Sparty good points.
Attacking is good, but you have to be in a position to attack and the shot is "on" or you just get into trouble, and more often than not will run yourself out of position.
Any ball that lands within the "inner court" has to be punished; however, the critical thing is the way you chose to do that, eg the safe way (deep tight length) or going for the nick.

The trouble is too, players often freeze up, especially when they feel the opponent regaining position, and then make errors, or change their mind, wait too long, and then end up doing nothing much with the ball losing the advantage.

For the main stream players, just keep working at the skills and fitness to gain the confidence, and you will find yourself experimenting in your matches.

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Regarding the JP exposed DVD, he is really giving a complete squash tutorial, but if you watch the attacking section he says "every time there's space around the ball, you want to be attacking" this is the givaway to egyptian style (although given that he is one of the greatest exponents of attacking squash of all time it might be just as appropriate to call it "Canadian Style"!) For example, if the ball popped up loose in mid court, JP would nearly always play a deceptive drop or kill to put the ball away and win the point , however, It is just as valid to use the opportunity to play a good tight length or lob (Peter Nicol style - the best "finder of the length" in squash history) and try and drag your opponents legs out.

I remember watching Nicol play against Martin Heath around year 2000. in this one rally, he could have put the ball away many times but choose to keep putting work into Heath's legs. As luck would have it Heath actually won the rally with a shot into the nick, BUT he lost the next 3 points very quickly because he was absolutely knackered! indeed the commentator even said "this is the sort of rally that Peter won't be too bothered about if he loses it " sure enough, he wasn't!

I would say for all of us club level players it is better to play to this tactic, because it is unlikely that the person you are playing is gonna be capable of hitting a cross court low nick from the back of the court with consistency! and if you try and go for too many attacking shots, you may hit the tin as many times as not. Also, it is likely that the fitness of players around our level is at a point where recovering out of the lactate threshold takes longer than the next rally! 

So why not try it next time? instead of trying a winning drop from the mid court, try a good length and make the guy work a bit harder, you might find it makes the next few points come very easily.

just my two cents....

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Sam,

I too like to play the attacking style.  But, sometimes you are not in a position to go for a nick or a kill shot.  You have to pick your spots. 

Of course, there are times when the best you can do is to keep the rally alive.  I think that's what JP was probably trying to teach in that lesson. 

Dan

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Sam - this is a general comment and not specifically referring to JP.
You will find all top pro players can play either of the styles, they have to know how to do that to keep progressing through the ranks.  However, some may have a preferred style of play depending on their confidence, skills, opponent, game plan, and if they are winning or losing the match.  All players under pressure tend to gradually slip into the style of play that they like best, sometimes without realising it, and often the wrong thing to do, as it does require concentration and discipline.  Some flex in and out of various styles of play during a match, eg attack, steady and unforced errors, rush the opponent, shot make, short game, long game, slow game, etc. 
To play attacking as well as go for shots (maybe referred to as Egyptian style) you have to feel very confident, have perfect rhythm and timing, make few errors, feel fit, fast and strong.  Not every player can order this form for every performance.
When game plans go astray it is then that other variations or adjustments have to be made to enable the player to crawl/claw home a winner.

To practice Egyptian style is a good thing to do, particularly if you are very quick, very skillful, very confident, very fit, very strong - wow.  And, mind you, if you are none of the above don't expect to win but enjoy the game, and learn.

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Just a point that iamspartacus made. I never saw many Jonathan Power matches (shocking I know) but I do have his 'exposed' DVD and he has a section on keeping the rally going until you are in a winning position.

 

Isn't this a sign of him playing in an 'Australian/English' way rather than an 'Egyptian' way, or is it just something that he wants to demonstrate to amateurs looking to improve?

 

In other words, is his DVD on a general game of squash or is it based on his style of play? I thought it was based on his style of play.

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If players are aspiring to play attacking squash, pressure play, shot making, kill, nicks I suggest you start with these ideas:

• Solo practice - see our Squash Library, eg Volleys. Lob followed by a nick, cross court drop nicks off a lob or serve. volley drops off hard shots, taking up stance around the center of the court and feeling comfortable.
• Pair routines that put emphasis on volleys and volley boasts, and ball interception.

Try taking a step forward, improve the reflexes, cut down the time delay.

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Sparty - I think you summed that up well.
A lot of what you talk about I think is part of the player's personality and flair too.

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they are probably just referring to the very attacking style of play.

both shabana's and ashour's games are based on deception, flicks and nicks and very fast paced "in and out" style play. they don't like to drag rallies out and are not generally as strong when playing drawn out length rallies, their strengths lie in racket skills rather than having an attritional engine. they look to kill the ball at the earliest opportunity with their awesome racket work. Jonathon Power also played in this style.

the english and australian players traditional game is a very hardy style of play, and often games become a war of attrition. Peter Nicol was the master of this style game in late 90's early 00's. His supreme physical fitness meant he would just keep getting the ball back and his philosophy was unless it hits the nick, it's retrievable. Anthony ricketts and David Palmer are also in this vein. Ricketts is as much a pure athlete as a squash player with phenomonal fitness levels.

on the whole though, You'll find more and more players on the pro tour moving over to the attacking style now, because of changes to the scoring system in the last few years and in lowering the tin to 17", they have moved the balance of the game to the attacking players like shabana. The attritional style is still very much valid at club level though, where traditional scoring and the 19" tin are still evident, along with less than awesome racket skills!

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Good question

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