Speed up
With advances in racket technology and court surfaces, the game has got much faster. “Twenty years ago, we would have focused on endurance work,” says James Willstrop, British national champion and world number three. “Now it’s more about agility, as well as building strength in the legs for explosive power.”
Ditch the ball
You might get some funny looks, but spend some time playing imaginary rallies without the ball. “Ghosting is a great way to work on positioning, agility and solid lunging without having to worry about hitting the ball,” Willstrop says.
Broaden your game
If you always rely on the power of your swing or a mean drop shot, it’s time to rethink. “People tend to have strengths, but it’s a mistake to neglect working on other types of shot. Learning to be an all-rounder will really raise your game.”
Work on stillness
Squash is a fast and frenetic game, but “it’s vital that your body is as still, solid and balanced as possible for every shot,” Willstrop says. “This is tough, but it makes your shots far more effective than if you’re off balance moving towards or away from the ball.”
Master the art of deception
“Faking the direction in which you’re going to send the ball is used much more in today’s game. It takes practice, but you can either use your racket angle or turn your head to look one way and send the ball in the other.”
Open up
Retrieving the ball when it’s dropped into the back corner is one of the toughest shots. “The key is to really open your racket face and hook the ball out,” Willstrop says. “You can also try slightly shortening your grip on the racket.”
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