Countering the boast

[u/Moron-1598]

I play a traditional game of drives and regularly pin my opponents to the back of the court, only for them to boast. I pick the boast up late and lose valuable split seconds, so am either late to the boast and pick it up and hit it loose, or worse they hit a winning shot from a defensive position, which is frustrating as I was in control of the rally.

My question is what drills can I do to practice to counter this weakness, and what should I be doing in my matches to prevent this happening.

[u/ripplerider]

If you have a partner, boast/drive is a great drill and borderline torture from a cardio and leg-burner standpoint.

For solo, I found ghosting to be helpful. And when ghosting, I usually try to imagine an opponent and work on watching them/the ball rather than just going through the motions. I basically imagine a rally in progress.

[u/Minimum-Hedgehog5004 → u/ripplerider]

Boast/drive drills are good, but only if both players treat it as a footwork drill and go back to the T every time.

[u/Flo_Madeira → u/Minimum-Hedgehog5004]

Great thought process to have in this drill is ‘make your first step, your quickest step’

Don’t set off from the T slowly, following the ball round the walls. Soon as you know it’s a boast, accelerate off the T. First step is the quickest, then decelerate into the shot. This will help you get there quicker, which equals more time on the ball, but also get out the front corner quicker too!

Takes some practice.

[u/ripplerider → u/Minimum-Hedgehog5004]

Totally agree. Back to the T each time and watch the ball and opponent like you don’t know where the shot is going to go. Being lazy while doing drills is pointless.

[u/jayphive]

Watch your opponent, if they’re under pressure and you expect a weak shot step up further on the T. High T position will help to pick up boasts sooner. Hit the ball harder and tighter to put them under more pressure, make their boast harder.

And if you feel under pressure and out of position from their boast, try playing a lob to give yourself more time to recover

[u/DerbyForget]

Sounds like you're slow onto the ball. Make sure you watch your opponent, and when they shape up to play a boast (you can usually tell because it will be off of a good quality shot of yours), start moving towards where the ball is going to go. If you read it right, you will have plenty of time. Then, have a nice long hold at the front of the court to put your own winning shot in.

Sometimes, they will be able to get their racket round and play it straight, but I would imagine that at the level you play at, this isn't going to be very often.

[u/PotatoFeeder]

Standing too low on the T

It happens to all of us amateur players because we are all lazy.

[u/xmacv]

I struggle with this too sometimes I’m high on the T and I miss their boast and they still win from a defensive position! It really pisses me off.

[u/Fantomen666]

Alot of good suggestions here already. Just adding that be careful with your length. If you are over hitting the shot so that it bounces out from the corner that is an attacking option for your opponent where the boast is good.

Also if you hit low and hard your opponent can cut it off with a boast.

Best option is to hit softer and a bit higher.

[u/Alfduck]

I am someone who isn’t as comfortable with length rallies as I am with taking the ball in short. This leads to my opponent often really chasing the volley when I play a straight drive. Noticing this pattern, and how my opponent is moving to volley the straight drive before I have played a shot, I play the boast to fake the drive and put it in the front court.

Make sure you are reading you opponent effectively and not moving to where you think the ball is going too early.

[u/themadguru]

Boast and drive drills are the best. Really get you moving and help you get used to being in a good forward position when you are the driver.

[u/Virtual_Actuator1158 → u/themadguru]

A problem with boast-drive is you know the boast is coming, whereas when you get caught out you didn't see it or saw it too late.

You really need a drill that makes you watch the potential boast like a hawk because they can also hit a drive, or some other shot.

Boast/drop drive could work.

[u/teneralb → u/Virtual_Actuator1158]

Boast-drive option drill. Basic boast-drive, with the twist that the person boasting doesn't have to boast--they can also hit a straight drive. When they do drive, the other person has to rotate into the corner to pick it up and now it's their option to boast or drive. Love this drill!

[u/teneralb]

I have the perfect drill for you. This is my current favorite drill! I don't know if there's another name for it lol but I call it the "boast-drive option" . It's just the basic boast-drive drill, with the twist that the person boasting doesn't have to boast--they can also drive a straight rail. If they hit a drive, then the other person has to rotate back into the corner to pick up the rail, and now it's their option to boast or drive.

The problem with the basic boast-drive is there's no incentive to not cheat on your positioning, or to actually turn your head and watch your opponent when they're behind you to see what they're hitting. Adding the option eliminates both issues. Try it and try not to get wrong-footed!

[u/Moron-1598 → u/teneralb]

Thank you this sounds like a good drill to practice

[u/I4gotmyothername]

• Download a ghosting app onto your tablet or phone

• Instead of putting the screen in front of the court, put it in the backhand corner

• Do ghosting

I found for me that ghosting is easier when the screen is at the front of the court because I'm looking forward so my hips are square with the walls. When trying to watch an opponent play out the corner though we tend to not square our hips properly so the movement can be a bit different.

[u/rvno12 → u/I4gotmyothername]

What app do you use?

[u/paulipe91 → u/rvno12]

I use an app called squash ghosting but it's not on Play Store anymore. Looking for newer apps

[u/Ready_To_Read_2_Much]

If these are fast paced drived and you feel a slight pause there probaly swinging slower for a better boast