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TennisOne Lessons 
Squash Shot: Emergency Response Shot with EffectDavid W. Smith, Senior Editor TennisOne Sometimes there are shots in tennis that can be used to define an era. These shots then filter down to the club level to recreational players seeking to emulate the stars of the game. Although, I would hazard a guess that in some recreational and club settings, there are more “unique” shots and techniques used than we will ever see at the professional level!
Examples of these game altering shots that could define an era might include the western grip along with the massive topspin forehand that saw a dramatic rise in usage in the late 1980’s and continues more and more today. The big serve of the early 1990’s with guys like Sampras, Rusedski, and Becker ushered in a distinctive change in the game, moving it from a cat-and-mouse game, (a style masterfully enacted by McEnroe, Edberg, and others), to a power game from the start of every point. And this serving power was not restricted to the men’s game only. Where in the 1980’s we seldom saw women serve over 90 mph, we now have some women serving in the 120’s, a feat unthinkable twenty years ago. Today, the game continues to evolve as the, return of serve catches up to the power of the serve, creating points full of power, to be sure, but also strategic geometric patterns that, like chess moves, put opponents into ‘check’ positions if they don’t respond with optimal shots themselves. Today's players are fitter, moving better, covering far more court, and able to hit shots that can get them out of trouble. A shot today, that we seldom saw professionals hit a decade ago, is the “Squash Shot. This shot is hit on the run on the forehand side, when a player is in trouble or stretched out wide. The shot is usually hit with a slapping motion of the wrist, and usually with a lot of slice. (Although, there are exceptions to the use of the wrist as I will point out.)
On the backhand side, even as we see a plethora of players hitting two-handed backhands, the use of the slice is significant. One only needs to look at the recent 2010 Australian Open, where players like Nadal, Murray, Roddick, and so many other two-handers are using the one-handed backhand slice as much, if not more than the few one-handed players left on tour. Interestingly enough, the squash shot, like many other innovations in tennis, was never taught by any coach or pro, but rather evolved out of necessity, reflecting the changing conditions on the court. High-speed, high-powered tennis demanded a response and the squash shot provided an answer. The Squash Shot I don’t know who might have been the first to use the squash shot, but over the last few years, one of the players who seemed to use the shot a lot was Andy Roddick. But, like the swinging volley of a few years ago, almost all the players are using the squash shot to bail themselves out of trouble on the forehand side. The squash shot is a great way to catch up to a ball that has gotten behind the body. Remember that players who use more severe topspin grips, (semi and full western grips), must hit the ball more out in front of them for optimal stroke effect.
The alternative, throwing up a lob to give a player time to recover is too often crushed by the opponent, either with a full overhead or the swinging topspin volley. (A shot we will talk about in an upcoming article!) Slapping a hard, low cut shot, forces an opponent to hit this low ball up. With the amount of underspin the shot typically produces, the ball stays very low and even skids on faster surfaces, making the response that much more difficult. The squash shot can get a player back into a point without giving an opponent to much of an advantage. There are some fundamental components of the squash shot that players use to execute the shot well. I’ll break down these elements and explain why they are used. Grip If you look closely at each of the video clips, you will notice that as they start to move to the forehand side they are holding their normal topspin grip. Once they realize they will be stretched wide and forced to hit a squash shot, they rotate the grip around to a continental grip. (Although, as with Safina, you will see her use a weak eastern forehand grip for her squash shot.) The continental grip is well-suited for the squash shot as it sets the racquet in an open face for the slice (a similar action we see used on the normal forehand volley). The grip’s orientation to the wrist also allows for the wrist action seen in the shot: a flicking or slapping-like motion that allows the racquet to catch up to arm and ball. Body Position
The body is usually fairly closed, with a very closed stance at or near contact. Sometimes we will see an open-to-closed stance sequence where the player starts to the ball with an open stance. However, you will notice that the player usually swings their upper body closed or brings the left leg across (for a right-hander) to a closed stance step during the swing. (See Verdasco’s clip above.) This is important, because the mechanics of the body and the shot itself are in the most optimal position when the upper body is closed. You can keep a neutral stance in the shot, (as in Lleyton Hewitt’s clip up above), but you will notice the upper body stays very quiet and sideways during contact. Swing Path In many cases, the squash shot is similar to a swinging conventional volley with a slight flick during the contact phase. But, at other times you will see almost no wrist inflection during the shot. However, the more trouble you find yourself in, (being later on the shot), the more you will indeed need to use the wrist. This is because when you are late, you must get the racquet caught up to the ball and the trajectory line much sooner. As mentioned earlier, we are seeing more and more players resorting to the squash shot because the other elements of the game; the speed of shots, the spins, and the angles such spins can produce forces players to hit more shots on the run, out of position, and off balance. As someone once said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” We have seen this phrase played out over and over in sport and probably nowhere is this more apparent than in tennis! The squash shot is another example of the way players adapt to a game that is constantly evolving. Drills
There are a couple drills a player can employ to practice and learn how to utilize the squash shot. An interesting note is that players who have played badminton or racquetball often have a feel for this shot. In both badminton and racquetball, players often use the wrist (usually in a continental grip form) to get shuttlecocks or balls back that are hit very fast at them so they have minimal reaction time. (At high levels, a badminton shuttlecock can be hit at well over 150mph, and within a very short court of 40 feet, a badminton player must react to these speeds with appropriate responses!) This first drill sets a player up at the base line in the middle of the court. The feeder, feeds balls further and further out wide. Do not let the player anticipate the shot. Instead, have him begin his movement after the feeder hits the ball. The distance the ball is fed away from the player will need to be gauged and adjusted until the player has just enough time to get to the shot. The shot should be hit crosscourt in most cases as the player will have a lower net and a longer court in which to clear the shot and land it. Gradually, the player can take the ball down the line as they gain control of the height and speed of the shot. Remember, because this shot is an underspin shot, if it is hit too hard, it will rise and float more, making the ability to keep the ball in the court harder at higher paced swings. Here's a drill I use once the player has become somewhat comfortable with the shot. Feed the player a ball a to the backhand side and have him hit an inside out topspin forehand crosscourt. Then, feed a ball to the forehand corner, forcing the player sprint across the court and hit the squash shot. This sequence is closer to a game situation. Another other good drill is to force a player to hit a topspin forehand crosscourt from their forehand side of the court, have them recover to the middle, then hit a tougher, wider shot to that side forcing the use of the squash shot to catch up to it. This will train the player to not just hit the squash shot when pulled wide, (as I will talk about below), but to use the shot in the right situations. Conclusion One cautionary note: When players find they can start pulling this shot off, they oftentimes become lazy and rely on the shot more and more, consequently moving their feet less and less. Instead of getting in the best position for an effective forehand, players will sometimes reach out and flick the squash shot. We see this especially when players get tired. The feet stop moving and the player is relegated to hitting the squash shot out of necessity. However, the squash shot can be a very valuable addition to have in your arsenal. Personally, I doubt many players specifically practice this shot. Yet, it can–and should be–practiced if the player hopes to execute the shot in match play competition. When you do work on hitting the shot, initially try keeping the wrist out of the shot.Like all shots, practice keeping the Plane the Same. As you become more comfortable with the swing path, there will be a natural ability to time and employ the wrist in situations that dictate its use. Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Dave Smith's article by emailing us here at TennisOne .
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David has taught over 3000 players including many top national and world ranked players. He can be reached at acrpres1@email.msn.com. |
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