nervous about the occasional brush or bump you’ll experience. Get use to it. Sometimes a slight bump or brush gives the both of you a better reference point when striking the ball. Once you start feeling comfortable doing this on one side, change to the other side of the court and repeat the drill. Remember not to hit hard at first.
In no time will the fear of being close to your opponent disappear. Furthermore, your rail and length will get better -- pulling you away from a crosscourt and boasting game. Just be careful not to get so over-confident and get struck by your partner’s swing. If this happens, your past fears become justified and return. Start slow and work on intensity only after you start feeling more comfortable.
The excitement of squash is best experienced in close combat. Every player should make an effort to play closer to his or her opponent. If you can hear them breath, you’re in a good tactical position. This will undoubtedly lead to better concentration, confidence and balance. My advice is to dive into the thick of things and learn to keep your cool in close quarter battles for the T, you’ll be glad you did!
The "drives" are the primary shots in squash and the building blocks for a sound game, are the forehand and backhand drives. A good drive has two dimensions, which are vital to any tactical understanding of squash - length and width. An effective length shot is one which puts your opponent in a difficult position at the back of the court. Ideally the ball should bounce between the back of the service box and the back wall. The ball may be hit high and softly or it may be hit hard and low... the key is hit it with enough depth on it to put your opponent under pressure.
An effective width shot is one which is difficult to hit because it is close to the side wall. A shot which clings to the side wall puts your opponent in a position of trying to swing at the ball without hitting the side wall. Focus on keeping your straight drives within a foot of the side wall and if hitting cross court, try to make the ball hit the side wall just beyond the back of the service box.
A deep cross court drive can be as effective as a straight one, but is far more risky. Furthermore, most beginners play the cross court automatically, when the straight shot is more effective and a safer shot to hit. A badly played cross court opens the court up for your opponent and is probably the most common mistake for beginners. If you hit a cross court shot, aim to hit the opposite side wall near the back of the service box. As a general rule, do not rely on this shot to win rallies.
A squash swing is a smooth, throwing action. On the forehand, the swing is similar to skimming a stone across water. On the backhand, it is similar to throwing a Frisbee. The squash swing relies on a "cocked" wrist action to be effective. You do not snap your wrist as in racquetball. A floppy or broken wrist will generate neither the power or control which comes from a cocked wrist.
You should always keep your racquet "up" and your elbow bent, at
the beginning and end of your swing. A straight arm backswing and an
excessive follow-through are both dangerous and should be avoided.
Serving
Since the server is only allowed one chance to put the ball into play and it's the only time he or she are able to score points, it is important to not waste the opportunity. Many players use the service as simply a way of starting a rally, but it should be used to put immediate pressure on your opponent.
The server must stand with one foot completely in the service box and serve to the opposite side of the court. You can put both feet in the service box, but at least one foot must be completely inside, without any part of it touching the red line before your strike the ball. The service must hit the front wall above the cut line, so that it bounces beyond the short line and lands in the opposite half of the court, marked by the half court line.
Typically service choices are, 1) Hit a lob serve to either your opponent's backhand or forehand, depending on whether your opponent is ride handed or left handed and in which half court he or she is standing, 2) Hit a lower, harder serve that travels deep into back court at approximately shoulder height to your opponent, 3) Hit down the middle of the court, close to the half court line, ensuring good depth, to break up the receiver's rhythm.
Unlike racquetball, where you drop the ball before serving, in squash you simply pitch the ball in the air (not to exceed shoulder height) and then proceed to strike the ball with your racquet. When serving a lob, simply start your swing in a low arch that will enable you to "drop" the ball onto the racquet allowing you to "swing through it". The goal is to strike the ball in front of your front foot.
Always remember, the point starts with a serve. This makes the serve important, but many squash players focus on the wrong aspect of the serve. I have seen players try to get their serves tighter and tighter. But, you should know that developing an ace serve is a waste of time. A good serve should be hit close to the walls to restrict your opponent's swing. That is all. Nowhere will you find that you need to develop a service ace. You should concentrate more on your opponent's return. You need to differentiate a rail return from a crosscourt or a drop. What I'm getting at, is that, squash serves don't count as much as reading your opponent's return of serve and the way you prepare for the return.
The best way to prepare for a service return is to get in the crouch position. Get ready to pounce on the ball. Make sure your opponent sees this. It'll add mental pressure to his or her return. Mental pressure works best when your opponent sees you hovering on the "T" in the crouch position right after a tight serve. Try it!
Improving
Your Game
Everyone improves at different rates, and everyone ends up at
different levels. Furthermore, a high standard player today will
undoubtedly become a lower standard player tomorrow. No
matter where you are in squash, either on the rise or on the fall
of your game, you will develop one thing - and that's
"experience". An experienced squash player passes through
three phases.
The first phase of an experienced squash player is learning to
keep the ball in play. Retrieving is good. Stroking is good. Even
movement is good. But, everything is done at one standard
pace you’ve chosen that best suits your game plan. This is fine.
Everyone usually says you’re steady and that you're
consistent.
The second phase of an experienced squash player is learning
to stay consistent with all the qualities above yet also having
the ability to mix the pace. A player can now speed the rally up
and slow it down with the effective use of drops and lobs and
boasts. This is great. Everyone usually says you’re tough to
beat.
The third phase of an experienced squash player is a zone only
a few can really enter. In this phase the squash player has all
the characteristics above with an uncanny intuitive ability to
fake. This player draws you in for a rail and hits a boast. He or
she can wind up and appear to crush a shot when at the last
second changes it into a crosscourt drop.
Court
Coverage & Quickness
What will make you faster and increases you’re chances of hitting
more winners instantly? What is the one thing that keeps your
concentration focused and keeps your opponent from attacking as
often? What do the best squash players possess? It’s all in one
unique way of playing. Start playing squash by keeping your
BALANCE at all times.
Run balanced! Never run into walls! Try to feel your weight balanced
under each step and when you slow to strike, keep your balance!
Strike the ball from the beginning of your stroke to the end of your
stroke without losing your balance! Hover on the T in a crouched
balanced position. From here on in focus on how well you’re able to
stay balanced throughout rallies. Note where and when your balance
is lost. Is it on drops? Is it on serve returns? Or is it in the back
corners? When you twist, do you lose your balance?
Note every spot on the court where balance becomes a problem and
start remedying each one. Before you know it, you’ll increase your
speed and shooting ability just because you paid attention to how well
you’re able to stay BALANCED.
Physical
Conditioning
Squash is a sport requiring stamina. Every
squash player realizes this fact as soon as rallies get a bit longer. Many top players train
outside the court. Some of them run. Others swim. But, did you know that the top players
realize one thing before starting to train outside the squash court. They realize that
there are two types of stamina in squash.
Cardiovascular fitness is described above. But, striking the ball with consistency is by far
much more crucial. And the pros know this. What I mean is that your arm needs the
strength and endurance to hit the ball continuously for an hour with good control. If
this is unattainable as of yet, don’t waste your
time training outside the court until your arm can endure an hour of hard hitting. The pros
know that without ball control – you’re dead on
the tour no matter how fit you are!
Have you noticed how much work your arm does as compared to your legs? If your arm
goes, your legs can help you retrieve a bit longer before losing. If your legs go, your arm can still hit winners because you don’t need to
run for every single shot. But you do need to hit every single shot with your arm. So
practice hitting the ball as hard as possible without injuring yourself and see how long you
can do it. Keep in mind that you’re not just blindly hitting the ball hard. Try to control a
twenty shot rail drill and then crosscourt to the
other side for another twenty shot rail drill. Keep the ball moving at a high rate. Hit boasts,
crosscourts and rails and go for the nick. Watch the ball! Have you ever really watched
the ball for an hour without interruption. It’s not
easy until you try it. Feel the lactic acid build
up in your arm.
Before you know it, you’ll sense an improvement in your
endurance and in your ability to concentrate on watching the ball.
Time yourself! Lengthen every practice session by five minutes until you’re able to hit
relatively hard for a solid hour without let up.
After you’ve achieved this, do what the pros do. Start training outside the court.
Note: some of the above tips and techniques were contributed by Sakhi Khan of www.khansquash.com
©
2004 Wallbanger Sports - All Rights Reserved
|
|
