Tempo vs. Accuracy: A Squash Story

In sport, asking "What’s the best?" is one of the oldest and most fun debates. Sports TV shows make a living off it: Brady or Mahomes? Is LeBron overrated? Khabib or GSP? Coke or Pepsi? (Okay, that last one is serious business.)

Most of the time, these arguments don’t really matter — except maybe for TV ratings and lunchtime conversations with friends. They are, as we say, just for fun.

In squash, we have our own version of this debate: tempo vs. accuracy.

Let’s break it down:

• Tempo (borrowed from music) means the speed between your shots. Play faster, and you force your opponent to react faster.

• Accuracy means hitting your target — for example, getting your straight drive super close to the side wall.

Traditionally, coaches have loved accuracy. If you’re losing a match? The classic advice is: "Hit straighter, tighter, and make fewer mistakes."It's good advice… mostly. But, like many things in life (and squash), the devil is in the details.

Here’s something to think about:What makes you different from your opponent?What gives you the edge?

Accuracy is important — no argument. But maybe it’s like fitness:

• If you’re not fit, you can't play well (Hughes & Franks, 2004).

• But being fit alone doesn’t make you a champion. It’s just the ticket to get into the match.

  
  

In the same way, being accurate enough is necessary. But extreme accuracy might not always win you the game.

Suppose you and your opponent are both accurate and fit. Now what? Enter: Tempo.

If I take the ball a little earlier,If I make you move just a little faster,If I keep the pace high while staying calm myself...Suddenly, I’m putting you under more pressure — on your movement, on your shot selection, even on your thinking (Lees, 2003).

Being able to stay accurate at a faster speed is a whole new skill.It’s easy to hit clean drives when you have all the time in the world. It’s much harder when the game turns wild and fast (Reid & Elliott, 2002)! In other words: Skill is tempo-dependent.If you can only play well when it's slow and steady, you're in for a surprise when your opponent speeds things up (Vučković et al., 2014).

So, is tempo more important than accuracy? Not exactly.Just like ESPN debates, there’s no perfect answer.

But if you think only  accuracy matters in squash,You might want to grab a gatorade, sit down, and have a long, honest chat with yourself. Preferably after a tough training session.

If you'd like to read some more:

• Hughes, M., & Franks, I. M. (2004). Notational analysis of sport: Systems for better coaching and performance in sport. Routledge.

• Lees, A. (2003). Science and the major racket sports: a review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21(9), 707-732.

• Reid, M., & Elliott, B. (2002). The influence of movement variability on performance: A review. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 33, 185-206.

• Vučković, G., Perš, J., James, N., & Hughes, M. (2014). Tactical use of the T area in squash by players of differing standard. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(6), 491–498.