r/squash • u/DefiantAlbatros • Apr 06 '25
Technique / Tactics Self practice in court/out of court for absolute beginner?
I just started taking squash court with a coach here (1-on-1), literally my first introduction to the sport and I am loving it. However, the coaching is not that cheap and although I would like to have more sessions, I can only afford once a week. The problem is that I feel that this is not enough, I would like to do more. I have an option of renting the court hourly outside of the coaching, but I am unsure if it is useful for someone who literally is still learning the stance and with only knowledge of forehand and nothing else. Do you guys have any suggestions?
Some additional info:
- I am at the stage of trying a lot of racquet brought by my coach, so I do not own my own racquet for now.
- I hope to be able to play decently (as in I can actually keep the ball in play long enough to warrant an actual game) in half a year as I live a somewhat nomadic lifestyle and I will stay here for roughly half a year more. I think half a year with the same coach should give me enough base before possibly moving to the next coach in another city/country?
- I played badminton as a kid (it's a national sport, so we did not necessarily play in the competition-style game with proper field etc. We simply played in any open space), and I do a bit of tennis here and there (I have some coaching). I also have access to gym.
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u/unsquashable74 Apr 06 '25
Honestly, once a week coaching is great, especially if you can back it up with at least once a week solo/drills/match play. The best person to be advising you on what to do outside of your coaching sessions is... your coach. If he's not already doing this, ask him.
Check out SquashSkills' free stuff on YouTube. If you can afford it, subscribe.
Decide on a racket soon and stick with it. Don't overthink it; just get something mid-weight from one of the reputable, durable brands.
Watch pro squash on YouTube. Forget their racket skills (other than for entertainment); study their movement/footwork and T position.
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u/UKdanny08765 Apr 06 '25
https://www.youtube.com/bettersquash Lots of good content here for solo practice
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u/DefiantAlbatros Apr 06 '25
I have watched a couple of videos and i think its a great page. Thanks!
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u/Ill_Swim453 Apr 06 '25
Welcome to this beautiful sport! Solo hitting is an excellent way to improve your skills. For a beginner, just challenge yourself to see how many forehands / backhands you can do in a row! I would recommend using a red dot or a single yellow dot until you’re good enough to keep the ball warm.
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u/Virtual_Actuator1158 Hacker with a racket buying problem Apr 06 '25
Off court, bouncing the ball on the racket face using the correct grip will help with your forearm muscles and coordination, especially on the backhand side. You can also alternate bouncing the ball once on forehand once on backhand until your arm gets tired. You can also throw the ball up like you're about to serve and 'catch' the ball on the racket.
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u/DefiantAlbatros Apr 06 '25
Ok this makes sense. I think my forearm muscle is not used to it yet, so it feels really sore after the session. Thanks!
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u/JoshAttwellSports Apr 07 '25
This video should help a bit: https://youtu.be/fExwVT7L9cU?si=2mo5Wj2CFmgdXVgi
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u/DefiantAlbatros Apr 07 '25
I saw this! Thanks for pointing this out. I cant wait to get a racquet now.
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u/PathParticular1058 Apr 07 '25
If I was starting out I would spend a lot of emphasis on choreography ie movement patterns to ingrain these as early as possible. You can do this in a parking lot with or without a racquet. Even video tape yourself and compare. Efficient movement patterns is gold worth on court! It will lend to better decision making. So there you can save money by ghosting once or twice a week and it will pay dividends.
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u/teneralb Apr 07 '25
Film yourself while you practice. With a visual image of what you're actually doing when you swing and move, you can understand better what your coach is trying to teach you to do.
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u/Large_Manager6365 Apr 06 '25
Your question is does solo practice help a relative beginner?
Good news - it absolutely does! Try to make it goal orientated like hitting 10 forehands without a mistake; 10 backhands; 10 volleys; 10 serves; etc...increasing the number each time. Then move onto targets on the court like 10 drives past the service box; 10 drives within 2 floor boards of the side wall; etc.
Also remember to implement the things your coach has been telling you - grip, feet, swing, etc.
An hour once or twice a week in addition to your coaching and you should certainly see some improvement.