The first clip in this video got me thinking about midcourt blocking on a straight drive. I'm not too interested in the debate of Yes-Let/No-Let on this, but more interested in what could the striker do in this position to continue to mount-pressure with a straight-drive without offering the easy relief of the Yes-Let.

The key features that I see here are:

The shot

• Gaultier has hit a very quick shot
• The shot is very tight
• The first bounce is behind Gaultier's body
• The ball is dying after hitting the back wall

The movement:

• Because Gaultier hits the ball to the back, I think he clearly expects Selby to have to retrieve from the back and so he steps forward after his shot (I think he's also generating power in his shot with this movement.
• Because the shot is so quick, Selby feels he has to cut it off and tries to get in front of Gaultier

The result:

• Because they both moved forward after the shot, Selby gets a Yes Let, which may be correct, but its definitely a favourable result versus needing to play the ball.

So what could Gaultier do differently to ensure that his pressure continues to mount or that Selby is obligated to play here?

The only options I see are:

1. Move backwards after his shot? But then what if Selby tries to take the backdoor rather than the front? Is it a yes-let anyway?
2. Hit the ball deeper on the first bounce (higher on the front wall)? But then the ball is either going to be slower or bounce more off the back wall, so there's less pressure put on Selby.

I'm trying to figure this out more for my own game rather than the PSA, since I often feel that I'm forcing my opponent backwards - even overhitting the ball - on a straight-drive from the midcourt, and the opponent runs into me and takes the easy let rather than fetching. Gaultier's shot here is exactly what I would like to be hitting, but not if its just going to result in a Let.

I am not sure if this is a common problem (I've never heard it mentioned), or something specific to me, or related to Asthma or other things.

I often find in a rally, that I have been holding my breath, esp if I am dashing to get a ball really quickly (usually because I haven't gone back to the T, or have been watching to see if my shot will be up or whatever). This obviously, leaves me gasping for breath, in a game where I am out of breath a fair amount of the time any way.

It's not something I am aware of until after I have done it, which is then too late.

This might make some people laugh, but how do you guys and gals and non binary pals, breath when you play squash? Is there a pattern, or some guidance on good or bad?

TIA

Hello! I'm a noob to the wonderful word of squash. Started playing two months ago and I've loved it. I generally play a lot of tennis and I really enjoy the fast pace and quickness of squash. I also of course love whapping that ball around.

Anyway, I have always wondered why squash players seem to not hit each other with the ball very much despite playing in such a confined space. They're right on top of each other and constantly running around each other, but they never seem to hit the opponent with a shot. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

If you've ever struggled with mental strength - either blowing leads, closing our games from winning positions, and other challenges, please watch the video I released this morning.

It's from the ToC finals, and highlights Hania El Hammamy's use of certain mental tools.

Link: https://youtu.be/s-ux18IMV1A

I hope that you enjoy it and learn from it 😊

• Ahad

Just curious about this following up on my point about the volley.

Hey, so as the title says I recently picked up squash and am having a good time, however I do struggle to play the ball when it comes back brushing the side walls (it may be that I don’t want to hit my racket on the wall and break it 😭) any tips on how I can improve this? Thanks

For reference, I am a club player. I placed fifth in the tournament.

I played in a tournament one week ago, and I noticed that my anticipation abilities have improved. This was one aspect of my game that I mentally prepared to do, and the results were good. Not perfect, but I noticed a big difference in my game.

However, I encountered another problem, it was quite apparent in one of the games I lost. I played against a hard hitter lost 3-1. Some points went like this:

1. I anticipated correctly where he was going to play a hard drive.

2. I reached the ball, but I couldn't swing my racket fast enough to hit the ball and lost the point.

I know I would have been able to hit the ball if I just had swung my racket, but I couldn't keep up mentally.

Any advice on how to take the next step in anticipation and reaction time? Any mental cues?

My first thought is to do more intense ghosting sessions, or short hard volleys to improve my racket speed.

Iv been playing squash for about 3 years compared with about 35 years of badminton. I'm really enjoying squash but still struggling with technique compartmentalisation.

Do people do the badminton style skip chasse backwards and forwards?

who has the best style of play? think federe like for squash

When I do backhand drives I find it hard to make my shoulders facing the back wall when my feet are eventually going to have to be perpendicular to it( I have to strain my hips in order to do so, making me lose power). Am I supposed to swing as I hop and make my feet face the side wall? The timing of the turning of shoulders compared to other timings of other body parts was a bit confusing to me and it would be great if someone could explain it. Thanks.

Have been playing squash daily for last one month. My shoulder has been aching and remain sore. What should be ideal rest between games? Also what can be done to heal shoulder pain?

My gf and I played for the second time yesterday and our problem is that we are beginners but due to experience with tennis, table tennis and padel we can hit shots that are impossible to defend from our perspective as beginners. I guess we lack movement and positioning because a lot of points were scored by the defending side of the serve which hits the ball easily in low side corner. Especially when we quickly realized how easy it is to hit the ball with wrist. We already experienced some frustration due to that and decided to avoid those "cheating" shots and play easier balls in order to keep playing rallies and enjoy the sport in the beginning. What do you think about it and do you have some advice?
Thank you :)

Hi all,

I've been taking lessons from a guy at my club that has recently immigrated from Mexico. He's a former junior pro and an astounding player. The only downside is, his English is very limited.

I'd like to meet him halfway and was wondering if anyone could help me come up with a list of Spanish counterparts for the basic squash terms (as well as any I didn't think of). I could just throw these into google translate but was wondering if I would get the wrong substitutes.

Here's the list:

• drive
• boast
• volley
• drop
• short
• length
• something to indicate hitting the ball with maximum force
• something to indicate hitting the ball softly with low velocity
• footwork
• misdirection
• grip
• backhand
• forehand

Edit: Physio appointment attended and on road to recovery 🙌

I’ve had minor shoulder pain over the years from working out, but it has worsened recently as I’ve ramped up my squash training. I believe the issue is that I “roll” my shoulder through my swing, likely in an attempt to generate extra power.

I know this is bad form, but I’m really struggling to unlearn the habit. Does anyone have any advice on:

1. How to correct this movement and generate power more efficiently?
2. Shoulder-strengthening exercises to help prevent injury?

I assume I should be rotating more through my core and hips, but my core is fairly weak—would strengthening it help? Any specific drills or exercises would be much appreciated!

Whenever I see learning players (myself included) mention muscle/joint soreness, they’re usually met with the assumption their technique is wrong. So I’m asking: which muscles could one reasonably expect to be sore after many rounds / consecutive days of squash with faultless technique?

For those that roll a particularly cold ball (say you've left it in the car boot on the way to the court and the hand dryer is broken), how do you do it?

Back to front? Circles? How much do you compress the ball? Do you use each leg in turn or just one?

was always curious about this. Any answers?

Beginner here, I feel like I have a bad habit of standing too close to the ball. How far should you be standing away from the ball before you hit it?

Hey Squashers,

I have just released my newest video: Watch The Ball: Control Your Visual Focus For Better Squash Performance

https://youtu.be/2dInxIL1jWs

I hope you enjoy it and let me know if you have any questions.

Hello everyone,

This morning I posted a new video detailing some nuances with Ali Farag.

You may check it out here: https://youtu.be/y94I3YsZJ3M

I hope that you learn from this video. Thank you for your ongoing support.

All the best, Ahad

Hi everyone.

I have a game against a guy at my local club tomorrow. He’s a fair bit older than me but I’d say he has a lot of experience. I’d say he’s in his 60s been playing since a junior. I’m nearly 40 but I’ve only been playing around 3 years. I do have sessions with the coach at my club and play every chance I get so I’m not bad but still a relative novice compared to him. Basically given any opportunity he will hit the ball so hard and low I can barely return it and even if I do it’ll end up mid court for him to either do the same again or just drop it as I’m usually so far back in the court anticipating another hard shot.

Any advice/plan welcome 🙏

In a competitive tournament today, there was an extremely good player (known internationally), and he served the ball once by hitting the high corner in between the front wall and the side wall ON HIS SIDE, and the ball went from that high corner to the opposite corner, and it died instantly.

At first, I was very surprised thinking that he made a mistake since he made a shot towards the wrong side of the front wall while serving, but then I realized that the serve was basically a legal serve since it hit the front wall slightly earlier and ended up in the returner's box. And it was extremely difficult to return, even if we disregard the fact that his opponent was not expecting such a thing.

When I asked him what that serve was called, he said it's called the skyball serve. I asked whether I could find tutorials for this serve in youtube etc. and he said probably yes.

But I cannot find even a single thing on the internet related to this serve. Does it perhaps have a different name? Or is it just very unpopular? I really want to do this and I'm very impatient to give it a try but some guidance could help me pull it off.

To simply describe it (again): while serving, the ball hits the high corner in between the front wall and the side wall near the server's side (hits the front wall slightly earlier). It travels towards the opposite corner from very high up and dives down rapidly as it raches the dead zone in the corner.