You MUST read this squash book, best ever written

Published: 11 May 2007 - 20:36 by Viper

Updated: 26 Sep 2008 - 07:31

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I cannot believe how relevant "Squash The Australian Way - by Vin Napier" is to todays squash game, sure a few technical differences now, but this book by Napier written in the 70's is an amazing source for decent players.

It covers so much other books fail to address, especially things like tactics, court movement etc.

It was way ahead of its time, I cannot put it down.

Anyone and I mean anyone who takes their squash seriously MUST read this book.

Rita/Ray, who on earth was/is this Vin Napier is he still with us and involved in squash ?

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From ferris69 - 14 May 2007 - 18:19

I'm from the UK but will have a search around and see if i can find a copy!

From rippa rit - 13 May 2007 - 17:36 - Updated: 14 May 2007 - 06:49

Yes I did meet Vin Napier (dec.) just once.
Records show that Vin is a Life Member and a past President of Australian Squash.
No doubt he was a great follower of the game and I am sure players like Dick Carter and Ken Hiscoe, past NSW players, would know his history much better than we Queenslanders do.

From Viper - 12 May 2007 - 13:20

Thanks R & R

Did either of you ever meet him ?

Is it right he coached Hunt and McKay ?

I hear so much there days regarding coaching techniques that could have been taken out of his book written 30 years ago ! I have read a number of newer books/dvd's but nothing comes close to the fine technical / tactic details explained in this book.

Ray, like other web sites can a small "profile" icon be placed next to a posters name so people will know they have one perhaps ?

From raystrach - 12 May 2007 - 10:43

talk about a blast from the past - vin napier was old when i started playing in the early seventies!

on profiles: where have you been for the last 12 months viper? IF posters have a profile, you can click on their name in the post/reply which goes to the profile. we do not require posters have a profile, but i would encourage all members to create a short profile. (i actually did this at your suggestion viper)

you can create/edit your profile (link: My Member Profile) using the profile link at the top left of all pages after logging in. while you are at it, register for playing partners as well!

From rippa rit - 12 May 2007 - 08:28 - Updated: 12 May 2007 - 08:57

Vin Napier has been deceased for many years now. He was old ,(as I thought) when I first started to play and there was a soft covered pocket sized book Vin published which players would carry in their squash bags. He was a top NSW player in the 50's.

Here is a snippet from a Heather Blundell (Mackay) story
"Spaldings (whose racquets she was using at the time) helped her to get a job at the Belleview Hill Squash courts, and Vin Napier put her in touch with players and coaches who were generous with their time and advice."

I did have a copy of the larger size edition of "Squash the Australian Way". Vin was in the days of amateur squash where players did not get paid, there were no sports institutes, winning was more about knowing the game and developing the shots and tactics. The players worked for a living, spent lots of time on court after hours, went for a couple of long runs each week to keep up their aerobic fitness and leg power.
Here is an interesting transcript which I heard as a radio interview some time ago
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/stories/2007/1876612.htm

From Viper - 11 May 2007 - 23:32 - Updated: 11 May 2007 - 23:39

Not sure where you are from Ferris ( Ray, a good reason to have a hotlink from the posters name to their profile ! )

but you can buy it easily from here for "lunch money" even if you are OS.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sortby=93&sts=t&an=napier&fromanz=fromanz&y=10&x=40

Again, I cannot believe how little the fundamentals of squash has changed, this guy could step in and coach any top 10 player of today out of this book.

The technical information and detail is amazing, but more interesting is the deep analysis of court movement and tactics, so lacking in modern books ( not that there is any) and DVD's, even from guns like Power.

"Smacking the pill" is one thing but understanding how to move an opponent to force an attacking opportunity is so much more.

Like chess, this guy explains 2/3 moves ahead.

From mike - 11 May 2007 - 23:24 - Updated: 11 May 2007 - 23:25

http://www.biblioz.com/main.php?action=3&i=3878346&record=3

From ferris69 - 11 May 2007 - 21:00

Where do we get this book from??

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