Squash the opposition
| Published: 26th October 2007 11:49 |
Squash was the macho game for high-flying yuppies in the 80s. Requiring great agility and speed, it is arguably the hardest, fastest and toughest racquet sport to master. It might be hard, but it provides one of the most sweat-producing workouts you can imagine.
But beware, it isn't for the fainthearted.
Playing squash isn't just about smashing the ball as hard as you can. Like many other racquet sports, squash works a huge range of muscle groups and relies on skill, stamina, high speed reaction times and power. Honing squash skills means tightening your precision, improving your agility and maximising your power.
Because of the intensity of the workout and the fact that squash places immense strain on all the major muscle groups, including the heart, squash is a game for players that already have a high level of fitness. It isn't a sport that should be taken up to get fit.
Experience players compliment their squash games with regular cardiovascular training, such as running and rowing, along with a range of muscle strengthening workouts. If you plan on embarking on squash as a leisure activity, ensure that you first focus on getting your fitness up to speed.
Squash can be an intimidating game to start out. You are shut away in an enclosed room and you will probably get hit by one or two high speed balls at first, which can sting a little.
The basic strategy of the game is to hit the ball straight up the side walls to bounce of the back wall, referred to as a straight drive. You then need to move to the centre of the court near the ‘T' to be well placed to retrieve the opponent's return.
Perhaps the one key strategy in squash is known as ‘dominating the T'. The T is the intersection of the red lines near the centre of the court where the player is in the best position to retrieve the opponent's next shot. Highly skilled players will return a shot and then move back toward the T before playing the next shot. From this position, you can quickly access any part of the court to retrieve the opponent's next shot with a minimum of movement.
Once you get into the swing of things, you will learn attack methods to outwit and tire out your opponent. You can also try power shots to hit your opponent with the ball, resulting in extra points through a stroke.
Rallies between experienced players may involve 30 or more shots and, therefore, it requires a high premium on fitness, both aerobic and anaerobic. As players become more skilled and able to retrieve shots, squash quickly becomes a game to test fitness levels. This is ultimately the deciding factor between equally skilled players.
Almost all players will fall into the following categories of style of play:
- Retriever: Usually a fit player who plays patiently and can retrieve most shots hit by an opponent, but doesn't have a particularly strong attacking game.
Shooter or attacking player: May be a patient player as well, but is more comfortable trying to hit winning shots. They generally have good shot accuracy and deception skills.
Power player: Tries to overpower their opponent by hitting the ball with extreme pace. They are not known for their fitness or patience so retrievers and shooters often triumph in the end.
All-round player: These players are comfortable playing all different styles and places and are comfortable in all areas of the court.
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