Getting out on the squash court and having a random hit can be fun, either with or without a partner. Random hitting won't help you improve your squash game, however, and it can actually detract from the quality and intelligence of your shot-making. Here's how to make the most of your practice time on the squash court.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 45 Minutes
Here's How:
- Decide when you are going to play, and when you are going to practice. Keep them separate.
- When you practice, decide whether you are going to practice with a partner, or by yourself.
- Begin by picking a particular shot, or type of shot, you want to improve. For example, you might want to improve the quality of your sidewall boast.
- Find squash drills that will help you hit that shot repetitively, and slowly at first. It's best if these first drills are almost stationary, so that you aren't running a lot while you are practicing the basic movements.
- Add more movement to the drill by clearing back towards the T in between your shots.
- Practice the shot on both sides, forehand and backhand. This helps keep you balanced, and also helps keep you from getting bored with hitting too many of one shot.
- Make the practice harder, by adding a drill that makes you hit the same shot you just practiced so many times, but when you are moving, or running to the ball. For example, if you have just hit a lot of forehand drop shots, and then a lot of backhand drop shots, the next drill in the progression could be one that has you alternating one forehand drop shot, then moving to the other side of the court to hit a backhand drop shot.
- Make the practice more variable, by adding the element of choice into the drill. If it's a two player drill, allow one player the ability to choose which shot to hit. This makes the drill more dynamic, and less routine, while building on the many repetitions that you have already practiced.
- To conclude the practice session, make the drill into a game, if possible, with both participants choosing which shot to hit, and trying to execute that shot so well that it becomes unreturnable by the other driller.
- Stretch afterwards, and rest confident in the knowledge that you will soon be able to use the shot you practiced in a real squash match!
Tips:
- Get some books or guides to squash drills. There are many good guides available.
- Be willing to spend time by yourself in the squash court. You don't always need a partner.
- If you do want a squash partner, find one who is willing to drill and practice, as well as play.
- When you have hit too many balls on one side of your body, switch to the other side. Keep the practice routine fresh by varying sides. Work hard so that you can always hit as well on one side of your body as you can on the other.
- For solo drilling, see whether you can get access to a ball machine. The machine feeds you balls in a wonderfully consistent manner.
What You Need:
- squash racquet
- squash ball
- empty squash court
- time to practice
- determination and patience