I tried this after a good few months and found I've really come on in the exercise - managed 40 on the go of this! Aiming for 50 next time and maybe even 100 by the end of the year!
Great to hear you have improved. Keep concentrating on the timing of the ball and making sure you get under the ball to ensure it goes high enough. Record yourself and send me the link to an unlisted video if you want and I'll take a quick look and see if I can help.
I'm currently working on a playlist to take new players through these progressions in more detail. I'm a huge fan of coach Phillip's channel and his videos still help me improve to this day. Here's the playlist if anyone is interested - th-cam.com/video/yfB7rbDQ8H4/w-d-xo.html
Thank you: After coming off a 15 year break I could use this. Plus........Drills are only allowed on courts, no 2 person play during Covid. I reckon I might do drills for a year!!!
You are most welcome. Fifteen years is a loooong time, so in some ways not being allowed to play helps ypou avoid over-doing things for the first month or so.
Once you learn great timing, it will always stay with you even if yo take long breaks. Sure, you will still get good and bad days days, but overall, you'll always hit hit the ball cleanly. Good luck.
Actually had a dream about this last night. 2 courts were taken, 1 was free. Started practicing then noticed half of left wall was absent, presumed missing! No wonder the court was free. Rest of dream got weirder from there, I can't even...
What part of the wall was missing? Maybe there is a subconcious message here. The missing part is the part your subconcious mind says you should hit the ball.
Brilliant advice, not just the physical drill but I never thought about setting targets to set my mentality; I would just stop a drill until we were satisfied... Oh dear lol
Did this today, great practice! Got to 20 in a row, then 25. Mix of soft lobs and hard shots. Then moved on to volleys against single wall. First attempt at side to side was hilarious, ball went away from me, then behind. Fixed it quickly, though.
There are so many elements to this routine. And as you found, the volley can be difficult. You can work on timing, delay, footwork, swing, power, concentration, it's all in there. What's you next target, 50?
@@BetterSquash i thought the front to back element was going to be the challenge. Ultimately, it's the length control on the backhand where I get lazy if I don't focus. Next target 40, then 60. Also wanted to thank you for your videos. As someone who produces training material in a different field, I appreciate the work that goes into this. You seem like a lovely bloke and if I had the chance to get a lesson with you in person, I'd jump on it.
Thanks for sharing! The content you put online is priceless! Thanks for your time and your passion for squash!! The side to side drill has been an important part of my solo practice because of you coach!! ( I also use it to warm up it’s great)
It#'s so nice to hear from people who enjoy my content. Thank you for your kind words. That side-to-side is a tremendous drill - it has enough variations to keep it interesting.
Hey Phillip. Wonderful exercise! Love it. Thx so much for filming this and giving all kinds of additional commentary on those progressions. Question: if I set a max number of hits it turns out that I always seem to fail on the backhand side. Meaning that I fail to hit the ball hard enough so that it could reach the opposite wall (my forehand side) in an orderly manner. Any idea what I can do about it (except of course to train and train and so on :-) ) ? Thx indeed! All the best, Michael
Hi Michael, so sorry for the delay in replying. Your problem could be your technique, so make sure you focus on cocking your wrist and preparing early on the backhand side. Also, don't be afraid to simply come under the ball and aim higher.
Many thanks for this idea Coach - it's formidable. I am regularly putting in a few hundred and hope to build on this as you suggest. Knowing where the ball is coming from before each hit gives me the chance to focus on keeping my head still and 'watching the ball hit the strings'. What this drill has amply demonstrated to me is that I have not been doing this .. ever!! Now I am able to improve this aspect of strike during actual rallies though I am still some way short of ideal; watching some video footage from Canary Wharf last night I focussed solely on head movement - it is astounding how still their heads are at the moment of strike .. I had not noticed this before. So this is my short term aim; my issue at present is the "conflict" between watching the ball at all times (and especially as the opponent strikes the ball) and keeping my head still when I strike the ball. Any tips on how to change from 'moving head' to a 'stationary head' ??!
Hi Phil, glad you like the exercise and feel it has benefitted you. Gregory GAultier is a great example of a player who really keeps their head still head striking the ball. Now, I am about to destroy a very big misconception: YOU SHOULD NOT BE WATCHING THE BALL AT ALL TIMES. Take a breath. SIt down. Get a drink. I'm going to make a video version of an article I wrote for SquashSIte.co.uk back in May 2014. Here is a link to the article: www.carteblanchesquash.com/2014/04/23/switching-from-narrow-to-broad-focus/ Essentially, when you opponent is about to hit the ball, watch them. With regard to your last question. Keep your head still long enough to make the shoot good and then look up. Most people look up too early, but obviously you need to look up at some point. Just make it after the ball has left your racket. I would estimate it's as your arm is finishing its follow through.
Well, you could try a red dot. Don't worry about feeling that you have to use a double yellow or even a single yellow. Don't forget to aim higher on the side walls. With regard to power, make sure you have good technique - see a coach if you can - and then spend 10% of your practice time trying to hit the ball as hard as you get. Over time, you will get stronger and also your timing will improve.
thanx alot coach phillip im starting to do squash im bad but am trying to be better no matter what ill be watching more and have subscribed aND wil like every one i watch
All that matters is that you are trying to improve. Don't worry about "Liking" or subscribing. Just watch as much as you can, including other channels and Play, play play. If possible, look for a good coach in your area.
one of the best practices I ever came up with for handball (I play Eton Fives a ton) was to hit a ball with increasing power into an upturned mattress, flat against a normal wall - it absorbs the pace on the hardest of hits and brings the ball gently back to your hand even within a confined space - this is similar to a practice mute on a trumpet - the general idea, which your side to side groundstrokes achieve, is giving the student opportunity to really give it some, discover their full hitting potential, in a 'static' environment, i.e. with all the time in the world
There is not one thing that will suddenly make you hit the target. It's lots of little things: practice, good technique, strength, watching the ball hit the strings. Keep practicing and you WILL improve.
Thanks Phillip really helpful and insightful. I am relatively new to squash so I am looking forward to trying these drills out this evening. Great video.
Learnt more in one flippin' video than in 27 years of (off and on) playing. Which makes me a bit hacked off. Why do none of the so-called coaches in real life tell you any of this stuff?
This is one of the best compliments I have ever been paid - I think. I am one of the "so-called" coaches and I used to cover most of the points I mention in this video early on in my lessons with new pupils. Anyway, I hope you learn something from my other videos too.
Just to not put my foot in it I was calling the coaches I've encountered in real life "so-called", not you! And just to add you've really fired up my enthusiasm for squash again. Aside from learning more, my striking of the ball has improved in two short drill sessions. But I find this with a lot of sports coaches, it's happened to me in swimming as well - where an online coach or book (Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin being the book in that case) has skyrocketed my progress by focusing on technique and good habits while the joker at poolside has, if anything, hindered it. In short - thank you.
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you thought I was one of the so-called coaches. I just meant, I'm a coach. Anyway, I'm vert glad to hear I have fired you up. What I want you to do is sue that newly found enthusiasm and work smarter not just harder. Smarter, in this context means doing the things you need to do, not the things you like to do. BTW, I really enjoyed Total Immersion too.
I practised this for the first time today. First few attempts made me realise how this is not as easy as it looks at first sight. Sensations got really better and better after a few attempts and I could feel some improvements. Thanks, Coach Phillip!
Glad to hear you tried it. Over time it will begin to improve you concentration and general swing fitness. When you feel you have got good, try keeping 50 shots with the width of the service box. Good Luck!
6month in now, playing seriously in a local ladder league. Played 4 L4 and I'm due to be relegated this afternoon :D. I don't mind I know I'm getting better every week, and I really enjoy the game. I certainly know which direction my kids will be getting nudged and it won't involve football or boots!!!!
Me to. I can play reasonably well with my right hand although I am left-handed. Anyway, I do practice alternating left and right hands to for two reasons. First, is to improve my cardiovascular system in both the left and right body. Second is to improve my brain spatial ability.
I have been using my left hand a lot recently as I agree that a symmetry in both physical and mental abilities is important. I actually started a new YT channel but have been too busy to make more videos: th-cam.com/channels/x9LK2TKoi7TfvfX1R5wdVw.html
I am doing these for two weeks now, approximately 4 times a week, sometimes solopractise, sometimes when I get in early for matches to warm up and the result is amazing. Especially the power I can generate on the backhand now is amazing. After a few thousand hits i realised that I tried to generate to much power from my body instead of just using the physics of only swinging my arm. Now it will go hard and straight :D The only thing I'm still struggling with is the looking the ball hit the string-part. Not getting dizzy, but I am getting disorientated :(
I'm so glad to hear it has helped you. Doing a lot of them can be disorientating but you need to try not to follow the ball all the time. I hope to create a Part 2 to this video, showing some more variations and advanced versions, soon.
That would be awesome! Could you also make a video how to squeeze the ball out of tight corners? Now I just let my hand slide towards the rackethead to decrease the length in order to get in the corner without a swing, but it is really hard to have any control or power
Yes, I plan to make a video about the corners. The problem is that making "on-court" videos is quite hard for me at the moment, so the list of planned videos is just getting bigger and bigger.
Hi phill, best type instruction videos I've seen on the net. I will be trying your techniques in my next practice evening because before I wouldn't have much of a plan I would just run forehand and backhand drills. Thanks
+Graham “Neddy” Curran Thank you for your kind words. I am sure it will help. I have a plan for a bunch of new videos but as always something more important but less interesting gets in the way.
Is this normal squash court? I mean the width? :) I've tried to do the drill, but it is hard to reach the opposite wall if not hitting hard even with the red dot ball...
+Arno Bart Yes, this is a standard court. Are you hitting it too low? It can be difficult at first. Send me a video of your trying to do the exercise and I will try to offer some advice.
+CoachPhillipNet Thank you for reply! I'm a total beginner, may be this drill is for more advanced players... Anyway, I'll try hitting higher and see what happens :)
+Arno Bart Yes, this will be a difficult routine for a total beginner. Let me recommend visiting an experienced local coach. Even if you can only go every few months, it will make a big difference to your technique and game. Perhaps your swing is making this exercise difficult. With a red dot, try keeping your swing shorter but hitting it higher on each sidewall. Good Luck and let me know what happens.
Had a go at these last night as no other members turned up for club night for an hour. You soon learn to try and hit the ball with control and to watch the point of contact. Was all over the show at the beginning but soon developed a nice rhythm
Somewhere around the 15 - 20 mark. So a way to go yet to be proficient. Was hitting the ball too hard early on but once I held back on the power and concentrated on getting a good contact it was much easier to maintain control and timing was so much better. Going to keep practising this drill.
Thanks for the great drill - will try it out today. Had a related question: Should you change the way you grip the racket between forehand and backhand? Coming from a tennis and badminton background, I do tend to twist my racket slightly (not go up or down) when switching between the two, and also when hitting different types of shots (ie drop shot with spin, hard flat shot etc). Is this good/bad? Also, I tend to hold the racket closer to the base of the grip instead of the middle or the top. How should I be thinking about the vertical position of my hand on the grip.
+Himanshu Bhandoh Firstly, I wouldn't recommend changing your grip if you can help it. It's not needed in squash and as long as you have a good grip to start with, you won't need to change it. I've seen more types of grip than you can image and a lot of Pakistani players used to hold the racket at the base of the grip, however, as technology has improved the need to do this has been removed. They generally did this to generate more power. They also said that the had a slightly longer reach, which is true but it's very rare that you would need to do that as well. I prefer my students to hold the racket higher than the base, and ideally, your forefinger will "hook" around the top of the grip when the shaft of the racket starts. There are lots of videos about squash grip available on TH-cam, so try a few and see what feels most comfortable. Although, visiting an experienced coach now could save you a lot of trouble in the future. Holding the racket higher up gives you more control and lower down more power. But power without control is useless. Aim for control of the racket head and ball first and you power will develop over time. Good Luck!
Thank you so much for the advice! I had a quick additional question : is it recommended to twist/change the grip slightly depending on the kind of shot you play? I have been doing that in tennis and badminton, but I am not sure if that is a good practice in squash.
+Himanshu Bhandoh As I mentioned in my previous reply, I do not recommend changing your grip. I have never recommended it but I also understand that each person/player is different. Having a good grip is fundamental to the rest of your game. No matter how fit, fast, motivated, technically aware you are, if you don't hold the racket properly you will be severely limited. We don't use topsin in squash and if you see some professional squash players look like they do, it's not the spin they are interested in but the deception that the racket head makes. With a flat or slice shot in squash, there is no need to ever change grips - not for normal club players. Remember, professional can do things with a racket that you can't imagine. They have spent around 6 hours a day hitting squash balls since they were 6 years old. Their forearms are incredibly strong and their wrist very flexible. Just because you see Mr. El Shorbagy do a flick, doesn't mean club players should. To summarize: Avoid changing grip if you can. Practice on your own by doing the exercise in the above video or any exercise that requires you to hit forehand then backhand.
i started doing this exercise, got straight 15, and this made my day :) gonna aim for more, thanks a lot i am completely insecure about watching the ball hitting the strings of my racket, as my left eye is blind, i am not sure if this has to do anything with it, or it is a matter of me being more patient & persistent. I started playing Squash in the past December, and i got sooooooo addicted to it
Well done! 15 is quite good for the first time. Honestly, I have never taught a player who is blind in one eye. yes, it may make a difference, but perhaps an adjustment of the head position on contact with the ball might be enough to compensate for it. I would have thought that judging the speed and distance to the ball would be your main issues.
@@BetterSquash Got 50 consecutive recently 😁 I am so enjoying the drills and the fact of setting targets. Sometimes it is a problem to judge the speed and distance of the ball, but it is okay, is still so fun to play. Thanks a million for answering and for the wonderful content you are providing to us.
@@BetterSquash Hope u & ur family are safe and well Here is a video of me doing the side to side (last day b4 lockdown) i could not get the 50 straight away as i was off court for more than a week, so it is as if back to zero :) th-cam.com/video/Vkz-Jir1e0Y/w-d-xo.html Now i managed to clear a place in my house and trying to practice some squash at home due to the pandemic. here is a video that i took practicing th-cam.com/video/l7L6YXEAhOU/w-d-xo.html you think you can give some advice on how to practice/drills at home, we all have walls at homes :) of course will need to be repainted haha
I do have a particular type of nervousness when it comes to club league matches and for me its a unique feeling leading to all manner of problems, tightening up, poor shot execution and poor movement. I assume these drills will lead to better timing which over time should become automatic hence I can park my nervous consciousness to the back of my mind. I'll give this drill ago seems a lot less strenuous on the joints than hitting lengths and perhaps easier than the butterfly drill which is a bit hit and miss atm.
Hi, Sorry to hear you suffer from nervousness during your league matches. Firstly, you will need to address that directly. If you have a problem with nervousness or concentration, it won't matter how well you hit the ball or move, because it will still be there. It's true you won't have to worry about that aspects of your game but that doesn't mean being nervous suddenly disappears. My recommendation is to sit down and think through exactly what it is that is making you nervous. Possible ideas include; being watched by a lot of people, expecting to play well after training hard, putting too much pressure on yourself. Of course, there could be plenty of other reasons. Next, set yourself some simply match-night objectives that are not dependant on winning or losing. For example, focus solely on hitting just below the service line when going for lengths or not playing too many boasts in the first game. Something that allows you to focus on what you are doing and forget the score. it's not easy to recommending a course of action via a text reply to a video, but basically do expect a practice routine to have a serious affect on a mental approach issue. Now, secondly, this particular exercise helps your timing with regard to hitting the ball straight. If you miss time the shot, even slightly, the closeness of the sidewalls exaggerates the problem. I would never have said that hitting lengths was strenuous on the joints, so that makes me curious as to how you are doing them! Lastly, with regard to figure of eights or butterflies, are you playing them with a bounce or on the volley? Start with a bounce and aim the ball about a racket head away from the sidewall on the frontwall. I find getting my pupils to focus on exactly where the ball should hit the frontwall helps. Don't hit it too hard and aim for 20 with no mistakes - then hit a bit harder. Good luck and feel free to update me on your progress.
CoachPhillipNet Hey thanks for the reply. I think the nervousness will probably diminish the more games I play and be less conscious of people watching. I did play better this week even though I lost was against a player who played good lengths but varied his shots with drops and lobs I did manage to get him off the Tee and get into positions to win points though I did on 2 occasions hit the tin even when I was set to play the shot, (I must some how hit down on the ball rather than get under it, possible grip / timing issue?). I am 43 so I am tending to feel the effects of a hard game on my wrist and I wear a compression support to alleviate any problems. I do have problems against players who do heavy hard hitting serves and hit the ball hard I guess its just getting used to the pace of the ball on basis of ranking he is a 1915 rated whereas I'm currently 1555 but he just wiped the floor with me and hardly gave him a game after the first game I knew I wasn't going to win and my head dropped but I perhaps should have said "ok at least get a point or two" rather than trying to seek to win a game.
parttroll1 Sorry for the delay in replying. I agree, normally nervousness does diminish after you have played a few matches in similar circumstances. Hitting the tin, especially when we should win the point, is generally because we are aiming too low in an effort to make it as difficult as possible for our opponent. Unless you start doing it too often, I wouldn't worry about it at this point. I'm a few years older than you and I accept that my forearm is much stronger than yours, I would be careful about the wrist support. Not because they are bad, but if you have to use one all the time, it would suggest either a chronic physical issue or just as likely a technique issue. Without going into the details, there is a big misconception in squash that it is a wristy game. Yes, the pros use their wrist but it really comes from the forearm. When hitting the ball, your wrist shouldn't "bend" very much at all. Maybe you should visit an experience coach for a quick lesson of wrist movement? I am sorry, but I am not familiar with the ranking system you mention. With regard to hard hitters, the best bet is to keep your swing short and simple and feed off their power. Under NO circumstances become a sheep and try to hit it back hard - there;'s only one winner there. You need to "Out Play" him not "Out Hit" him. Good Luck.
Yes I guess my technique is suspect and perhaps seek coaching to improve the stroke at impact. I am probably too wristy in my action a similar problem I have with golf as it happens tho I don't use a wrist support whilst playing golf. I should probably see a physio if the problem persists. Yes hard hitters I've no chance if I try to out hit them and I'll take you advice on board and use their pace to place the ball. Thanks for the advice.
yes i have been using it a bit on my own, took a 15 year break due to other sporting commitments!! played a high level as a teenager but im back playing now the last 5 months absolutely love it, feel like im 16 again!!! a truly great sport.
Excellent videos for beginners. Have been following your coaching for a week and it is really helping in getting a grip on the game. Do you have a video which shows how to start serving for beginners?
I think if you never did any other drills but you mastered these alone you would be a good squash player. Great coaching, very concise, clearly explained & demonstrated, thank you.
I'm not sure about being a good squash player just from this practice alone but I would say that if I had to chose 1 exercise for solo-routine it would be this one. Thank you for your kind words about the video.
These are GREAT exercises ! I adopted them. For me, as preliminaries, they let me enter in the "squash mood" quickly and efficiently. Thank you so much coach Philip, not only for this vid, but for all others ! While the sound is not always perfect due to reverb (excepted when dubbing as this one which is excellent) they are ALWAYS of a great contents quality to help us learn ! And finally, a huge thank for your constant involvement in helping players at any levels !!
Hi Tanguay, thank you for you kind words about my videos. yes, the sound is pretty bad - sorry about that. You make a great point about getting into the squash mood quickly with these exercises. Good luck with your squash. BTW, have you noticed an improvement in your game because of these?
Hi Phillip, thanks for your kind reply ! Yes, I have noticed some slight but significant improvements as I am more accurate, less rushed to hit (better perception of the ball position before hitting it) and more confident in doing my shots in general. I said "slight" as I must continue to do these exercises (between others) to improve myself, up to be able to include the more difficult steps (side-to-side volleys; I can't do them yet, but I am not in a rush) Of course, this does not fix my strugling about serves returns (especially from good lobs serves) and hard cross-sides drives returns (I have difficulty to don't be passed by them) : I am going to check the other videos you did relative to these issues, he he he... Thanks so much again for your help, your videos and to take time to answer to all our comments, this is a tremendous work and attention we appreciate a lot ! For me, it is like having a personnal coach ! (well... almost !...) Have a great spring time !Tanguay PS : sorry for my terrible English, I am a French-Canadian from Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada)
How often do you recommending practicing for new players? And what percentage of my time on the court should i spend practicing versus playing against an opponent? Thanks
I watched you for the first time last night and couldn't wait to try this this morning. What a great drill! It's also fun as well. This video alone has made me wanting to watch the rest of your videos. Thank you so much!
I tried this after a good few months and found I've really come on in the exercise - managed 40 on the go of this! Aiming for 50 next time and maybe even 100 by the end of the year!
Great to hear you have improved. Keep concentrating on the timing of the ball and making sure you get under the ball to ensure it goes high enough. Record yourself and send me the link to an unlisted video if you want and I'll take a quick look and see if I can help.
How's it going?
I really like this guy... Thank you so much, for speaking and coaching from the heart. Truly appreciate it
Thank you for watching my videos. I hope they have helped improve your game.
Indeed, I started to have better performance. I will keep watching your videos and looking forward to recieving more and more. Kind regards, Mohamed
Hello Phillip, would you please explain more about cocking wrist.. Thanks in advance
I'll discuss this in my Grip video soon.
I'm currently working on a playlist to take new players through these progressions in more detail. I'm a huge fan of coach Phillip's channel and his videos still help me improve to this day.
Here's the playlist if anyone is interested - th-cam.com/video/yfB7rbDQ8H4/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for your kind words and adding me to your playlist.
You got a like because I expected that you would say please please "like this video" but you said practice like a true coach , thanks for the video!
Thanks for the like. As long as my viewers benefit from the video that's all that really matters.
Great drill coach.will be trying today.cheers
Glad you liked it. Let me know how you get on with it.
Love Yours lessons. Watching each part many times the day before a play and practice, practice, practice...
Thanks a lot Man.
That's great to hear. Thank you.
Should you watch the ball hit your strings each and every time?
Yes, that is one of the objectives. It is quite hard because the amount of time between each hit is short and it takes practice to improve.
Great video Phillip! I only just found you but I think I've found my new favourite TH-cam squash coach.
Thanks for your kind words. I'll strive to live up to the "favourite" tag. Love your channel too.
Thank you: After coming off a 15 year break I could use this. Plus........Drills are only allowed on courts, no 2 person play during Covid. I reckon I might do drills for a year!!!
You are most welcome. Fifteen years is a loooong time, so in some ways not being allowed to play helps ypou avoid over-doing things for the first month or so.
Amazing. Timing should have been the first thing I learnt ... better late than never though. Will let you know how my game improves. Thank you!
Once you learn great timing, it will always stay with you even if yo take long breaks. Sure, you will still get good and bad days days, but overall, you'll always hit hit the ball cleanly. Good luck.
Actually had a dream about this last night. 2 courts were taken, 1 was free. Started practicing then noticed half of left wall was absent, presumed missing! No wonder the court was free. Rest of dream got weirder from there, I can't even...
What part of the wall was missing? Maybe there is a subconcious message here. The missing part is the part your subconcious mind says you should hit the ball.
@@BetterSquash squash coach, therapist.. is there nothing this man can't do? Everything above shoulder height for the left wall.
Brilliant advice, not just the physical drill but I never thought about setting targets to set my mentality; I would just stop a drill until we were satisfied... Oh dear lol
So glad you got more than the physical reasons for this.
Watching in 2019
Hopefully improving in 2019 as well!
Excellent drills!
I'm glad you like them. Have you been doing them long enough to notice any improvement in your game?
Yes I tried it. Very useful. Thanks again.
Sorry for the year's delay in reply! I'm glad it has helped.
Did this today, great practice! Got to 20 in a row, then 25. Mix of soft lobs and hard shots. Then moved on to volleys against single wall. First attempt at side to side was hilarious, ball went away from me, then behind. Fixed it quickly, though.
There are so many elements to this routine. And as you found, the volley can be difficult. You can work on timing, delay, footwork, swing, power, concentration, it's all in there. What's you next target, 50?
@@BetterSquash i thought the front to back element was going to be the challenge. Ultimately, it's the length control on the backhand where I get lazy if I don't focus. Next target 40, then 60. Also wanted to thank you for your videos. As someone who produces training material in a different field, I appreciate the work that goes into this. You seem like a lovely bloke and if I had the chance to get a lesson with you in person, I'd jump on it.
Hi Coach Philip!
I would like to know what Squash ball you are using in this video (drill) is it Slow, Meduim, Fast, Max Blue etc..
+swtzel Hi swtzel, it's a Dunlop Double Yellow.: www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-squash-balls-735006
Thanks for sharing! The content you put online is priceless! Thanks for your time and your passion for squash!! The side to side drill has been an important part of my solo practice because of you coach!! ( I also use it to warm up it’s great)
It#'s so nice to hear from people who enjoy my content. Thank you for your kind words. That side-to-side is a tremendous drill - it has enough variations to keep it interesting.
Thanks, great drills
You are most welcome. I am going to update this video soon with better visuals and explanations
Hey Phillip.
Wonderful exercise! Love it. Thx so much for filming this and giving all kinds of additional
commentary on those progressions. Question: if I set a max number of hits it
turns out that I always seem to fail on the backhand side. Meaning that I fail
to hit the ball hard enough so that it could reach the opposite wall (my forehand side)
in an orderly manner. Any idea what I can do about it (except of course to train and
train and so on :-) ) ? Thx indeed! All the best, Michael
Hi Michael, so sorry for the delay in replying.
Your problem could be your technique, so make sure you focus on cocking your wrist and preparing early on the backhand side. Also, don't be afraid to simply come under the ball and aim higher.
Many thanks for this idea Coach - it's formidable. I am regularly putting in a few hundred and hope to build on this as you suggest. Knowing where the ball is coming from before each hit gives me the chance to focus on keeping my head still and 'watching the ball hit the strings'. What this drill has amply demonstrated to me is that I have not been doing this .. ever!! Now I am able to improve this aspect of strike during actual rallies though I am still some way short of ideal; watching some video footage from Canary Wharf last night I focussed solely on head movement - it is astounding how still their heads are at the moment of strike .. I had not noticed this before. So this is my short term aim; my issue at present is the "conflict" between watching the ball at all times (and especially as the opponent strikes the ball) and keeping my head still when I strike the ball. Any tips on how to change from 'moving head' to a 'stationary head' ??!
Hi Phil, glad you like the exercise and feel it has benefitted you. Gregory GAultier is a great example of a player who really keeps their head still head striking the ball.
Now, I am about to destroy a very big misconception: YOU SHOULD NOT BE WATCHING THE BALL AT ALL TIMES.
Take a breath. SIt down. Get a drink.
I'm going to make a video version of an article I wrote for SquashSIte.co.uk back in May 2014. Here is a link to the article: www.carteblanchesquash.com/2014/04/23/switching-from-narrow-to-broad-focus/
Essentially, when you opponent is about to hit the ball, watch them.
With regard to your last question. Keep your head still long enough to make the shoot good and then look up. Most people look up too early, but obviously you need to look up at some point. Just make it after the ball has left your racket. I would estimate it's as your arm is finishing its follow through.
Hi Coach. Which ball to use on side to side drills?? I just cant do it on 2 yellow dot ball........ tips to increase power?
Well, you could try a red dot. Don't worry about feeling that you have to use a double yellow or even a single yellow. Don't forget to aim higher on the side walls.
With regard to power, make sure you have good technique - see a coach if you can - and then spend 10% of your practice time trying to hit the ball as hard as you get. Over time, you will get stronger and also your timing will improve.
Luv your coaching and have benefited my game .... will try more
Glad to hear you like my videos and I hope they continue to benefit to help you. Keep my informed!
Sehr schön dein channel! Echt klasse. Gute Aufnahmen schön erklärt und super gezeigt. Besonders Wertschätze ich deine super Motivation jehaa
Danke für Ihre netten Worte. Ich hoffe, du genießt mehr von meinen Videos.
thanx alot coach phillip im starting to do squash im bad but am trying to be better no matter what ill be watching more and have subscribed aND wil like every one i watch
All that matters is that you are trying to improve. Don't worry about "Liking" or subscribing. Just watch as much as you can, including other channels and Play, play play. If possible, look for a good coach in your area.
👏👏👏👏
Thanks.
one of the best practices I ever came up with for handball (I play Eton Fives a ton) was to hit a ball with increasing power into an upturned mattress, flat against a normal wall - it absorbs the pace on the hardest of hits and brings the ball gently back to your hand even within a confined space - this is similar to a practice mute on a trumpet - the general idea, which your side to side groundstrokes achieve, is giving the student opportunity to really give it some, discover their full hitting potential, in a 'static' environment, i.e. with all the time in the world
I haven't heard of the mattress idea but hitting the ball really hard for some of a practice session is a MUST.
How can i control hitting the ball on the target
There is not one thing that will suddenly make you hit the target. It's lots of little things: practice, good technique, strength, watching the ball hit the strings. Keep practicing and you WILL improve.
I will do the best
My great thanks for you choach 💪💪
Thanks Phillip really helpful and insightful. I am relatively new to squash so I am looking forward to trying these drills out this evening. Great video.
Mark Rivera I'm glad you like the video Mark. Have you tried the drill yet? Was it helpful?
Thank you Coach Phillip. Have learnt a lot from your excellent videos
You are most welcome. I am glad to hear my videos have helped.
Learnt more in one flippin' video than in 27 years of (off and on) playing. Which makes me a bit hacked off. Why do none of the so-called coaches in real life tell you any of this stuff?
This is one of the best compliments I have ever been paid - I think. I am one of the "so-called" coaches and I used to cover most of the points I mention in this video early on in my lessons with new pupils. Anyway, I hope you learn something from my other videos too.
Just to not put my foot in it I was calling the coaches I've encountered in real life "so-called", not you! And just to add you've really fired up my enthusiasm for squash again. Aside from learning more, my striking of the ball has improved in two short drill sessions. But I find this with a lot of sports coaches, it's happened to me in swimming as well - where an online coach or book (Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin being the book in that case) has skyrocketed my progress by focusing on technique and good habits while the joker at poolside has, if anything, hindered it. In short - thank you.
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you thought I was one of the so-called coaches. I just meant, I'm a coach. Anyway, I'm vert glad to hear I have fired you up. What I want you to do is sue that newly found enthusiasm and work smarter not just harder. Smarter, in this context means doing the things you need to do, not the things you like to do.
BTW, I really enjoyed Total Immersion too.
I practised this for the first time today. First few attempts made me realise how this is not as easy as it looks at first sight. Sensations got really better and better after a few attempts and I could feel some improvements. Thanks, Coach Phillip!
Glad to hear you tried it. Over time it will begin to improve you concentration and general swing fitness. When you feel you have got good, try keeping 50 shots with the width of the service box. Good Luck!
Excellent video, really interesting content and very concise. Thank you!!!!
Thank you. Has it helped your control?
Tried this today, it's a fantastic solo drill. Your all over the place to begin with but once you get your eye you can really rack up some hits.
+Mr.K Sorry for the late reply. Glad you like it. I hope you noticed a small improvement when playing matches.
6month in now, playing seriously in a local ladder league. Played 4 L4 and I'm due to be relegated this afternoon :D. I don't mind I know I'm getting better every week, and I really enjoy the game. I certainly know which direction my kids will be getting nudged and it won't involve football or boots!!!!
Great videos Philip. Been away from the game but getting back into it at 53. Hopefully, the body holds up...
Glad to hear you are getting back into things Stephen. My body is falling apart at 52, but as you say, hopefully yours will hold up.
Me to. I can play reasonably well with my right hand although I am left-handed. Anyway, I do practice alternating left and right hands to for two reasons. First, is to improve my cardiovascular system in both the left and right body. Second is to improve my brain spatial ability.
I have been using my left hand a lot recently as I agree that a symmetry in both physical and mental abilities is important. I actually started a new YT channel but have been too busy to make more videos: th-cam.com/channels/x9LK2TKoi7TfvfX1R5wdVw.html
I am doing these for two weeks now, approximately 4 times a week, sometimes solopractise, sometimes when I get in early for matches to warm up and the result is amazing.
Especially the power I can generate on the backhand now is amazing.
After a few thousand hits i realised that I tried to generate to much power from my body instead of just using the physics of only swinging my arm. Now it will go hard and straight :D
The only thing I'm still struggling with is the looking the ball hit the string-part. Not getting dizzy, but I am getting disorientated :(
I'm so glad to hear it has helped you. Doing a lot of them can be disorientating but you need to try not to follow the ball all the time. I hope to create a Part 2 to this video, showing some more variations and advanced versions, soon.
That would be awesome!
Could you also make a video how to squeeze the ball out of tight corners?
Now I just let my hand slide towards the rackethead to decrease the length in order to get in the corner without a swing, but it is really hard to have any control or power
Yes, I plan to make a video about the corners. The problem is that making "on-court" videos is quite hard for me at the moment, so the list of planned videos is just getting bigger and bigger.
Will try all of that today n let you know! :) ... Best wishes!
So, what happened? Were they easier or harder than you expected?
You are really motivational. Thanks
You are most welcome.
Hi phill, best type instruction videos I've seen on the net. I will be trying your techniques in my next practice evening because before I wouldn't have much of a plan I would just run forehand and backhand drills. Thanks
+Graham “Neddy” Curran Thank you for your kind words. I am sure it will help. I have a plan for a bunch of new videos but as always something more important but less interesting gets in the way.
+CoachPhillipNet looking forward to them, have been sending the videos to my friends
+Graham “Neddy” Curran Thanks, just don't send them to your enemies - we don't want them getting an advantage!
which was the initial video you were referring to@ 1:32?
This one: Preparation for Success: th-cam.com/video/-qyEWDkT20w/w-d-xo.html
I've added it to the description.
VEry cool Phillip, it's the second video of your that I watch and I can wait to try ! I willl bring my phone the court and solo drill !
So glad you are excited to try them.
Thank you for getting back , I did on the court last night, great drill! thank you
Is this normal squash court? I mean the width? :) I've tried to do the drill, but it is hard to reach the opposite wall if not hitting hard even with the red dot ball...
+Arno Bart Yes, this is a standard court. Are you hitting it too low? It can be difficult at first. Send me a video of your trying to do the exercise and I will try to offer some advice.
+CoachPhillipNet Thank you for reply! I'm a total beginner, may be this drill is for more advanced players... Anyway, I'll try hitting higher and see what happens :)
+Arno Bart Yes, this will be a difficult routine for a total beginner. Let me recommend visiting an experienced local coach. Even if you can only go every few months, it will make a big difference to your technique and game. Perhaps your swing is making this exercise difficult. With a red dot, try keeping your swing shorter but hitting it higher on each sidewall.
Good Luck and let me know what happens.
Had a go at these last night as no other members turned up for club night for an hour. You soon learn to try and hit the ball with control and to watch the point of contact. Was all over the show at the beginning but soon developed a nice rhythm
parttroll1 Great to here players are trying it. What was your maximum with no mistakes?
Somewhere around the 15 - 20 mark. So a way to go yet to be proficient. Was hitting the ball too hard early on but once I held back on the power and concentrated on getting a good contact it was much easier to maintain control and timing was so much better. Going to keep practising this drill.
How many can you do now?
after a bad game it can be so hard to get practicing again but I found this inspiring - cheers
GREAT! I do this as a way of meditating.
Thanks for the great drill - will try it out today. Had a related question: Should you change the way you grip the racket between forehand and backhand? Coming from a tennis and badminton background, I do tend to twist my racket slightly (not go up or down) when switching between the two, and also when hitting different types of shots (ie drop shot with spin, hard flat shot etc). Is this good/bad? Also, I tend to hold the racket closer to the base of the grip instead of the middle or the top. How should I be thinking about the vertical position of my hand on the grip.
+Himanshu Bhandoh Firstly, I wouldn't recommend changing your grip if you can help it. It's not needed in squash and as long as you have a good grip to start with, you won't need to change it.
I've seen more types of grip than you can image and a lot of Pakistani players used to hold the racket at the base of the grip, however, as technology has improved the need to do this has been removed. They generally did this to generate more power. They also said that the had a slightly longer reach, which is true but it's very rare that you would need to do that as well.
I prefer my students to hold the racket higher than the base, and ideally, your forefinger will "hook" around the top of the grip when the shaft of the racket starts. There are lots of videos about squash grip available on TH-cam, so try a few and see what feels most comfortable. Although, visiting an experienced coach now could save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Holding the racket higher up gives you more control and lower down more power. But power without control is useless. Aim for control of the racket head and ball first and you power will develop over time.
Good Luck!
Thank you so much for the advice! I had a quick additional question : is it recommended to twist/change the grip slightly depending on the kind of shot you play? I have been doing that in tennis and badminton, but I am not sure if that is a good practice in squash.
+Himanshu Bhandoh As I mentioned in my previous reply, I do not recommend changing your grip. I have never recommended it but I also understand that each person/player is different.
Having a good grip is fundamental to the rest of your game. No matter how fit, fast, motivated, technically aware you are, if you don't hold the racket properly you will be severely limited.
We don't use topsin in squash and if you see some professional squash players look like they do, it's not the spin they are interested in but the deception that the racket head makes.
With a flat or slice shot in squash, there is no need to ever change grips - not for normal club players. Remember, professional can do things with a racket that you can't imagine. They have spent around 6 hours a day hitting squash balls since they were 6 years old. Their forearms are incredibly strong and their wrist very flexible. Just because you see Mr. El Shorbagy do a flick, doesn't mean club players should.
To summarize: Avoid changing grip if you can. Practice on your own by doing the exercise in the above video or any exercise that requires you to hit forehand then backhand.
+CoachPhillipNet thank you! keep up the amazing work!
Thank you coach
I just subscribed your channel.
You are most welcome. Thank you for subscribing.
Great routines . Thank you .just what I needed
Glad you liked them. To be honest, I think everybody would benefit from them. I'm hoping to make a part 2 of this routine in a few weeks.
i started doing this exercise, got straight 15, and this made my day :) gonna aim for more, thanks a lot
i am completely insecure about watching the ball hitting the strings of my racket, as my left eye is blind, i am not sure if this has to do anything with it, or it is a matter of me being more patient & persistent.
I started playing Squash in the past December, and i got sooooooo addicted to it
Well done! 15 is quite good for the first time. Honestly, I have never taught a player who is blind in one eye. yes, it may make a difference, but perhaps an adjustment of the head position on contact with the ball might be enough to compensate for it. I would have thought that judging the speed and distance to the ball would be your main issues.
@@BetterSquash
Got 50 consecutive recently 😁
I am so enjoying the drills and the fact of setting targets.
Sometimes it is a problem to judge the speed and distance of the ball, but it is okay, is still so fun to play.
Thanks a million for answering and for the wonderful content you are providing to us.
50! Great job. There's so many variations you can do with this. Keep working hard.
@@BetterSquash
Hope u & ur family are safe and well
Here is a video of me doing the side to side (last day b4 lockdown) i could not get the 50 straight away as i was off court for more than a week, so it is as if back to zero :)
th-cam.com/video/Vkz-Jir1e0Y/w-d-xo.html
Now i managed to clear a place in my house and trying to practice some squash at home due to the pandemic. here is a video that i took practicing
th-cam.com/video/l7L6YXEAhOU/w-d-xo.html
you think you can give some advice on how to practice/drills at home, we all have walls at homes :)
of course will need to be repainted haha
Best squash channel on TH-cam. Subbed
That's very kind of you to say, thank you.
Holy moly 😍😍😍😍😍
I can play by myself
YES, YOU CAN! You will also improve your concentration and accuracy.
Cracking video! Thanks!
You are most welcome
I do have a particular type of nervousness when it comes to club league matches and for me its a unique feeling leading to all manner of problems, tightening up, poor shot execution and poor movement. I assume these drills will lead to better timing which over time should become automatic hence I can park my nervous consciousness to the back of my mind.
I'll give this drill ago seems a lot less strenuous on the joints than hitting lengths and perhaps easier than the butterfly drill which is a bit hit and miss atm.
Hi,
Sorry to hear you suffer from nervousness during your league matches.
Firstly, you will need to address that directly. If you have a problem with nervousness or concentration, it won't matter how well you hit the ball or move, because it will still be there. It's true you won't have to worry about that aspects of your game but that doesn't mean being nervous suddenly disappears.
My recommendation is to sit down and think through exactly what it is that is making you nervous. Possible ideas include; being watched by a lot of people, expecting to play well after training hard, putting too much pressure on yourself. Of course, there could be plenty of other reasons.
Next, set yourself some simply match-night objectives that are not dependant on winning or losing. For example, focus solely on hitting just below the service line when going for lengths or not playing too many boasts in the first game. Something that allows you to focus on what you are doing and forget the score.
it's not easy to recommending a course of action via a text reply to a video, but basically do expect a practice routine to have a serious affect on a mental approach issue.
Now, secondly, this particular exercise helps your timing with regard to hitting the ball straight. If you miss time the shot, even slightly, the closeness of the sidewalls exaggerates the problem.
I would never have said that hitting lengths was strenuous on the joints, so that makes me curious as to how you are doing them!
Lastly, with regard to figure of eights or butterflies, are you playing them with a bounce or on the volley? Start with a bounce and aim the ball about a racket head away from the sidewall on the frontwall. I find getting my pupils to focus on exactly where the ball should hit the frontwall helps. Don't hit it too hard and aim for 20 with no mistakes - then hit a bit harder.
Good luck and feel free to update me on your progress.
CoachPhillipNet Hey thanks for the reply. I think the nervousness will probably diminish the more games I play and be less conscious of people watching. I did play better this week even though I lost was against a player who played good lengths but varied his shots with drops and lobs I did manage to get him off the Tee and get into positions to win points though I did on 2 occasions hit the tin even when I was set to play the shot, (I must some how hit down on the ball rather than get under it, possible grip / timing issue?).
I am 43 so I am tending to feel the effects of a hard game on my wrist and I wear a compression support to alleviate any problems.
I do have problems against players who do heavy hard hitting serves and hit the ball hard I guess its just getting used to the pace of the ball on basis of ranking he is a 1915 rated whereas I'm currently 1555 but he just wiped the floor with me and hardly gave him a game after the first game I knew I wasn't going to win and my head dropped but I perhaps should have said "ok at least get a point or two" rather than trying to seek to win a game.
parttroll1 Sorry for the delay in replying.
I agree, normally nervousness does diminish after you have played a few matches in similar circumstances.
Hitting the tin, especially when we should win the point, is generally because we are aiming too low in an effort to make it as difficult as possible for our opponent. Unless you start doing it too often, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.
I'm a few years older than you and I accept that my forearm is much stronger than yours, I would be careful about the wrist support. Not because they are bad, but if you have to use one all the time, it would suggest either a chronic physical issue or just as likely a technique issue. Without going into the details, there is a big misconception in squash that it is a wristy game. Yes, the pros use their wrist but it really comes from the forearm.
When hitting the ball, your wrist shouldn't "bend" very much at all. Maybe you should visit an experience coach for a quick lesson of wrist movement?
I am sorry, but I am not familiar with the ranking system you mention.
With regard to hard hitters, the best bet is to keep your swing short and simple and feed off their power. Under NO circumstances become a sheep and try to hit it back hard - there;'s only one winner there.
You need to "Out Play" him not "Out Hit" him.
Good Luck.
Yes I guess my technique is suspect and perhaps seek coaching to improve the stroke at impact. I am probably too wristy in my action a similar problem I have with golf as it happens tho I don't use a wrist support whilst playing golf. I should probably see a physio if the problem persists.
Yes hard hitters I've no chance if I try to out hit them and I'll take you advice on board and use their pace to place the ball.
Thanks for the advice.
super video !! excellent . thanks Phillip
great video and great advice
Glad you like it. Have you been using it much?
yes i have been using it a bit on my own, took a 15 year break due to other sporting commitments!! played a high level as a teenager but im back playing now the last 5 months absolutely love it, feel like im 16 again!!! a truly great sport.
tnx .
you are most welcome.
What is the weight of your standard racquet?
I have no idea. Maybe 150 without strings.
thats very heavy, i use 130
Yes, it is but the balance is good for me and they (I have two) were a present and I can't afford a really good racket.
Need some donations? Ill tell my colleagues to start collecting $1 each.
I love this exercise
Everybody should!
My favorite too! Thank you.
Rodrigo Garza Cantú Díaz González What's your record for no mistakes?
CoachPhillipNet Not to high. 87 I just started doing it after I saw your video. But I feel I'm hitting much better after doing it. Thank you!
great advice
Thank you.
Awesome
Glad you like it.
i gave 2 subs for you my moms acount and mine!!!
Thank you.
CoachPhillipNet cgggfffffddŕţřfđ3ŕř
Thanks
You are most welcome. Have you noticed an improvement in your game?
I cant seem to get power on my backhand
👍👍👍👍👍💘💘💘💘
👍
@@BetterSquash ye thanks
Excellent videos for beginners. Have been following your coaching for a week and it is really helping in getting a grip on the game. Do you have a video which shows how to start serving for beginners?
I have been planning to make a serve and service return video for a long time. Once my squash courts re-open after the summer break, I'll make one.
Thank you. Looking forward to it.
Waiting for the serve and return video! Thanks a lot, valuable lessons!
I think if you never did any other drills but you mastered these alone you would be a good squash player. Great coaching, very concise, clearly explained & demonstrated, thank you.
I'm not sure about being a good squash player just from this practice alone but I would say that if I had to chose 1 exercise for solo-routine it would be this one. Thank you for your kind words about the video.
These are GREAT exercises !
I adopted them. For me, as preliminaries, they let me enter in the "squash mood" quickly and efficiently.
Thank you so much coach Philip, not only for this vid, but for all others ! While the sound is not always perfect due to reverb (excepted when dubbing as this one which is excellent) they are ALWAYS of a great contents quality to help us learn ! And finally, a huge thank for your constant involvement in helping players at any levels !!
Hi Tanguay, thank you for you kind words about my videos. yes, the sound is pretty bad - sorry about that.
You make a great point about getting into the squash mood quickly with these exercises.
Good luck with your squash.
BTW, have you noticed an improvement in your game because of these?
Hi Phillip, thanks for your kind reply !
Yes, I have noticed some slight but significant improvements as I am more accurate, less rushed to hit (better perception of the ball position before hitting it) and more confident in doing my shots in general. I said "slight" as I must continue to do these exercises (between others) to improve myself, up to be able to include the more difficult steps (side-to-side volleys; I can't do them yet, but I am not in a rush)
Of course, this does not fix my strugling about serves returns (especially from good lobs serves) and hard cross-sides drives returns (I have difficulty to don't be passed by them) : I am going to check the other videos you did relative to these issues, he he he...
Thanks so much again for your help, your videos and to take time to answer to all our comments, this is a tremendous work and attention we appreciate a lot ! For me, it is like having a personnal coach ! (well... almost !...)
Have a great spring time !Tanguay
PS : sorry for my terrible English, I am a French-Canadian from Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada)
How often do you recommending practicing for new players? And what percentage of my time on the court should i spend practicing versus playing against an opponent? Thanks
That is a great question. In fact, I'll make a video about it next week. Hope you can wait that long.
I look forward to it!
Now I am under pressure.
I watched you for the first time last night and couldn't wait to try this this morning. What a great drill! It's also fun as well. This video alone has made me wanting to watch the rest of your videos. Thank you so much!
What also helped, in my view, was to record myself while doing it. :)
So glad to feel I have inspired you to try something new and yes, recording yourself is so very helpful. I plan to make a short video about that soon.