As everyone would be aware by now, in our SQUASH TIGERS program, each week we have a "Shot of the Week"... (SHoW). The goals is to cover all the basic strokes in the game and ensure that players have a clear understanding of the drop, lob, drive and boast. A reminder that when we say a "clear understanding", this should include a solid ability to CONCISELY explain what the stroke should look like, and a small number of key technical characteristics so they can apply this to their practice. This week it's the defensive drive - which we refer to as a "B Drive"! Players should be able to explain to anyone, mom, dad and other players the characteristics of the stroke...in this case:
1. Hits the front wall a racket length above the service line
2. Bounces half way between the back of the service box and the back wall and then bounces to strike the back wall before being intercepted by the opponent 3. Hit with "medium" slice/effect to keep the ball tight to the wall 4. Beats our opponent with tightness - for our elites this means two floor boards from the side wall, for our less experienced players perhaps it's within the service box "channel".
Technically, we focus on simple feedback:
1. Medium size swing, shoulder rotation important
2. Extending the follow through at the target to direct the path of the ball
3. Slice the ball, the effect helping to keep it "on the wall"
4. Integrate the follow through with the recovery to the T - one of the SQUASH TIGERS key rules being to recover to the T before the opponent touches the ball
The "B Drive" is vital for players to be able to gain time to recover to the T. From behind, a full drive is almost always the best choice and the competency to run back in the court and drive the ball full is paramount.
Finally my standard reminder that the curriculum runs in 12 week phases, which means we go through each stroke three times, with one "revision week" at the end of each annual quarter. If you didn't know, now you know! #NOWuKNOW
