Putting the power on or washing the power off ?
Published: 20 Oct 2005 - 17:07 by Viper
Updated: 26 Sep 2008 - 09:38
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The more I play squash the more I believe there is more to gain and a greater chance of winning a point with shots that have had the pace taken off them, either a half power shot or a slice or a soft boast.
Rather than shots with lots of force behind them.
When I say washing off power I exclude a full on drop shot as that is something apart.
I guess the fact a soft shot will die qickly has a lot to do the the advantage of playing the washed off technique.
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From rippa rit - 29 Oct 2005 - 12:33
From Viper - 27 Oct 2005 - 09:56
Thanks Rita,
I guess the essence of my observations was how this 3rd speed (washed off shots) can be a very useful tool in to a player.
Most games I watch alternate between the fast ball and drop shots, not many employ this unsettling half speed pace to length and boast.
It was this recent match where this player used the washed off shot to great advantage.
I will just tuck it away in my squash quiver and call upon it as part of my armoury when required, especially against opponents that relish hitting the ball like gun shots, this mid speed can unsettle and confuse them I find.
I guess the essence of my observations was how this 3rd speed (washed off shots) can be a very useful tool in to a player.
Most games I watch alternate between the fast ball and drop shots, not many employ this unsettling half speed pace to length and boast.
It was this recent match where this player used the washed off shot to great advantage.
I will just tuck it away in my squash quiver and call upon it as part of my armoury when required, especially against opponents that relish hitting the ball like gun shots, this mid speed can unsettle and confuse them I find.
From rippa rit - 26 Oct 2005 - 08:05
Viper - It sounds as though I have not explained my points (tied these strategies up) very well. The key features I extracted from the points raised lead me to the following area:
1. It is not a good game plan to have two players (A & B) playing the same type game, eg "Washing the power off" or vice versa for that matter.
2. Without realising it the "washed out" shots tend to slow down not only the speed of the ball, but the opponent's feet tend to slow too which then feels out of rhythm.
3. To turn the match around, the player that is losing or not enjoying the play,at some point either A or B has to try to minimise the opportunities for the opponent to use these effective shots.
Therefore, Volleying and taking the serve on the full will help increase the pace, which makes the player move quicker, gives less time to get positioned for the touch shots, and changes the tempo of the game which in turn can work to advantage, taking the opponent out of their comfort zone, as well as taxing the fitness level, etc.
Often opponents are "well matched" (A & B),and they have a good game with one hitting controlled shots waiting for opportunities, the other running and hitting madly,which works well for the controlled player as he uses the opponent's pace to his advantage. So nothing changes so to speak, and the loser (usually the hard hitter)walks out the door shaking his head wondering why he lost!
On the other hand, we get both players hitting controlled, or both players running and hitting exerting themselves but without much science, and the loser walks out the door and remarks "not fit enough"!.
My training tip is to try to become both players (A & B) by practising solo volley drills, and solo lob drills - when they are looking good, progress to pair routines, and restricted games.
Consistent winners are usually the players with the most adaptability in their game. Think about the matches where those veterans beat the younger opponents time after time.
Hey, it is no sweat, enjoy the journey.
1. It is not a good game plan to have two players (A & B) playing the same type game, eg "Washing the power off" or vice versa for that matter.
2. Without realising it the "washed out" shots tend to slow down not only the speed of the ball, but the opponent's feet tend to slow too which then feels out of rhythm.
3. To turn the match around, the player that is losing or not enjoying the play,at some point either A or B has to try to minimise the opportunities for the opponent to use these effective shots.
Therefore, Volleying and taking the serve on the full will help increase the pace, which makes the player move quicker, gives less time to get positioned for the touch shots, and changes the tempo of the game which in turn can work to advantage, taking the opponent out of their comfort zone, as well as taxing the fitness level, etc.
Often opponents are "well matched" (A & B),and they have a good game with one hitting controlled shots waiting for opportunities, the other running and hitting madly,which works well for the controlled player as he uses the opponent's pace to his advantage. So nothing changes so to speak, and the loser (usually the hard hitter)walks out the door shaking his head wondering why he lost!
On the other hand, we get both players hitting controlled, or both players running and hitting exerting themselves but without much science, and the loser walks out the door and remarks "not fit enough"!.
My training tip is to try to become both players (A & B) by practising solo volley drills, and solo lob drills - when they are looking good, progress to pair routines, and restricted games.
Consistent winners are usually the players with the most adaptability in their game. Think about the matches where those veterans beat the younger opponents time after time.
Hey, it is no sweat, enjoy the journey.
From Viper - 25 Oct 2005 - 19:38
The players I was watching were ranked players and player B was adept at upsetting player A's need for speed on the ball by hitting these washed of balls often to good length and yes close to the wall, but also medium paced boast shots, so I am not sure the techique is indicative of poor technique by a learning club player.
From rippa rit - 25 Oct 2005 - 19:24
Hi Vitty and Viper - My quote is "the proof is in the pudding" which in this case referrs to "washing the power off". One drawback is, the opponent most probably will intercept with a volley or volley boast. That is why this shot must be really tight to the wall or be at a height it cannot be volleyed by the opponent.
Sounds like, from what you have both said, volley drills will really lift your game. Therefore I recommend 15/20 mins practice 2/3 times a week on forehand and backhand solo volley drills.
Be patient. Rome was not built in a day.
Please come back to me in four weeks and tell me your individual stories
Sounds like, from what you have both said, volley drills will really lift your game. Therefore I recommend 15/20 mins practice 2/3 times a week on forehand and backhand solo volley drills.
Be patient. Rome was not built in a day.
Please come back to me in four weeks and tell me your individual stories
From vitty - 25 Oct 2005 - 03:10
Yeah,
I understand you.I was playing in my local league today.I could be described as a "player A" and my opponent as a "player B".Everytime I´m playing him,I beat him,but I´m frustrated.Let me briefly describe myself:
I think I´m somewhere about B level.I like to play "squash",this means many long drives,changing on the T,dropshots,counterdropshots,lobs...No weird angles from backcourt,no "tennis-smash" services.I like "fluent" and "clever" game.
The guy I played today - he isn´t as good as I am,but he plays in a strange way,and,he plays HALF-PACED shots.And this means I´m not very happy.I´m simply used to play drives fast and behind the service-box.But this guy plays drives softly,the second bounce is somewhere about service box area,and tight.It´s strange for me,I´m trying to volley this half-drives,but I feel..."not in my skin".
Vitty
I understand you.I was playing in my local league today.I could be described as a "player A" and my opponent as a "player B".Everytime I´m playing him,I beat him,but I´m frustrated.Let me briefly describe myself:
I think I´m somewhere about B level.I like to play "squash",this means many long drives,changing on the T,dropshots,counterdropshots,lobs...No weird angles from backcourt,no "tennis-smash" services.I like "fluent" and "clever" game.
The guy I played today - he isn´t as good as I am,but he plays in a strange way,and,he plays HALF-PACED shots.And this means I´m not very happy.I´m simply used to play drives fast and behind the service-box.But this guy plays drives softly,the second bounce is somewhere about service box area,and tight.It´s strange for me,I´m trying to volley this half-drives,but I feel..."not in my skin".
Vitty
From rippa rit - 25 Oct 2005 - 00:34
Regarding the last of Viper's post:
So, in the quarters of the "A-group" of a national championship, one guy was very athletic, muscular and a bit heavy, he kills almost everything he sees on court, though he is a good or at least respected player.
Player B, small and fit, defensive style player. He uses a lot of lobs, tight drops and wide and long crosscourts.
So, they played the game ...Best of 3, European scoring.
1-0 to the player A as he really wanted to finish the game early. The first set was over in 8 minutes. Why?
Player B stood in the back, a bit confused/surprised/terrified with the high pace being given to the game and very powerful shots from the player "A"...
He changed the tactics in the second game, using the adventage of the T, secondly making the athlete to run and search for the ball in all the possible corners, cutting the long drives with the volleys. And he started to play long rallies. Really long, at least 45 seconds each... So, the big guy was running a bit too much and he lost his nerves and started to quarrel with the referee and the other palyer (you know why)... 1-1 in games, and the game looks the same in the next 15 minutes... Hard and sharp drives of the first one versus soft and sliced drops and high lobs of the second one... Try to guess who did run more and who was losing the concentration?
At 2 all they started the fifth set. It was already 8-3 in 4 minutes when the player "A" was fishing for " let" twice in a row and cought with a "no let" calls (he simply did not move at all)... He went NUTS. He opened the door and started his dispute with referee in a very agresive manner. Mind you, it's 8-3 to his opponent... Player B stays on court, not even thinking about any discussions, being focused on the game... The "player A" did offend the ref and was conducted with a set as in the previous sets he was conducted with a penalty points due to his behaviour and quarelling on each point...
SO, at the end the player who kept his tactic better was a winner. His only chance was to make the big boy run and run and search for the ball. So, dear Viper – in my opinion, "washing the power off" and making your opponent to loose his head would work better than hitting the ball at 100 km/h speed...
And it was such a pleasure to watch "smart" game versus "kill" game. But it was not a pleasure to see how the player "A" left the court and started the big quarrel with the spectators and the officials and the other players ...
So, in the quarters of the "A-group" of a national championship, one guy was very athletic, muscular and a bit heavy, he kills almost everything he sees on court, though he is a good or at least respected player.
Player B, small and fit, defensive style player. He uses a lot of lobs, tight drops and wide and long crosscourts.
So, they played the game ...Best of 3, European scoring.
1-0 to the player A as he really wanted to finish the game early. The first set was over in 8 minutes. Why?
Player B stood in the back, a bit confused/surprised/terrified with the high pace being given to the game and very powerful shots from the player "A"...
He changed the tactics in the second game, using the adventage of the T, secondly making the athlete to run and search for the ball in all the possible corners, cutting the long drives with the volleys. And he started to play long rallies. Really long, at least 45 seconds each... So, the big guy was running a bit too much and he lost his nerves and started to quarrel with the referee and the other palyer (you know why)... 1-1 in games, and the game looks the same in the next 15 minutes... Hard and sharp drives of the first one versus soft and sliced drops and high lobs of the second one... Try to guess who did run more and who was losing the concentration?
At 2 all they started the fifth set. It was already 8-3 in 4 minutes when the player "A" was fishing for " let" twice in a row and cought with a "no let" calls (he simply did not move at all)... He went NUTS. He opened the door and started his dispute with referee in a very agresive manner. Mind you, it's 8-3 to his opponent... Player B stays on court, not even thinking about any discussions, being focused on the game... The "player A" did offend the ref and was conducted with a set as in the previous sets he was conducted with a penalty points due to his behaviour and quarelling on each point...
SO, at the end the player who kept his tactic better was a winner. His only chance was to make the big boy run and run and search for the ball. So, dear Viper – in my opinion, "washing the power off" and making your opponent to loose his head would work better than hitting the ball at 100 km/h speed...
And it was such a pleasure to watch "smart" game versus "kill" game. But it was not a pleasure to see how the player "A" left the court and started the big quarrel with the spectators and the officials and the other players ...
From Viper - 24 Oct 2005 - 21:57
I was watching some very good players recently and an example of "washing off power" was on display, well it was for me anyway.
Player A hit the ball very very hard and played drop shots well.
Player B also hit the ball hard and played drop shots well, but in addition player B regularly countered player A's whipping drives with half paced returns of varying length and direction around the court.
This definately upset the balance and thought process of player A, a bit like a batsman in cricket finds it hard to generate pace off the bat from a slow bowlers, ie they have to generate the momentum themselves.
Player A was much happier when the balls were coming back at high speed.
Player B won when A was a stronger, faster and fitter player, A walked off the court a little puzzled.
Player A hit the ball very very hard and played drop shots well.
Player B also hit the ball hard and played drop shots well, but in addition player B regularly countered player A's whipping drives with half paced returns of varying length and direction around the court.
This definately upset the balance and thought process of player A, a bit like a batsman in cricket finds it hard to generate pace off the bat from a slow bowlers, ie they have to generate the momentum themselves.
Player A was much happier when the balls were coming back at high speed.
Player B won when A was a stronger, faster and fitter player, A walked off the court a little puzzled.
From rippa rit - 23 Oct 2005 - 19:42
Viper - I am not quite sure of the exact shot you have in mind, eg half-paced or lob, tight, deep, etc. Anyway - the problem is when both players just keep belting the ball, the ball gets very hot, especially in our climate in Australia, and not easy to "wash the power off" (control). Not every player can "wash the power off" while, at the same time in the same rally, hit and run hard. Invariably when players try to change the pace, the soft shots get harder, and the hard shots get softer, and then it is not one thing or the other, if you can understand that explanation. It is better to be decisive, eg hard and attacking, soft and high and tight goes without saying. Yeah?
From Viper - 22 Oct 2005 - 17:40
Thanks for your thoughts.
We see power shots and we see drop shots played as part of every game, but I see the half paced shot as a powerful tool, a tool not often used from my observations.
We see power shots and we see drop shots played as part of every game, but I see the half paced shot as a powerful tool, a tool not often used from my observations.
From rippa rit - 21 Oct 2005 - 07:19
Viper - I have been following your comments and posts with interest. The high, tight, soft, deep shot is great to help get back into position as it gives time, requires good racket and ball control, and hit well can set up for the "attack" (especially while the opponent is struggling to gain court position). Other things too, it slows the game down, gives a chance for the heart to recover, however, DON'T FORGET TO ATTACK WHEN YOU ARE IN FRONT especially if the opponent is off balance and out of position.
Routines, and restricted games help hone these skills. Just changing the pace intermittently during a game is a learned skill. If you have a training mate use each other as guinea pigs for this style of training... enjoy.
Routines, and restricted games help hone these skills. Just changing the pace intermittently during a game is a learned skill. If you have a training mate use each other as guinea pigs for this style of training... enjoy.
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"In the first two games I couldn't find my rhythm and she pinned me to the back of the court. But I started to slow the pace down. I hit more lobs to the back and that opened the middle of the court and I was able to take control," said the 25-year-old, ranked six places lower than her opponent.
This just re-enforces our previous discussions.
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