learn how to play squash

YAY!! Thanks sophers! Now I just have to get my own racket.

I played today for the first time with my friend Luis! It was awesome, so much fun. I can’t wait to go again!

I’ve gone for practice both yesterday and today. Really short ones, just an hour each session. Still, better than nothing. And my coach has me on a guilt trip, he’d text me every few days just to remind me to turn up for class. :P

I got my new racket, my very own (so no more borrowing Kenny’s) and a new pair of shoes! Yeah.. it cost a bit, roughly around USD110+. But I intend to use them for a while as I improve my game and play more consistently.

Yesterday, we played a round robin “21-points win” game. It’s simply when one plays against an opponent to score 21 points, but if you lose a shot, you go out and someone else takes your place. I wasn’t keeping score but had lots of fun. Don’t think I did too badly either.. ;)

Thursday til Saturday, there’s a tournament at my usual squash complex. I might drop by to check out the action and see my first squash match live. Kenny, who is tournament director has been busy up to his eyeballs making sure everything runs smoothly. At the very least, I’ll show up to give him moral support. :)

According to Kenny (who happens to be one year older today!), boast shots is when the ball hits all three sides of the wall, and you have to pick it up as soon as it hits the floor. Torturous stuff I tell ya..

My forward swing is almost solid, but my backhand returns are pretty weak right now. Kenny did a hilarious impersonation of my footwork. I just had to laugh even if it was on my expense. Yeah, gotta put in more effort on my footwork. And swings, and backhand returns and volleys. So far, Kenny hasn’t tasked me to an actual sparring session. Someone tried to teach me how to do this yesterday but I got the instructions all messed up and kept hitting the ball to the wrong side of the court. Perhaps I’m not ready for that yet. But yeah, squash is still loads of fun despite the grueling drills and getting home feeling like a train wreck.

I noticed that I lift my racquet too late when I’m trying to return backhand shots. Consequently, my swing is not as powerful and the ball tends to go low or actually bounces against the side wall. Plus I need to rectify my footing and practise on “finishing my swing”, as how Kenny puts it.

On a more positive not, my forehand shots are improving greatly, more controlled and less prone to making mistakes. It’s very rewarding to see how my technique is improving and I’m beginning to get more out of this sport. There’s something very relaxing about hitting a tiny rubber ball against the wall. Thump..thump..whack..! :D

More effort spent on footwork today. I was taught the best place to stand before I swing an incoming ball.. one foot points to the wall, body bent, racket upright, ball must be aligned to the body. If the ball is too far upfront or too far back, one tends to overcompensate when swinging the racquet resulting in the ball bouncing in a big “V” .ie all over the place.

Kenny taught me a neat trick today. He placed an empty can at the back of the service box, right next to the wall. He said aim so that the ball bounces back and hit the can. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the aim is not really to hit the can, but to have a target so that I can control the ball and have it return back into the service box. It really helped my ball control and my swing got more deliberate. Plus I actually hit the can twice! Not bad eh..

A very satisfying session, even if I felt like crawling out of the court from sheer exhaustion!

Second class was last night. More practices on how to swing the racquet properly, footwork and volleys. I don’t have my own racquet yet so I’m borrowing one from Kenny. He’s really cool and accommodating, but such great fun to watch when he’s drilling the younger students. For now, I am spared from the endurance test he dishes out during each class, but I’ve promised to practise at home. Am still sore from the punishing my body is taking for this class but I hope to get use to this eventually.

My first lesson went really well. Learnt the right way to handle the squash racquet, how to swing properly, practised to control the ball, etc. The coach, Kenny was really helpful and patiently explained the “biomechanics” of squash – how you’d use the tip of your toes with bent knees to efficiently move about the court, that the racquet must always be swung fully then return back upright. Seriously, it was hard work, but I enjoyed it immensely.

The second hour was spent on footwork, endurance training and lots of stretches. He gave me tips on how I could practise on my own at home. Apparently, stamina and endurance is very important, but knowing the right technique will help ensure you don’t waste energy on the court.

I’m so proud of myself for doing this. I’ve planned this for a long time and finally things are coming around. Next class is on Tuesday, can’t wait!