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Bending Down

Published: 12 May 2008 - 19:24 by doubleDOT

Updated: 22 May 2008 - 07:40

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Hi,

I've read some coaching articles about squash and they all ask the player to bend down to the ball before playing. Now as I understand there is a difference between bending down (bending your upper body) and getting down (bending your knees).

The coach at the courts I play at said that bending the knees enables a player to get the ball to a good height on the front wall whereas the purpose of bending the upper body is to reach the ball. To what extent is this correct?

Also, ideally how much should the knees and upper body be bent when playing normal shots to which the player doesn't have to reach (when the ball lands about one racket length away)?

Thanks

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From rippa rit - 21 May 2008 - 12:28   -   Updated: 22 May 2008 - 07:40

How far down do you bend?  As far as it takes to get under the ball I would say. Ong Beng Hee is down like a "lizard drinking" chasing this shot. 

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From rippa rit - 14 May 2008 - 07:51   -   Updated: 14 May 2008 - 08:02

This reply should also refer to the post "Getting down to the ball"

The squashgame Library, particularly Strokes/Movement, will be very helpful to get an understanding of the movement/footwork and strokes, including the open racket face.

Maybe you can relate to this ananogy about "getting down to the ball" - here it goes:

  • When you bend down to pick or lift something up off the floor, how far down do you bend? You bend only as low as the object; you then have to have enough leverage in your arms and legs to lift the object.  The shorter the lever, the more power you have in the lift. The lower the object the more bend in the knees; if you keep your back straight there is less strain on your back muscles/spine, meaning the leg muscles have to do more work.

Relating this to the squash swing:

  • If you do not bend your knees or lunge it is likely you will be way higher than the ball (as well as too close to swing freely), then the racket arm will drop, the lever will straighten, causing a loss of power, and most likely a loss of racket head control, and in turn change the angle of the racket face.

After reading through the Squash Library the key words should make more sense now.

The recent post "squashsite action gallery" will show heaps of on court shots clearly demonstrating the height of the knees, the angle of the back, etc when retrieving the ball in a long hard rally. 

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From rippa rit - 13 May 2008 - 07:27

I would have thought squash players lunge and dip down to the ball depending how far away from the ball they are, and how high the ball bounces, all with bent knees.  I am not sure about the "bending down" except maybe to pick up the ball.

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