Squash Technique For Drop Volleys

Squash Technique for Drop Volleys

Volleying can make an enormous difference to how you play squash. Simply hitting hard may not be enough. Volleying gives your game another dimension of potential success!

Volleying effectively against drop-lobbers is especially crucial, since these players tend to lob every ball that comes close to overstriking the side wall – making retrieving balls from back corners especially challenging.

Positioning

Proper positioning is paramount to mastering any shot, and especially so with drop shots due to their tendency of hitting too high and having it rebound back down in front of an opponent – leading them time to recover and come back into attack mode again. Furthermore, hitting too low could leave it drifting off-target into midcourt where opponents can retrieve or gain points through volleying it back out.

Ideal volleying positioning should be near the T position on the other side of the net from your opponent, which allows you to volley any loose balls hit from their back wall and force them forwards to retrieve their shot. Also try hitting any loose balls they play in front corner – again forcing them forward and potentially weakening them as you gain advantage.

Get into the appropriate position to increase the timing of your volley and avoid making common errors that rookie volleyers often make: overhitting. This may occur as a result of not taking enough time to prepare themselves properly, striking too hard with their stroke, or failing to follow through on their shot.

To avoid this scenario, players should focus on prepping their bodies for the volley and keeping the racket face open by lowering their weight before hitting. This will enable them to keep the ball closer to 12 o’clock on the racket face for optimal dropping, combining angle of ball with angle of swing for successful drops.

Another frequent error when playing a volley is raising arms too high when striking the ball, often to compensate for lack of power by using more upper body strength resulting in an excessively high swing. To correct this error, utilize some of the fundamental tips outlined in squash technique section for improving your volley such as decreasing grip pressure on racket, softening hands/body and working on footwork techniques.

Grip

When it comes to squash volleying, having an effective grip can make or break them. A solid and consistent grip allows players to hit the ball with both control and power.

Beginners often make the mistake of using a “windshield wiper” grip when volleying, which involves squeezing their racket so both forehand and backhand sides are held in an alternate wind shield wiping motion. Though this seems like it would save time on grip changes, in reality this increases risk and makes losing control more likely.

A balanced grip that enables players to maintain a strong frontal position is the optimal grip. The thumb should rest against the index finger of the other hand while middle and ring fingers support palm and aid with ball placement. Furthermore, the proper grip should also allow a player to hit shots that find corners pockets without moving forward too much during length exchanges.

As part of having an ideal grip, a player must also be able to manage his/her arm speed when striking the ball. Too much force in hitting their volley will prevent them from following through properly, leaving themselves vulnerable against an opponent’s next shot.

Focusing on hitting shorter volleys with greater spin can make their opponent’s effort of fishing out difficult and force them to play more accurately for control of the rally.

Practice is the best way to perfect the volley. Partner sessions where one is forced to step up and volley will quickly show results; an effective pair session would include performing straight volleys off of crosscourt drives followed by another straight volley off a drive from across court and back.

Stroke

The volley requires incredible control to land the ball where it should (usually tight against a side wall), with just the right amount of power and deception. Even pros often make mistakes while playing it; key lies in preparation and timing: delay execution until you have read your opponent and made some split-steps so as to reduce distance to net and increase deception of shot.

Prevent any backward movement of the elbow when preparing to hit a drop volley. Rushing preparation often leads to overrotating arm and racket, forcing its head back behind you. Instead, try being more consistent with split steps, following correct sequence (legs then arm), which will not only decrease reaction time for opponents but will also boost power and accuracy of volleys.

Hand and racquet must also remain relaxed upon impact to absorb the energy of the ball and reduce any shockwaves on impact. Tight gripping may have the opposite effect and result in shots becoming ineffective or breaking under pressure.

As with all volleys, consistency and repetition are two key aspects to hitting an effective one. Drills to practice hitting these shots as well as practicing during matches will help both aspects.

Remembering that both the forehand and backhand swing are distinct techniques in themselves can make learning the game of squash much simpler, especially if you are new to it. Newcomers should prioritize developing their forehand first when starting out; experienced players shouldn’t neglect developing both swings as this will make you a stronger and more versatile squash player in due course.

Return

Returns are an integral component of all squash games, but even more so when playing drop volley. If your opponent gets great returns but you do not return their volley shots back quickly enough they could quickly dismantle your T position by unleashing a string of kill shots into its front corners and destroy it altogether.

As such, it’s essential that you train multiple return strategies so you can select the one most suited to the situation. Balance and movement are keys to successful returns – it should aim at staying between facing the front wall completely and facing one of the side walls closest to you when hitting to ensure the fastest transition to the next shot.

Try hitting your ball higher on the front wall; this will give more opportunity for it to remain in its designated spot and prevent premature departure or excessive rebound into the T area.

Another key tip for successful play is using the bounce to your advantage. If the ball bounces near to the front wall, use its impact against your opponent by turning slightly and striking a volley boost shot – this will take them forward and create more work for them in trying to recover it!

Don’t forget to practice lobs as they provide a great defensive shot when your opponent threatens an attack. A well-hit lob can give you time to recover “back to the T” and take control back of a rally. To improve lobs, focus on gripping with fingers rather than palm, softening body and arm movement, linking volley with footwork and targeting for softer pace and angle; watch this video of Nick Matthew coaching Russ to improve his forehand volley drop shot.