Hi David,

 

thanks for your help mate. I'll let you know how I go.

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Hi Daren,
I think you've got it......on b/h front the right does cross in front of left. When doing this you dont face the backwall....sidewall is as far as you go usually 45deg (front corner)
Do the progression I gave you before youll have 10 done in no time and then start on the variations
All the best
David M

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Hi David,

Ok, I think Ive got it. With the forheand front to backhand front -  instead of a 3rd step back, you transfer the weight and then use a skip step to go forward, right?

 

ie - on the forehand to come back to T, its left crossing right(1), right stepping on T(2), then with the left still out in front and on the ground, you transfer the wieght and leap forward into a skipstep towards the frontwall, landing right foot first(1) then left foot(2), then smoothly step across with the right foot to play the backhand. repeat to the otherside. Correct?

 

Also, on the 2 steps back on the forehand - does the left foot still cross IN FRONT of the right foot or does it cross behind this time.

 

I understand the lob and midcourt boast, with the skip step. That seems to work.

 

I think thats about it, almost ready to start trying this thing out.

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Hi Daren,
Knew this was going to be complicated...so I will continue
"Ghost f/hand front to b/hand front.....b/h front to f/h front 20 times"-
Footwork is same as the 10 each side that you start with- 3 steps forward/ 2 back....the secret is to transfer the weight not put in an extra step(hope this makes sense)
Ghost f/hand front to b/hand halfcourt line 20 times
Ghost b/front  to f/hand half court line  20 times.
The front court shot is a lob and the mid court shot is a boast. The footwork is a skip step between shots eg f/h boast is hit off left foot b/h lob is off right foot. Reverse this for the other side(bh front to f/h boast).
Once you have got this under control you can use the drill to train off the oposite foot as well, because in a match you must train to arrive with balance off either foot.
ie the ghost T to front you can practice alternating feet at the front.
Any way keep at it
All the best
David M.

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Hi David, thanks for your input and taking the time to answer my questions, I appreciate it. Could you please tell me the footwork for the highlighted movements below.

Ghost forehand....T to f/h front 10 times
Ghost Backhand....T to B/H Front 10 times
Ghost f/hand front to b/hand front.....b/h front to f/h front 20 times
Ghost f/hand front to f/hand back 20 times
Ghost b/hand front to b/hand back 20 times
Ghost f/hand front to b/hand halfcourt line 20 times
Ghost b/front  to f/hand half court line  20 times.

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Hi Daren,
The ghosted shots are drives until the last two sets (boast to lob).
The steps f/h front to f/h back are 3 down; 2 back to the T ; then 3 to the back and 2 back to the T. You will just be moving front to back once you have the rythym down.
The more you think about this while you are doing it the harder it is to do. If you make an error do not stop just continue as you will find that you will return to the pattern without any thought.
The mental aspect is that it shows you that you can do so much more than you believe you can. Limited beliefs create limited achievements a sage once said.
To complete the 10 start with one only. Do it 3 times per week, or until you have the time under 5 mins. After 1, rest and do 1 more with no time factor. Once under 5mins do 2 with 1 min rest between; rest and do 1 more with no time factor. (Till the 2 are under 5mins)....then progress to 3...1min between...rest 1 more etc. To complete 10 will take average players about 6 weeks.
Enjoy it you will find your speed about the court improves markedly...and you will recover very quickly
All the best
David M

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yup all making sense.

Ok, so, when returning to the T the foot goes infront  so you are facing the sidewall or even backwall, and its 2 steps(skipstep) to get back to the T - then 3 definite steps to hit the shot again(not leaving the left planted from the skip step as I tried to describe.) Ok, I think I've got that

So we -

Ghost forehand....T to f/h front 10 times
Ghost Backhand....T to B/H Front 10 times

Then when we
Ghost f/hand front to b/hand front.....b/h front to f/h front 20 times

Its 3 steps to get back to the T for these, to get the correct footwork, right? (or rather, 2 steps to get back to the T(as above) but then place the other foot down on the T aswell so you can take off on the correct foot for the next shot on the otherside of the court) Right?

Are we ghosting a straight drive on these ones? 

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Hi Daren,
This drill is tough as it is aimed at high level amatuers or aspiring pros. The f/h return to the T has the left foot slightly passing IN FRONT of the right, with a skip step I guess youd call it to complete the movement back to the T. This allows for coverage of the f/h wall, hypothetically if the ball is redriven by your imaginary opponent.
The ghosted shots you are playing are drives f/h; b/h  front; last 2 sections are lobs from the front to boasts on the half court line.
The drill developes flow around the court not jerky running type footwork., this teaches weight and power transfer through the ball.
Hope all this is making sense
All the best
David M

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Yepp, Daren, quite a workout :-)
but who told you that it's going to be easy-peasy :-D

P.S. David – I hear what you say about mental aspect of this excercise, I totally agree and respect your input, but...
One must have strong legs to go through this one. In a period of 5 minutes you are doing lounge in lounge out ...

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My web-browser makes tricks on me. my answer is above

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wow, quite a workout. 1 hour to complete

 

So, on the forehand to front court -

- we start with both feet on T

- move left, right, left, swing.

- then you said "To return to the T, the left foot  slightly crosses past the right foot which has not moved from the hitting position"

here's my 1st question - when the left foot crosses the right foot, does it cross in front of the right or does it cross behind the right foot ? I tried it out and I think crossing behind feels right.

 

So, - the next step after the left foot crosses the right, is the right foot returning to the T from where it started. THEN, (with no real need to lift the left and place it down in the exact same spot again) The left stays planted all the while, as you quickly touch base on the T with the right foot and then cross it forward again in front of the left, then step left foot forward and swing -THEN back - left right(touch base),forward -right left(swing),back -left right(touch base), forward -right left(swing), back -left right(touch base), with kind of a springing sideways motion that has a distinct rhythm to it.

Have I got that right about the left staying anchored as you touch the T with your right and then step the forward across the left again?

So far so good?

 

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Hi Daren,
I was hoping it wouldn't come to this........but i'll try.
120 is called this because you are ghosting 120 shots...to be done in 5 mins. take 1min rest and repeat and you do this 10 times. Sounds impossible but it is as more mental than physical as you are training muscle memory with repitition....ie good well balanced movement at all times.
Ghost forehand....T to f/h front 10 times
Ghost Backhand....T to B/H Front 10 times
Ghost f/hand front to b/hand front.....b/h front to f/h front 20 times
Ghost f/hand front to f/hand back 20 times
Ghost b/hand front to b/hand back 20 times
Ghost f/hand front to b/hand halfcourt line 20 times
Ghost b/front  to f/hand half court line  20 times.
Without the correct movement pattern it is not possible to complete this in the time frame.
On the forehand side you are hitting off your left foot...take off from the T on this foot, this puts you on this foot to strike the ball. To return to the T, the left foot  slightly crosses past the right foot which has not moved from the hitting position, this gives the 2  step return.
On your backhand you are hitting off your right foot.
The same principle is applied to b/h and also the back corners.
Shorten the target distance to start with this will make it easier.
This drill was invented by Aub Amos and Jonah Barrington....then refined by Joe Shaw who put in the timing elements as well. Once you have the movements down you can reverse the footwork  to  practice with the  other  foot  forward......useing  segments of the 120 for specific movement.
All the best
David M

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Hey Daren, let me help on this topic a bit.
I will try to be as clear as possible:

take a look on the backhand shot, ok?

1. You are on the T; ready to start (meaning your knees are bend a bit, racket up, in the front of your face etc.)

2. First step -left leg goes forward (towards the front wall);

3. Second step - right leg goes forward; (I hear the voices agains it, but mind you, you have to have the space for the racket swing), now make the pivot and

4. Thirds step is a "lounge in" towards the side wall (so you are facing now side wall with the left leg being closer to the front wall, bend well in the knees, go down, body is balanced, right leg is closer to the T point);

5. You mimic the hit with the proper swing, remember about the direction of the ball hit – straight;

6. You come back to the T, "lounging out" and taking three cross-steps or split-steps to the T.

Split-step or cross-step is explained by JP on his instructional video. If you have noi chance to check it there, go to www.guide-to-squash, maybe they have the instructional movies there. If not - go to http://www.psalive.tv/ and check matches from Willstrop, Power, Boswell (!!! he is the best if you speak about the court movements)

Very important notice – your move has to be perfect, so in the beginning do not rush. Be sure that your legs are strong enough, your body is balanced all the time and you do not "dance" too much. Be precise with the swing as well, follow the virtual ball...
Good Luck, I hope I helped a bit more.

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Hi David, Im very interested in learning these '120's' but havent  found anywhere on the net that explains it. Could you perhaps spend a bit of time explaining it to me and anyone else who's interested? I have a coupla q's

 

I understood everything everything except the cross step. How do you get back to the T in 2 steps?

"Use a cross step if you can this will give you only 2 steps back- See Peter Nicol/Neil Harvey"

Could you explain the 'cross step'? Say youve taken the 3 steps to hit a forehand. Your left foot is out in front, then what?(how do you get back to the T?) In the meantime I'll watch a few of Nicol's vids and see if I can pick up on it.

 

So, you do 20 forehands, 20 backhands, 20 alternating forhand/backhands in 2 mins 30. Whats next?

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Hi Feras,
Do you require specific movement drills?(Without the ball).
Ghosting is what is required if this is the case.
The best all round drill for this and fitness as well is a drill called "120's". This is very tough to explain via a posting, it needs to be taught so that you have the movement correct. this is so you are imparting good habits not creating poor ones. I will explain segments to use as a start.
Place a target(half squash ball) in the front forehand 1/4 of the court 3 raquetlengths from front and side wall. This is the imaginary ball you will be hitting. Your raquet must pass over this target each swing. You stand on the T and take 3 steps to the target and swing as though hitting this shot as a drive. Your first step must go down the centre of the court and then the next 2 are across so you are behind the ball - return to the T (Use a cross step if you can this will give you only 2 steps back- See Peter Nicol/Neil Harvey)Your movement should be quick and fluid. Be balanced when swinging. Start with 20. Repeat for Backhand also 20. The next stage is to go from Forehand to backhand....backhand to forehand......also 20 times. You have 2mins30 secs to complete these 60 shots.
Good players are quick from the shot to the T....this should help.
Let us know how you go
All the best
David M

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feras - as Slavic said - take a good read of the Library, and menus, submenus, and pages, and "more" tabs, then go to the Members Forum, Forum Archives, then the Coaching Tips, etc.
This will give you some light reading for twelve months.

Once you get into the stuff, then put the questions through the forum, as you start progressing through the various topics that are appropriate to your game.

Good luck with it all.

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????
What's that, man?

You have a lot of drills heere, just take your time and go through Squash library.
Before asking, check it, dude.

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