Squash for beginners

NoseyMike2010 · 13-06-2010 04:42PM #1

I have just taken up Squash ..... Lets just say I am struggling !! I've pretty much been hammered every game!! Where should I start if I want to improve my game.

What exercises should I do to work on my game!!

Quandary · 13-06-2010 04:47PM

Hey m8, glad to hear you've taken it up - its a great game!

I've played for about 4 years but have never taken lessons or joined a club and im sorry i didnt now.

I'd advise you to join your nearest club or if anyone local to you is giving lessons id take a few to get you on your way.

If you're struggling with fitness then I wouldnt worry - just try to play twice a week and eventually you'll start finding the pace a lot easier to deal with.

Best of luck!

Quandary · 13-06-2010 04:53PM

Also - when I was a total noob I sometimes used to rent a court on my own just to practice - its a good way to practice the things you find difficult.

Most people struggle with their backhand at the beginning, especially receiving serves to the backhand. I would spend time just practicing the backhand up and down the line until you start feeling more confident with it.

I dont really have any proper drills to suggest for you, as i said i never took lessons but i found the above worked for me!

dizzyg · 14-06-2010 10:33PM

The most important aspect of squash is technique - everything from holding the racket correctly right through to your positioning on the court. You can get by on making it up as you go along but after a while you'll reach a point where bad technique is hampering your progress. So it's probably worth getting it right from the beginning. Find someone where you play at the moment and ask them for a few pointers, things that you can think about while you're playing.

After that it's match practice - getting on court and play as much as you can. It's a sport where you'll progress quite quick with a bit of practice and you'll always come off court feeling better for it.

I'd definitely suggest joining a club (as Quandry says). If you're playing even once a week, it works out a lot cheaper. Alternatively ask players where you play at the moment if they want a knock around. Squash players are a friendly bunch and they won't mind at all. In our club we have an internal league so everyone is guaranteed games with people their own standard. It
works really well, but not all clubs have them.

PM me if you want some clubs in your area and prices etc. Even some drills if you're that keen

NoseyMike2010 · 15-06-2010 05:18PM

What are the best warm up exercises/stretches for squash. My lower back gets really tight after a game of squash.

abceire · 21-06-2010 08:28PM

what club are people in?
I m moving house soon and thinking of joining the sandyocve club as it will be just 2mins down the road from the new house, noiseymike2010 were are you based? i think trying to play different players helps you learn, i ve never had lessons but would kinda like too get some, been playing with few different people over the past14 years, only one of them had ever been coached and you could tell it by his game, i picked up a few shots i d never even thought of just by playing him.
what are some of the advantages of joining a club, i like the idea of leagues and matches , right now i just play one friend who i beat most weeks , he s only playing 2or3 yrs, i saw in sandycove they ve a league table, you can challenge players above you on the table, only 2 places above you,and if you beat them then you get there place on the table, what ball do people usually use, we use a slightly large blue ball, its very bouncy and we find it more fun becuase it keeps the rallies going longer and so is a better cardio workout, i ve used the slower balls in the past
i d be up for a game with you OP and if i ve any advice i think i can give i d give it

banshee_bones · 21-06-2010 08:33PM

abceire wrote: »

what ball do people usually use, we use a slightly large blue ball, its very bouncy and we find it more fun becuase it keeps the rallies going longer and so is a better cardio workout, i ve used the slower balls in the past
i d be up for a game with you OP and if i ve any advice i think i can give i d give it

That sounds like a racquetball- ball to me. Was toying with the idea of taking up Squash as I can't seem to find a racquetball club in Dublin at-all which is a real shame as its a great game and super workout.

Wondering would I be able to pick up Squash a bit handier with already having a strong racquetball background?

abceire · 21-06-2010 10:26PM

banshee_bones wrote: »

That sounds like a racquetball- ball to me. Was toying with the idea of taking up Squash as I can't seem to find a racquetball club in Dublin at-all which is a real shame as its a great game and super workout.

Wondering would I be able to pick up Squash a bit handier with already having a strong racquetball background?

dont think its racquetball though, it still needs to heat up before it gets bouncy, and maybe bouncy is wrong word, more it comes off the walls faster then the back balls
i d say for sure you d be better at squash having already played racquet ball,

banshee_bones · 21-06-2010 10:29PM

abceire wrote: »

dont think its racquetball though, it still needs to heat up before it gets bouncy, and maybe bouncy is wrong word, more it comes off the walls faster then the back balls
i d say for sure you d be better at squash having already played racquet ball,

Ah okay, well Im not so sure, they use a dead ball in squash no? Whole different court layout too... might watch some games first and get a better feel for it.

NoseyMike2010 · 22-06-2010 01:44PM

abceire wrote: »

what club are people in?
I m moving house soon and thinking of joining the sandyocve club as it will be just 2mins down the road from the new house, noiseymike2010 were are you based? i think trying to play different players helps you learn, i ve never had lessons but would kinda like too get some, been playing with few different people over the past14 years, only one of them had ever been coached and you could tell it by his game, i picked up a few shots i d never even thought of just by playing him.
what are some of the advantages of joining a club, i like the idea of leagues and matches , right now i just play one friend who i beat most weeks , he s only playing 2or3 yrs, i saw in sandycove they ve a league table, you can challenge players above you on the table, only 2 places above you,and if you beat them then you get there place on the table, what ball do people usually use, we use a slightly large blue ball, its very bouncy and we find it more fun becuase it keeps the rallies going longer and so is a better cardio workout, i ve used the slower balls in the past
i d be up for a game with you OP and if i ve any advice i think i can give i d give it

I'm located around the South West. I like the blue ball. You get a decent run around from it.

I think the double yellows is for the professionals.

dizzyg · 26-06-2010 02:58PM

The blue ball is a practise ball for beginners. It bounces as much cold, as a double-yellow ball would bounce warmed up. So for beginners and juniors it's a good starting ball - you don't need to keep hitting it hard to keep it bouncing. As you get better and start playing longer rallies, you'll find it a bit too quick though.

Must club players would play with a double-yellow ball, not just professionals.

Squash for beginners

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