Volleying provides three general advantages to its players. He doesn’t need to forgo his T, saves energy by not having to attack into the back corners and uses deception against his opponent.
A talented volley player should focus on rotation, deception, and accuracy when practicing his or her volley game. Practice can range from simple solo drills to more advanced pairs sessions such as the front/back condition game.
Stance
High level squash players understand the significance of having strong lengths to keep opponents at bay, and an effective volleying game to take advantage of any openings in their opponent’s defenses. To hone both these skills, players need to practice good positioning and footwork drills as well as perfect their specific volleying technique.
Effective volleys must be executed at precisely the right place and time on court, necessitating players with enough reading ability and speed to read quickly through games quickly, close down spaces quickly, step into lines early compared to their opponents, close off spaces quickly as well as have enough skills, practice, positive mindset and solid stance. To be truly effective volleys require precise positioning both physically and strategically – something only practice and dedication can provide.
As previously discussed, an effective stance is essential to successful volleying; it helps players control their swing and transition more quickly into position. For this to work effectively, players should position their feet shoulder width apart with toes turned slightly inward – this allows for movement in any direction and also helps them read opponent positioning more easily.
Explosion into shots is another key aspect. To do this effectively, players must be able to transfer their power efficiently into their racket by accelerating it as they strike rather than trying to snatch at it – this also allows players to use more body power when volleying and keep control over the ball.
Watching professional players can be an excellent way to improve your stance, as you can learn much by studying how they set up and execute their shots. Furthermore, there are various footwork drills designed to help players quickly move around the court with accuracy – this may include ladder drills, sideways shuffles or jump lunges.
An effective overall training program should include various exercises, stretching as part of a routine and cardiovascular conditioning to help decrease the risk of injury in any sport, particularly squash which involves frequent changes of direction, repeated hitting and intense physical exertion.
Backswing
Establishing a solid length game is integral to being an effective squash player, and being able to keep your opponent at the back of the court allows you to attack with powerful volleys. But this alone won’t do it; quickly moving into position to take advantage of such opportunities is also key. In this video from three time World Champion Nick Matthew, you’ll discover an engaging yet straightforward drill designed to improve both length and volley game.
It is essential when hitting a volley to strike it with balance and an even arm motion, with one common mistake being raising the racket too high on initial contact with the ball – leading to lost control as soon as it is released from being held by the player and eventually leading to decreased power output.
A proper backswing starts with knee in a slight abduction position to allow space for players to transition their upper body into proper volleying form. Furthermore, it is vital that elbow remain low during preparation and initial contact with ball in order to avoid raising racket too high.
An important component of volleying is always hitting the ball on a trajectory that leaves your opponent with little chance to catch it. This can be accomplished either through playing drop volleys close enough to the net so they cannot be reached, or with boasts that hit both sidewall and frontwall; forcing your opponent forwards and opening them up for an aggressive return shot.
Volleying is one of the cornerstones of squash players’ games and it can easily be improved through practicing basic techniques and participating in condition games that focus on volleying with partners. By including this form of practice in your regular sessions, you will see significant increases both in speed and effectiveness of your volleying strokes.
Arm Preparation
No player would disagree that having a strong length and volley game can give them a distinct edge on court, yet developing such skills takes time and repetition – both alone and with a partner. This week we’ll look at an enjoyable three part drill designed to develop both length and volley games simultaneously.
First, you should prepare your arm by moving backwards toward the front wall. A key factor here is not tensing your shoulders as this can limit movement of your arm and cause difficulty hitting the ball. Furthermore, ensure your shoulder faces forward towards the sidewall – this is often overlooked when players attempt to volley; having it facing away allows more effective volleying positions with less space between players in their way behind you.
Arm should be ready to strike with force when the ball is struck, with an effective shot being the volley drop, which combines length and deception for maximum impact when surprised. Useful way of surprising opponents; they won’t know you are about to volley a drop! For more details regarding its technique visit this dedicated page here.
In order to execute powerful shots, it is crucial that you possess a secure wrist grip and developed forearm. This will prevent injury as you generate power for each shot.
Muscle strains and sprains are among the most frequently suffered injuries in squash. These may result from playing too much, falling, hitting against walls or other players or just overuse injuries such as tennis elbow. People aged 60+ years, overweight individuals or those who lack general physical fitness are at an increased risk for injury.
Hit the Ball
Squash requires hitting a racket with an efficient and controlled motion to generate power without exerting undue physical strain, thus avoiding injury from overstriding. A smooth swing also assists players in controlling where the ball goes. Spending the necessary time practicing this aspect of your game is of vital importance to success.
Accuracy in volleying is also of great importance; for maximum effect it should be performed on the bounce. This will not only help control your opponent, but will also minimize how often the ball reenters your back corner. Top players often opt for this technique when tied and may otherwise hammer the ball with all their strength.
Be mindful that when using the volley strategically. A great volley should strike against the front wall to force opponents back towards you where they’re vulnerable and vulnerable to attack.
Volleys to the backhand side can usually be executed most successfully by stepping forward with your right foot and taking an open stance stance, however this should only be played after mastering left foot technique and using their left foot correctly for it. Too often players step forward with their left foot leaving their knee pointed toward the wall which compromises proper stance and can result in injury to themselves or to others in front of them.
Once a drop or boast has been played, an effective volley can help close down the court by pressing down onto your opponent’s backhand side and preventing them from hitting winners with their returns.
Implementing an effective length and volley game will give any player a significant edge on court, and to maximize this aspect of your game it is essential that you engage in various drills as well as training with partners of similar level.
Start out with two basic drills designed to develop your front wall volley technique – these can be done alone or with a partner and should help improve it over time. As your skills advance, more advanced pair sessions should incorporate deeper positions as you become adept with this technique.