Tonight's squash takeaway

squash takeaway sounds like fast food, but really I learned something about my squash game tonight. I played an A player name Andy who kicked my ass, but I hung in there with him for many rallies.  I must have played 5 games.  The rallies were back and forth for the first 5 points of the first game and I hung in for the last 5 points of the last game.  During those moments, I hustled! My returns were of generally good lengths to allow me back to the T and I followed up with a good short volleys. My feet and legs were springy and I was seeing and reacting to direction changes. :)  I eventually felt really worn down and I was a half step short and a lot of them. The slower feet translated to wilder swings.

The remaining games I played after playing Andy were generally poor, but I can tell you that the mistakes were not playing good lengths and making errors on playing the winners.  I was mentally tired and wanted to close out the rallies early. When I changed it up to playing more patiently with lengths and widths, I tended to win the point.

I learned several things.

1) I have to be more patient. Play the lengths and widths until my opponent is out of position before playing the volley winners.  I was volleying for the sake of volleying without having an advantage.  Some of my volleys were made from really weak positions like bending down really low or on a stretch. Where I volleyed to was also weak, right back to my opponent in some cases. I played some really good volleys against Andy during the first game and last game.

2) I also stopped moving back into position after attempting to play a winner. I played several drop shots hoping they would be winners and failed to watch for and cover the cross court.  When I'm mentally tired, I stopped looking forward to that next rally and start thinking about hitting winners to end the rally. Also, the thought to hit a winner always comes when I feel I can't make another shot. I think I just have to say to myself "play another length shot"

3) I didn't dwell on my form or obsess about watching the ball, but I also didn't watch the ball very often. One thing I picked up from watching the pro matches on DVD is the fact that the pros watch intently and won't move until the racquet has struck the ball.  I need to continue practicing that in lessons and drills.

I am happy with my agility today.  There are things I do more naturally now, like letting the ball pass me and then position myself to hit it as it comes off the back wall.  I used to panic and not know where to turn when the ball comes too close.  I can also hit a fairly tight shot down the wall from an equally tight shot on the wall.  I don't swing wildly at those anymore. I know I have to slow the swing and follow through upward.

I still need to practice the lob when I'm on a stretch to get a drop. I need high looping lobs and play them more frequently.

It felt good to play the attacking game tonight. I also realized when I tired and the attacking game isn't as strong, I had no defensive game to fall back on.  I need to practice playing offense and defense within the same point.