I usually base our weblog posts by myself weaknesses in squash and this text isn’t any exception!
I’ve performed a number of powerful matches just lately and I started to seek out myself being caught off-guard throughout size rallies to the again of the court docket.
I immediately realised the difficulty, I used to be hanging again as a substitute of being proactive in attending to the T. Hanging again has an enormous vary of unfavourable results in your sport so I assumed I would cowl it in a weblog publish!
Hanging again is definitely one thing I’ve struggled with since squash first started to return after the primary lockdown. It was like I would misplaced a little bit of proactiveness.
It is principally simply me being lazy with my motion, nonetheless, fixing the difficulty has additionally confirmed to be fairly tough. It appears to have change into a bit ingrained into my sport.
In any case, I assumed I would clarify the difficulty first, then I am going to cowl why it is so dangerous on your sport, and what I am at present doing to attempt to repair it!
So, what gave the impression to be occurring ceaselessly is that I would be taking part in drive after drive after which impulsively my opponent would both take the ball early on the volley or play a drop or boast from the again, and I would be nowhere close to it.
The ball would have bounced twice earlier than I would even received in entrance of the quick line.
This was occurring in all of my video games. Once I performed somebody a bit higher than me, I felt consistently underneath stress in all rallies, and after I performed somebody who I ought to actually be beating fairly comfortably, it was quite a bit tougher than normal.
My positioning throughout rallies to the again was about two or three steps behind the T, which is means too far again.
It’s kind of of a paradox as a result of that is very lazy positioning because it exhibits I am not attempting to find the volley and attempting to not expend an excessive amount of vitality, nonetheless, in consequence, I’ve to work even tougher as my opponent dominates the T.
My opponent will use my poor positioning to maneuver me all around the court docket, and, each time the ball goes into the entrance nook, I’ve received to run quite a bit additional to get to it!
Picture screenshotted from PSA YouTube
Apologies for the low-quality picture above, it is screenshotted from a PSA YouTube video. The match is between Cesar Salazar (lunging on the again) and Marwan ElShorbagy (on the T).
Simply check out Marwan’s positioning, he is virtually on the T line! He is additionally barely to the left as likelihood is that Salazar goes to be hitting a backhand straight drive.
You’ll be able to see how keen he’s to maneuver over, he is simply ready to attempt to take that ball on the volley, that is the form of proactive method that I have to attempt for!
As I discussed above, if he was standing the place I have been standing (a lot additional again), then he is not going to have a possibility to take the ball early or put his opponent underneath any stress.
Nonetheless, within the scenario within the photograph, Salazar is already exerting plenty of vitality to get what should have been a reasonably correct drive from ElShorbagy. If Salazar’s return is not tight, ElShorbagy will be capable of pounce onto the volley and take it in brief.
The sooner he takes it the higher.
It is necessary to notice that these guys are full-time professionals and non-professionals are much less more likely to have the reactions, pace, and accuracy to have the ability to stand this far ahead.
Nonetheless, the message nonetheless stands. That proactive positioning gives extra alternatives.
Personally, I am aiming to attempt to stand about half a foot additional again than Marwan in that photograph, however I need to attempt to constantly get to that place irrespective of how powerful the rally is.
This may nonetheless permit me to capitalize on volleys and likewise to limit the injury my opponent can do by taking the ball into the entrance.
I’ve received plenty of issues that I would wish to work on in the meanwhile, nonetheless, it looks as if that is essentially the most essential to my sport, so I am attempting to repair my thoughts onto my positioning after I play in the meanwhile to attempt to ingrain it into my motion.
There’s one drill, specifically, that is nice for stopping you from being lazy and hanging again. The drill is principally only a conditioned sport to the again of the court docket the place the ball’s first bounce must be behind the quick line and you are not allowed to volley.
Nonetheless, the principle situation is that every participant has to the touch the T with both of their toes or their racquet after each shot they play. It is much more tiring than it sounds, nevertheless it works extremely nicely.
To progress on from this drill, you’ll be able to add the volley to the entrance of the court docket and take away the requirement to the touch the T.
So though you are not essentially touching the T every time, you will be attempting to find that volley to get the higher hand in your opponent, which nonetheless forces you to maneuver ahead right into a proactive place.
Anyway, I am fairly eager to work on this myself, nonetheless, it is one thing I’ve additionally noticed in plenty of different gamers at my native membership.
For those who assume you are responsible of hanging again, it is positively value attempting to repair and it will make your matches and rallies simpler in the long term!
This text was taken from our On The ‘T’ E-newsletter, when you’re taken with receiving extra content material like this, please be at liberty to enroll utilizing the subscribe part within the prime proper of this web page (or beneath the article when you’re on cell), thanks!
