Thanks for this video. I'm new to squash and I started learning fancy flicky shots first and I even got quite good at some, however my development quickly came to a halt as I did not practice the basics. This will help me a lot. Cheers
I am one of those players that try to do it with the use of a semi-circle but I tried your technique yesterday. The best I could do is to hit a one-timer, I just couldn't get to the ball (poor footwork probably?) and take the position with my arm fast enough to hit it twice in a row. I found it also hard to not look immediately after the hit, like you said on the video but - also like you said - when I've managed to delay my look - the results were better. There's one thing that bothers me: how are you dealing with fast balls with good length? I mean you haven't got the time to prepare yourself with this technique (get your left arm low, bum back, etc.). Or maybe your muscle memory is so good that you can bounce those balls back
Hi, this video was very helpful for me, thank you! I saw some improvement in forehand drives already after one training. I especially liked your example about throwing the ball and the explanation on why you need to watch the ball when you hit it. Cheers!
Great info, so takes this as constructive criticism only... but since it's a video medium I was expecting a bit more "show" over "tell". Maybe demonstrate one real swing hitting a ball :)
this focuses on elevation of the upper arm then flexion and extension of the elbow. not much rotation here. I find that it's important to supinate and pronate the forearm at some point depending on where the ball is in relation to your body
Hunt Richardson Yea for sure! I change my wrist in a game all the time depending on where I'm hitting the ball in relationship to my body but Iv been playing squash since I was 6 years old. This video is just a basic technique and a guide to help people with their technique.
Hi again,. You started the vid by saying one can use the push technique on any ball from anywhere (middle, front, back). I agree that controlling your racquet is the key to controlling the ball, and controlling your shoulder and arm (with the push technique) is the key to controlling the racquet! Too often players and coaches focus way too much on the ball and not the racquet and bodily mechanics. The push technique works best when you have time to set your feet and shoulders, often not possible in high tempo rallies and/or when the ball is moving away from you. In the demo when you hit the ball you can see that your racquet head rotates more than 90 degrees to the point where it is almost parallel to the floor before striking the ball. I agree that driving your shoulder down is essential for transferring energy/generating power, and following through straight helps continue the energy transfer and guide the ball better than if your wrist were completely unhinged. I was referring to forearm movement though. As to the timing of the push, vertically descending the racquet at high speed then following straight through can be tricky. We're attempting to intercept and oppose/redirect an object (ball) moving horizontally (basic straight drive for example) with another object (racquet) that is connected to your arm - which can move in almost universal direction - using vertical motions. There is not much horizontal area in the strike zone to work with. This is another reason why beginners and intermediate players need to practice these things and see what works for them - there is no substitute for practice which makes permanent! I'm writing a book about how to learn squash (not merely how to play it). I see a lot of coaches do one thing when they play but describe it differently when teaching someone. This is misleading and confusing to their students who see one thing but hear another. Not you - just amplifying what you teach here. Cheers
Thanks for commenting, its refreshing to read your comments on biomechanics as I struggle to emphasise the importance of it with other coaches. I try not to get to technical with my description so its easier to understand and try focus more on the students creating more and new movements to develop their coordination. Its always easier to teach someone who has more coordination so I have a video coming soon on how to improve coordination which helps with the push technique. The push technique can be used in higher tempo rallies by shortening the swing, an example would be Nick Mathew on the volley. Im not much of a writer thats why I make videos, but it would be great to share some ideas with you.
Nick Matthew is a great study in modern swing technique and racquet prep (often horizontal & very early). Again each player is different so we want to sculpt around their physical capacities and avoid glaring errors while not lopping off too big a chunk by trying to make themn do things rigidly..this is where the art of teaching meets the science of biomechanics. We def want to push volleys because the time available to hit them is even more reduced. Hence a short swing. Following through becomes important as we try to trap the ball in the strings for a fraction of a second. On the volley the elbow flexes and extends. If ball is high or far to the side then rotation of arm must occur as it it not possible to move the racquet head any further when the arm is straight. My method for the upper body technique involves learning about and understanding how your arm and hands function (mostly the musculoskeletal composition) and move, then grooving the arm in the basic elevation/declension, flexion/extension, rotation and deviation movements. Those are the terms that physical therapists and personal trainers use to describe joint movements. I also use lots of analogies and broadly descriptive terms (e.g. "push", "reach", "press") that you refer to. I'm constantly surprised at how few squash coaches - even good ones - have never studied biomechanics and synced up with the terminology. A book like Gray's Anatomy is a wonderful resource for serious squash players. Why should I learn about how my forearm muscles work only after I have tennis elbow owing to improper technique, then have to do painful rehab and boring exercises and learn a new swing that doesn't hurt my arm? A sports exercise study showed that It took 10 times as many repetitions to unlearn a swing technique and retrain to different form as it did to learn a swing for the first time. That is why it's vital for beginners to understand what their bodies are doing when they try to create squash shots. Now some people learn differently , their path to learning is organic. I talked about this with James Willstrop when he did an exhibition match at my club last month (he will be here for a full week of camp next week :O) Usually players like James (who figured out things on his own with minimal coaching from dad!) have lots of time to practice. That's how I started to play when I was 14. I started as a handy tennis player and minimal coaching in squash. I didn't really learn how to play squash until I was much older, have learned much more since I started coaching, I'm still learning!
This is a magnificent video. Just wonder if you could shoot it again but add at the end a few minutes of slow motion video of you executing this technique?
One thing to note is that you must have an open racket face when you pick up your racket to swing as lots of people who start playing squash has a closed racket face. This is why they hit the tin so much because they dont get under the ball.Hope this makes sence.
You can, but it depends on your skill level to where you should start. Keeping the same technique at the prep hides your shot more. Obviously this only works if you have time on the ball. If you don’t have time use a shorter or lower prep.
This video was weird.... "The racket head moving from up to down straight" - I have never heard about that.... the rackethead movint NOT straight down definitely! -when the guy made a normal swing -his racket head moving around way down...(thats the normal!) check some pro player's slow motion video!
6:37 there is a demo. "You can't teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself" Technique is within you and is different in every player. Technique is like your personal style and to develop your style or technique you must become conscious or have awareness of you bodies movements. The video is to help people understand and control their swing to have more control over the ball. You can copy someone else's technique but this doesn't mean they understand how they are controlling the ball. Watch the video again and try to understand your movements then watch other peoples technique and create your own.
SS: Hehe - suitable reply to this ignorant sob... Your videos are really good for understanding the mechanics in the swing. We are looking for the "whip effect" much like in the golf swing. Right?
SS: Lovely. Maybe "whiplash" is a better word? Or as in golf - "release" of the wrist, witch creates clubhead speed or racketspeed in this case. Actually the speed in golf comes from pressing the right hand straight downwards, and I noticeed the similarity when looking at your video. Love golf but mostly I love squash and whish that I had your teaching 45 yrs ago when I was 15.... Best wishes from Sweden!
I've been coaching for a few years and this is the most helpful thing I've seen/heard on the FH. Subscribed. Thank you.
best video about hitting so far, thank you
Thank you.
Great tutorial, thanks!
Thanks that helped a lot
Thanks a lot!!!💕
Thanks for this video. I'm new to squash and I started learning fancy flicky shots first and I even got quite good at some, however my development quickly came to a halt as I did not practice the basics.
This will help me a lot.
Cheers
The best demonstration I've seen on youtube
Thanks!
This is golden! Thanks a lot. Can you show us backhand drive also?
Great Job!!!
Same as a lot of other comments, best video ive seen so far!
Thanks for the video! I think it's one of the most detailed I've seen in the whole youtube! Good job!
Adrian.Piesiak thanks for commenting.
Very well explained 👏👏
Please keep doing these. Really they're the best instructional swing vids I've been able to find...
Thanks!
Pushing the hand thru the ball worked for me Thanks
Thanks for the feedback.
Works for me. Thanks :-)
Thank you
I love your channel. Best explanations I've come across. Thanks for sharing your expertise
Jacob Muirhead Thanks for commenting.
I am one of those players that try to do it with the use of a semi-circle but I tried your technique yesterday. The best I could do is to hit a one-timer, I just couldn't get to the ball (poor footwork probably?) and take the position with my arm fast enough to hit it twice in a row. I found it also hard to not look immediately after the hit, like you said on the video but - also like you said - when I've managed to delay my look - the results were better.
There's one thing that bothers me: how are you dealing with fast balls with good length? I mean you haven't got the time to prepare yourself with this technique (get your left arm low, bum back, etc.). Or maybe your muscle memory is so good that you can bounce those balls back
Hi, this video was very helpful for me, thank you! I saw some improvement in forehand drives already after one training. I especially liked your example about throwing the ball and the explanation on why you need to watch the ball when you hit it. Cheers!
Eldar Thanks for your comment. I'm glad it's help you improve.
Pls demonstrate your technique. I think you will then change your explanation.
Yes,I have that problem, the ball keeps coming straight to me! Thanks a lot
Brilliant video
Is this the same technique in racketball (squash 57)
Great info, so takes this as constructive criticism only... but since it's a video medium I was expecting a bit more "show" over "tell". Maybe demonstrate one real swing hitting a ball :)
this focuses on elevation of the upper arm then flexion and extension of the elbow. not much rotation here. I find that it's important to supinate and pronate the forearm at some point depending on where the ball is in relation to your body
Hunt Richardson Yea for sure! I change my wrist in a game all the time depending on where I'm hitting the ball in relationship to my body but Iv been playing squash since I was 6 years old. This video is just a basic technique and a guide to help people with their technique.
Hi again,. You started the vid by saying one can use the push technique on any ball from anywhere (middle, front, back). I agree that controlling your racquet is the key to controlling the ball, and controlling your shoulder and arm (with the push technique) is the key to controlling the racquet! Too often players and coaches focus way too much on the ball and not the racquet and bodily mechanics.
The push technique works best when you have time to set your feet and shoulders, often not possible in high tempo rallies and/or when the ball is moving away from you. In the demo when you hit the ball you can see that your racquet head rotates more than 90 degrees to the point where it is almost parallel to the floor before striking the ball.
I agree that driving your shoulder down is essential for transferring energy/generating power, and following through straight helps continue the energy transfer and guide the ball better than if your wrist were completely unhinged. I was referring to forearm movement though.
As to the timing of the push, vertically descending the racquet at high speed then following straight through can be tricky. We're attempting to intercept and oppose/redirect an object (ball) moving horizontally (basic straight drive for example) with another object (racquet) that is connected to your arm - which can move in almost universal direction - using vertical motions. There is not much horizontal area in the strike zone to work with. This is another reason why beginners and intermediate players need to practice these things and see what works for them - there is no substitute for practice which makes permanent!
I'm writing a book about how to learn squash (not merely how to play it). I see a lot of coaches do one thing when they play but describe it differently when teaching someone. This is misleading and confusing to their students who see one thing but hear another. Not you - just amplifying what you teach here. Cheers
Thanks for commenting, its refreshing to read your comments on biomechanics as I struggle to emphasise the importance of it with other coaches. I try not to get to technical with my description so its easier to understand and try focus more on the students creating more and new movements to develop their coordination. Its always easier to teach someone who has more coordination so I have a video coming soon on how to improve coordination which helps with the push technique. The push technique can be used in higher tempo rallies by shortening the swing, an example would be Nick Mathew on the volley. Im not much of a writer thats why I make videos, but it would be great to share some ideas with you.
Nick Matthew is a great study in modern swing technique and racquet prep (often horizontal & very early). Again each player is different so we want to sculpt around their physical capacities and avoid glaring errors while not lopping off too big a chunk by trying to make themn do things rigidly..this is where the art of teaching meets the science of biomechanics.
We def want to push volleys because the time available to hit them is even more reduced. Hence a short swing. Following through becomes important as we try to trap the ball in the strings for a fraction of a second. On the volley the elbow flexes and extends. If ball is high or far to the side then rotation of arm must occur as it it not possible to move the racquet head any further when the arm is straight.
My method for the upper body technique involves learning about and understanding how your arm and hands function (mostly the musculoskeletal composition) and move, then grooving the arm in the basic elevation/declension, flexion/extension, rotation and deviation movements. Those are the terms that physical therapists and personal trainers use to describe joint movements. I also use lots of analogies and broadly descriptive terms (e.g. "push", "reach", "press") that you refer to.
I'm constantly surprised at how few squash coaches - even good ones - have never studied biomechanics and synced up with the terminology. A book like Gray's Anatomy is a wonderful resource for serious squash players.
Why should I learn about how my forearm muscles work only after I have tennis elbow owing to improper technique, then have to do painful rehab and boring exercises and learn a new swing that doesn't hurt my arm?
A sports exercise study showed that It took 10 times as many repetitions to unlearn a swing technique and retrain to different form as it did to learn a swing for the first time. That is why it's vital for beginners to understand what their bodies are doing when they try to create squash shots.
Now some people learn differently , their path to learning is organic. I talked about this with James Willstrop when he did an exhibition match at my club last month (he will be here for a full week of camp next week :O) Usually players like James (who figured out things on his own with minimal coaching from dad!) have lots of time to practice. That's how I started to play when I was 14. I started as a handy tennis player and minimal coaching in squash. I didn't really learn how to play squash until I was much older, have learned much more since I started coaching, I'm still learning!
This is a magnificent video. Just wonder if you could shoot it again but add at the end a few minutes of slow motion video of you executing this technique?
Hi, I am actually going to remake most of the videos on the channel so stayed tuned. Cheers
One thing to note is that you must have an open racket face when you pick up your racket to swing as lots of people who start playing squash has a closed racket face. This is why they hit the tin so much because they dont get under the ball.Hope this makes sence.
thanks,, learnt allot but this could do with a good edit ;)
should you do the initial technique for a drop shot as well
You can, but it depends on your skill level to where you should start. Keeping the same technique at the prep hides your shot more. Obviously this only works if you have time on the ball. If you don’t have time use a shorter or lower prep.
@@SquashSwing thanks!
Awsome gonna try this tomorrow - for some reason my forehand is worst than my backhand
Inverse Hierarchy let us know how you get on! Remember to take your time and practice the swing without the ball to begin with.
Did almost 2 hours forehand today hehe - it's definitely improving slowly but surely... Gonna try the exercise w/o the ball as suggested! Thank you!
This video was weird.... "The racket head moving from up to down straight" - I have never heard about that.... the rackethead movint NOT straight down definitely! -when the guy made a normal swing -his racket head moving around way down...(thats the normal!) check some pro player's slow motion video!
Just get the grip right and practice
A lot of talking and not one single demonstration with a ball.
6:37 there is a demo. "You can't teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself" Technique is within you and is different in every player. Technique is like your personal style and to develop your style or technique you must become conscious or have awareness of you bodies movements. The video is to help people understand and control their swing to have more control over the ball. You can copy someone else's technique but this doesn't mean they understand how they are controlling the ball. Watch the video again and try to understand your movements then watch other peoples technique and create your own.
Clearly didn’t watch the video haha
That is just incorrect buddy. Have a look at some slow motion shots of top players. Its nothing like your explanation!
I have watched plenty of them and played with a few of them.
SS: Hehe - suitable reply to this ignorant sob... Your videos are really good for understanding the mechanics in the swing. We are looking for the "whip effect" much like in the golf swing. Right?
Thanks for your comment, I had to look up "whip effect" but that is a pretty good description on creating power, I like it.
SS: Lovely. Maybe "whiplash" is a better word? Or as in golf - "release" of the wrist, witch creates clubhead speed or racketspeed in this case. Actually the speed in golf comes from pressing the right hand straight downwards, and I noticeed the similarity when looking at your video. Love golf but mostly I love squash and whish that I had your teaching 45 yrs ago when I was 15.... Best wishes from Sweden!
I just came here to watch a homeless dude play squash
haha mate! I do like to go bush, but far from homeless.
Talk less, show more.