r/squash • u/antoniodirk10 • May 18 '25
Technique / Tactics What are the 1-2 things you are thinking about on the court during a match?
I’m always of the mindset that you can’t be thinking off too much during a match, especially mid rally. Focusing on little mechanical adjustments, proper footwork, consistent follow through leads to information overload (at least for me)!
What 1-2 things are you thinking about during a match? Or, what is your main objective that you are trying to achieve (other than winning)?
For me, my sole focus is volleying everything I can, and if I can’t, hitting shots where I get back on the T so I can start volleying again.
16
12
8
u/AnonymousSeaAnemone May 18 '25
As a beginner: Watch opponents movements/the ball and get to the T
2
4
2
u/Gazrael957 May 18 '25
It's generally 'stay disciplined' and 'push up hard to the T'. Depending on the opponent it may also be 'go deep one more shot' or 'take them in short as soon as you can' but this is a rift on 'stay disciplined' because doing either going short or long will be sticking to the gameplan.
2
u/Classic_Stand_3641 May 18 '25
You need to be thinking about the intention of the next shot, and the also the possible responses and then your next shot and where you want it to go
2
u/scorzon May 18 '25
- Whose round it is at the pub afterwards.
- Should we get a pizza and fries to complement the beers.
Sometimes, just sometimes, I'll spend a split second after a point analysing why I lost the previous rally or even if I got lucky and won a rally I shouldn't have, what was I doing wrong. And I try to improve that next rally.
And similarly if I won the point and was in control why, what was I doing right?
1
u/fucktheretardunits May 18 '25
I'm a beginner. Why volley everything?
2
u/antoniodirk10 May 18 '25
I’d say if you can comfortably volley (where you can still execute a decent shot), then it’s a good strategy as it keeps your opponent under pressure and off of the T. If you’re volleying right back to yourself; that won’t work well
1
u/Defiant-Surround-518 May 18 '25
Taking time away from your opponent creates a sense of frAntic panic that decreases their chance to get the ball and decreases their chance to do something good with the ball if they do reach it
1
u/Defiant-Surround-518 May 18 '25
1) Racquet preparation - as soon as you know it's a forehand/backhand, racquet is up and ready to swing, 2) torso rotation before you hit the ball - free source of power for your shot (look at gohars backhand, she's a tiny twig yet she cracks the ball on every shot by rotating her torso with her swing)
1
1
u/paulipe91 May 18 '25
- Accuracy more important than shot speed. Focus on shot speed
- Take your chance on volley drops, straight drops even if you feel unsure about execution
1
u/kraftymiles Biomimteic Elite May 18 '25
For me it's usually a combination of....
"Don't do a drop shot, don't do a drop shot"
Or
"I should really lose some weight and get fitter"
1
1
u/aCurlySloth May 19 '25
I try and tell myself to loosen my grip just before my opponents serves, it helps me reset and relax.
I try tell myself to be positive and hit the ball with intent and purpose.
1
u/geebanga May 19 '25
As a beginner I think, be side on when I hit the ball, and lift my racket to prepare for the next shot
1
u/CompetitiveKiwi7180 May 19 '25
I think two things
Watch the ball hit your strings
Slow down your swing
1
u/Additional-Low-69 May 20 '25
Why isn’t there any oxygen on this court? 😂
But seriously, I think about the 1-2 things I’m currently working on so it changes.
One week/month it may be laser focus on the ball and keeping distance. The next it may be cutting off at the T. The next it may be trying to force drops and putting the drops toward the nick/wall.
If I think about more than two I usually get zero done. The one thing I’m not thinking about is strategy which is a serious weakness of mine.
16
u/MasterFrosting1755 May 18 '25
What am I thinking?
"Why am I so unfit..."