Thanks for the tip Philip! I have also been doing alot of solo practise lately mostly due to lack of squash players here. I like the advise on the figure of 8 and then the straight front volley to replicate real scenario. The problem here is many young people doesn't understand the importance of solo training whether for sports or even for studies. There is a long period of time getting to know the subject, be it sports or studies. Here if we cannot do it, we quickly abandon the sport or hire foreigners to do the job. Sigh!
Hi Coach Phil, Have been trying to do the butterfly for many years without success. I do play well at club level in Australia but just could not get the ball to come back consistently out of the corners. Had actually never crossed my mind to let the ball bounce first to get my rhythm together before trying it on the volley, nor to add the straight drive between the corner shots to give it an actual game feel. Loving all of your videos so far. Thanks so much for adding these videos and tips to RUclips.
Hi Chris, glad you like my videos. Has adding the bounce made it possible for you to do this exercise? Without seeing you doing it, it's hard for me to offer advice, but assuming your swing is not causing issues, try to concentrate on the point the ball hits the front wall. too far away from the side, on either side, and it won't hit the sidewall and come back to you, if it hits the frontwall too close to the sidewall then the angle is wrong. Aim about a racket's length. Hope that helps.
I find that if I get to a match 10 minutes before my opponent and do side to sides it really helps my game. This looks like it is much the same - timing and small, quick adjustments that get you into a rhythm
I applaud your getting to a match early and practicing, however, I would like to caution against thinking of these as just warm up exercises (not saying you were, just want to make sure other players don't) because they should be done as proper solo routines in between matches.
Your videos are very helpful. I'm new to the sport and today was able, for the first time, to do the figure 8s after about 15 minutes of side to side work. Thanks for your instruction!
The straight component is as you say a challenge to begin with but doesn't take long to master...and what a difference it has made to the touch. control and accuracy of my weaker forehand. Thanks.
"Master" is a strong word, but if you feel you have mastered it, then I am happy for you. I agree, it can really help with control, especially off cross courts, which is what the exercise is trying to simulate. I hope to post an advanced version video eventually.
Thank you for saying my videos are helpful. You are completely right about the sound and you will find the newer videos are much, much better. I can't do anything about the sound on the older ones, but maybe I can remake the videos if I get time.
Hi and welcome to the squash community! This practise routine isn't suitable for new players. You can try it, but often this will create bad technique because you are trying to keep the ball going instead of using good swing technique. In addition, if you can't do it properly it can be frustrating. However, if you do want to try it then use a red dot because you need it to be bouncy.
Hey Phillip, really appreciate the videos. I need to practice my length on straight drives- what do you use as a marker on the floor to aid this practice? Cheers, keep up the good work!
I use a racket but not on the floor, I put it against the sidewall. I plan to make a video about using targets but for now take an A4 or letter sized piece of paper and cut it lengths ways and use that.
hello Philip I just started playing squash may be used am a bit late to start but would really like to master it is want from basics once again can you please guide me to your basic video.
Hi Nilanjan, sorry for the delay in replying. At the moment, my videos are focused on club players but I hope to produce some beginner content this summer.
My squash has improved over the year mainly through getting fitter as I've started doing training for Parkruns and the odd 10km. As a consequence I'm able to get to the ball faster if put out of position. Still struggling on retrieving balls from the back corners or hitting a weak return, any tips on solo drills to help these kind of shots, or just hitting straight drives to the back and progressing from there? Yet to win a league match this season though due to two reasons 1. No division 5 team due to lack of numbers and 2. when picked for the 3rd team usually end up playing someone of a higher rank. Though I've had a couple of close games there are variances in opponent ability I've noticed. One week I can compete the next get completely blown away. The aim is to start to try and win at least a game from a best of 5 match
With regard to getting the ball out of the corner, generally the first issue is one of technique, especially on the backhand. Check out my 5 Common Backhand Mistakes video. As far as drills go, you could try a variation of the side to side where you try to hit the ball off the side wall as if it was the backwall. In effect, you are doing the same exercise as a length drive but because you are doing it sideways you get more practice in the same time, need to be less accurate AND you don't need to worry about the sidewall. It's not easy to explain in text and I actually have a video planned for Side To Side Part 2.
Cheers Phill great video have seen guys doing this and it's well impressive. it'll be a long while till I can complete that. I am still trying to get the drop to the corner pick the ball up with the racket and drop to the corner again.
Well, as long as you are working hard on one thing, then I can't complain, but as I just said in another comment: don't feel you have to perfect one shot/exercise before you move onto another.
Coach, really love your videos and find them extremely beneficial. One quick question, I play with a Tecnifibre carboflex 125, it has a tear drop shape, are these rackets more difficult / less difficult / the same to do this figure of 8 drill with as traditional shaped rackets? Maybe a silly question!
Not a silly question. I currently use a throated racket but have played/tested with probably 100 rackets in all my years of playing and coaching and I have never found one racket design to be better or worse for any particular exercise. If a teardrop is your shape of choice, then it will be fine to do this exercise.
For crying out loud it looks like a walk in the park when you do it... On the bounce I can do them beetween 10 or 20 without mistakes. Without bounce I've managed only 6 or 7. How can I improve it? Is it about hitting hard? I do understand the early racket prep. Anywhere in particular I should hit the ball on the front wall height wise? I'm a competent player with 8 years on my back. I feel that I should be capable of handling this exercise better... And yeah; I wanna look cool on court. 😂
As you have found, there is a big difference between the bounce and volley version of this. Assuming your technique is not terrible, it's just a matter of practice. Like all solo practice, each error compounds the next, unless you are able to compensate. I might even recommend putting some little paper sticky notes on the front wall, just above the cutline and about a racket's length away from the sidewall. That's NOT the perfect spot to aim for because it depends on exactly where you stand, but it will give you something concrete to aim at. Better to do 5 sets of 2 minutes, with other routines in between than do 10 minutes non-stop. There really isn't anything better than repetition in this case.
@@BetterSquash thanks for insight. I'll be patient and keep on practising. Even though the progression isn't done over night I do feel improvement when doing the drill. Need to find better focus, rhythm and racket swing, and I think it will be better.
This is great, thanks. I've never seen the back and forth variation, and I'd forgotten about the straightening pattern. I'm eager to try them out. I would just add a couple of "why"'s: (1)the drill reinforces early racquet preparation and shoulder turn as it is impossible to keep the pattern going without them, and (2) it gets the player comfortable hitting from an open stance- especially useful for vollies.
I love your videos, Phillip but the sound is absolutely abysmal especially for someone like me who is hard of hearing. If you could fix this problem that would be great. Thanks.,, Granville Airton
No, I never rotate or change my grip. I know tennis players do it (I'm a qualified tennis coach too) but in squash, I've never taught that and wouldn't. My question to you is "Do you currently do that and if so, why?".
Well, basically if you can try to do it with a warm ball, you should be okay. Maybe do a few side to side shots to get the ball warm, then start with the bounce version to get a rhythm and move onto volleys. In general, I recommend using the ball you would normally play matches with and only use a different ball for very specific situations and circumstances.
Thanks for the tip Philip! I have also been doing alot of solo practise lately mostly due to lack of squash players here. I like the advise on the figure of 8 and then the straight front volley to replicate real scenario. The problem here is many young people doesn't understand the importance of solo training whether for sports or even for studies. There is a long period of time getting to know the subject, be it sports or studies. Here if we cannot do it, we quickly abandon the sport or hire foreigners to do the job. Sigh!
I agree that more juniors should be specifically taught solo practice, in fact I will have a special video about that in January 2017.
Hi Coach Phil, Have been trying to do the butterfly for many years without success. I do play well at club level in Australia but just could not get the ball to come back consistently out of the corners. Had actually never crossed my mind to let the ball bounce first to get my rhythm together before trying it on the volley, nor to add the straight drive between the corner shots to give it an actual game feel. Loving all of your videos so far. Thanks so much for adding these videos and tips to RUclips.
Hi Chris, glad you like my videos. Has adding the bounce made it possible for you to do this exercise? Without seeing you doing it, it's hard for me to offer advice, but assuming your swing is not causing issues, try to concentrate on the point the ball hits the front wall. too far away from the side, on either side, and it won't hit the sidewall and come back to you, if it hits the frontwall too close to the sidewall then the angle is wrong. Aim about a racket's length. Hope that helps.
I find that if I get to a match 10 minutes before my opponent and do side to sides it really helps my game. This looks like it is much the same - timing and small, quick adjustments that get you into a rhythm
I applaud your getting to a match early and practicing, however, I would like to caution against thinking of these as just warm up exercises (not saying you were, just want to make sure other players don't) because they should be done as proper solo routines in between matches.
Your videos are very helpful. I'm new to the sport and today was able, for the first time, to do the figure 8s after about 15 minutes of side to side work. Thanks for your instruction!
FANTASTIC! It's always great when we can do something new. Challenge yourself to do 25 then 50 with no mistakes.
The straight component is as you say a challenge to begin with but doesn't take long to master...and what a difference it has made to the touch. control and accuracy of my weaker forehand. Thanks.
"Master" is a strong word, but if you feel you have mastered it, then I am happy for you. I agree, it can really help with control, especially off cross courts, which is what the exercise is trying to simulate. I hope to post an advanced version video eventually.
Thanks, yes perhaps "proficient" is a better word. Look forward to your advanced version!
I'm still developing the new routines but I hope to post something in a month or so.
that progression is a winner - you have so many ideas :D
Yes, to be honest, I hardly ever do the routine without it.
Excellent. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
You are most welcome.
Your videos are easy to follow and instructive but PLEASE do something about the ear punishing echo.
Thank you for saying my videos are helpful. You are completely right about the sound and you will find the newer videos are much, much better. I can't do anything about the sound on the older ones, but maybe I can remake the videos if I get time.
Thanks Coach. Will give it a try tomorrow..
Great. How did it go?
Hey phillip, your videos are just amazing. Just started squash and loving the,. Which ball to use for this practice you mentioned in the video
Hi and welcome to the squash community! This practise routine isn't suitable for new players. You can try it, but often this will create bad technique because you are trying to keep the ball going instead of using good swing technique. In addition, if you can't do it properly it can be frustrating.
However, if you do want to try it then use a red dot because you need it to be bouncy.
Hey Phillip, really appreciate the videos. I need to practice my length on straight drives- what do you use as a marker on the floor to aid this practice? Cheers, keep up the good work!
I use a racket but not on the floor, I put it against the sidewall. I plan to make a video about using targets but for now take an A4 or letter sized piece of paper and cut it lengths ways and use that.
hello Philip I just started playing squash may be used am a bit late to start but would really like to master it is want from basics once again can you please guide me to your basic video.
Hi Nilanjan, sorry for the delay in replying. At the moment, my videos are focused on club players but I hope to produce some beginner content this summer.
My squash has improved over the year mainly through getting fitter as I've started doing training for Parkruns and the odd 10km. As a consequence I'm able to get to the ball faster if put out of position. Still struggling on retrieving balls from the back corners or hitting a weak return, any tips on solo drills to help these kind of shots, or just hitting straight drives to the back and progressing from there?
Yet to win a league match this season though due to two reasons 1. No division 5 team due to lack of numbers and 2. when picked for the 3rd team usually end up playing someone of a higher rank. Though I've had a couple of close games there are variances in opponent ability I've noticed. One week I can compete the next get completely blown away. The aim is to start to try and win at least a game from a best of 5 match
With regard to getting the ball out of the corner, generally the first issue is one of technique, especially on the backhand. Check out my 5 Common Backhand Mistakes video. As far as drills go, you could try a variation of the side to side where you try to hit the ball off the side wall as if it was the backwall. In effect, you are doing the same exercise as a length drive but because you are doing it sideways you get more practice in the same time, need to be less accurate AND you don't need to worry about the sidewall. It's not easy to explain in text and I actually have a video planned for Side To Side Part 2.
Cheers Phill great video have seen guys doing this and it's well impressive. it'll be a long while till I can complete that. I am still trying to get the drop to the corner pick the ball up with the racket and drop to the corner again.
Well, as long as you are working hard on one thing, then I can't complain, but as I just said in another comment: don't feel you have to perfect one shot/exercise before you move onto another.
what kind of floor is that? is it a cement one?
No, It's some sort of plastic. Both the courts have it. Neither are sprung, meaning it's hard on the joints. It's also quite slippery when wet.
Coach, really love your videos and find them extremely beneficial. One quick question, I play with a Tecnifibre carboflex 125, it has a tear drop shape, are these rackets more difficult / less difficult / the same to do this figure of 8 drill with as traditional shaped rackets?
Maybe a silly question!
Not a silly question. I currently use a throated racket but have played/tested with probably 100 rackets in all my years of playing and coaching and I have never found one racket design to be better or worse for any particular exercise.
If a teardrop is your shape of choice, then it will be fine to do this exercise.
For crying out loud it looks like a walk in the park when you do it... On the bounce I can do them beetween 10 or 20 without mistakes. Without bounce I've managed only 6 or 7. How can I improve it? Is it about hitting hard? I do understand the early racket prep. Anywhere in particular I should hit the ball on the front wall height wise? I'm a competent player with 8 years on my back. I feel that I should be capable of handling this exercise better... And yeah; I wanna look cool on court. 😂
As you have found, there is a big difference between the bounce and volley version of this. Assuming your technique is not terrible, it's just a matter of practice.
Like all solo practice, each error compounds the next, unless you are able to compensate. I might even recommend putting some little paper sticky notes on the front wall, just above the cutline and about a racket's length away from the sidewall. That's NOT the perfect spot to aim for because it depends on exactly where you stand, but it will give you something concrete to aim at.
Better to do 5 sets of 2 minutes, with other routines in between than do 10 minutes non-stop. There really isn't anything better than repetition in this case.
@@BetterSquash thanks for insight. I'll be patient and keep on practising. Even though the progression isn't done over night I do feel improvement when doing the drill. Need to find better focus, rhythm and racket swing, and I think it will be better.
But I can understand
Good.
Volume needs improvement
That's a fair observation. My newer videos all have much better sound. At some point, I will update many of my older and popular videos.
U need tofix the audi
I know.
too much echo. Can't understand him very well.
Absolutely right. The sound on my videos needs professional help. Sorry about that.
This is great, thanks. I've never seen the back and forth variation, and I'd forgotten about the straightening pattern. I'm eager to try them out.
I would just add a couple of "why"'s: (1)the drill reinforces early racquet preparation and shoulder turn as it is impossible to keep the pattern going without them, and (2) it gets the player comfortable hitting from an open stance- especially useful for vollies.
You make excellent points and I wish I had included them.
I love your videos, Phillip but the sound is absolutely abysmal especially for someone like me who is hard of hearing. If you could fix this problem that would be great. Thanks.,, Granville Airton
You are absolutely right and I apologise. I am hoping to do most of the commentary off-camera for my next set of videos.
When you go from forehand to backhand do you rotate the racket a bit in the grip or is it exactly the same forehand and backhand??
No, I never rotate or change my grip. I know tennis players do it (I'm a qualified tennis coach too) but in squash, I've never taught that and wouldn't. My question to you is "Do you currently do that and if so, why?".
Would you advocate using a training ball to start with these drills just to get a feel for it or just warm up a double yellow?
Well, basically if you can try to do it with a warm ball, you should be okay. Maybe do a few side to side shots to get the ball warm, then start with the bounce version to get a rhythm and move onto volleys. In general, I recommend using the ball you would normally play matches with and only use a different ball for very specific situations and circumstances.
Great video coach Phil, may be for later as I am still working on the corner ones.
Don't feel you have to perfect one exercise before you try another, although I'm not saying you should have 20 exercises on the go at the same time.
I suck at squash. But I could tell that intro needed skill
Sorry to hear you feel you suck at squash. With some consistent and focused practice you should be able to do at least the bounce version.
"You are not a professional, okay!"😂
But you can train like one!
Oooh new videos! Nice one.
Thanks.