The next level
Published: 13 Jun 2006 - 08:00 by fatness
Updated: 25 Sep 2008 - 20:37
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Hello there,
I have been playing squash for 5 years now. I have also received coaching from an ex irish no 1 squash player. When i started out i improved at this game very rapidly, and after a couple of years found myself being very competitive in the B section in my club. However my problem is that i cant seem to improve my game enough to get to A level squash.
I find when playing A players, I tend to burn out after 15 minutes. I am not sure if this is lack of fitness or that I am simply moving more than they are. Then again if i was fitter, i could cover the court better and therefore probably take the ball earlier thus puting them under more pressure.
I have read a lot of coaching manuals, but just cant seem to improve enough. do you thyink the problem is 1- lack of fitness or 2- bad movement/technique or 3- simple lack of talent?
I am starting to think that no 3 is the correct answer!
any help wpuld be most appreciated,
thanks.
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From raystrach - 27 Jun 2006 - 11:34
From rippa rit - 27 Jun 2006 - 07:31
There are a couple of things I guess that come to mind apart from fitness. Questions?
1. Do you go full out and hit the ball hard until the opponent makes a mistake?
2. Do you control the ball waiting for an opportunity to hit a controlled shot, eg drop shot, volley drop?
3. Are you doing all the running, and continually on the defensive?
4. How often are you controlling the T during the rally?
5. Are you only hitting the return shot as hard/fast as you can recover to the centre court, eg from the front retrieving a boast, driving or lobbing the ball to enable recovery?
Yes, we are never fit enough to play squash no matter what level as we are being extended - not sure of your weight and speed around the court, but the above will give some clues.
I see I had referred you to the tactical section in a post above - so obviously that has not worked, or you made no sense of it?
Keep at it - it gets harder the higher we try to climb up the ladder.
From JJSOOTY - 27 Jun 2006 - 04:50
The coach at my club is a great example. He's a huge guy(eg massive stomach an I'm not exaggerating) but his accuracy and almost perfect technique earns him wins even over the youngest and fittest. Now even if you call yourself fatness I bet your not half as out of shape as he is but he still holds his own on court!
From Viper - 13 Jun 2006 - 08:26
Many a time I have watched too old or too slow a players pick up a good serve and drive it with poise and accuracy to the back corner, they then move easily to the T and watch their younger fitter opponent dig out a weak return only to be cut off and volleyed short to the front corner.
In short I would suggest racket skill/movement/tactics is the next level required over simple fittness.
From rippa rit - 13 Jun 2006 - 08:18
Here is the link to the tactical section, have a good click on all the tabs, including things that apply to your opponent, and see if you can try to apply some of the ideas into your "specific game plan" so that you actually tailor your game for each opponent.
So we have skill/ball conrol v power v tactics v fitness v age v experience.
Tell us if you can come up with where you are going wrong and let us know.
From Viper - 13 Jun 2006 - 08:05
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Excellent tip that Rita.
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meant to reply to this post originally. 3 is definitely not the case. as rit alluded to, fitness is a function of how how fast/far you have to move. playing higher quality players usually means the time between hits is shorter (less recovery time) and you have to do more running because they have more control.
it is chicken and egg. sure, a bit more fitness always helps, but it is usually the fact the weaker player is playing looser as to why they have to run so much and so, get more tired.
get them to run a bit and then it starts to even up.
stick at it pal, realistically evaluate your game each time you play, work on the areas that need improving.
you will get there.
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