Squash Tennis.
by Richard C. Squires.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
d.i.c.k Squires is certainly qualified to produce this manual on "Instant Squash Tennis."
Added to an articulateness which equips him to put his experience and knowledge into words, his background in racquet games is broad, longstanding and at a level sufficiently upper echelon to have garnered national championships in three separate bat and ball sports.
Starting early, in Bronxville, N.Y., he was a member of the National Junior Davis Cup Tennis team at 17. Emerging from The Hill School in 1949 and fitted with the National Junior Tennis Doubles crown, he went through Williams College with the cla.s.s of 1953.
In 1954, he was 50 percent of the t.i.tle winning team in the National Squash Racquets men"s Doubles Championships, and was ranked seventh nationally in singles. Twice a finalist in the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Championship, he was elected President of the National Intercollegiate a.s.sociation in 1952.
Less active in formal compet.i.tion for some years, he latterly became interested in a newly burgeoning racquet sport, and attained the pinnacle in the 1966 National Platform Paddle Tennis Doubles Championships.
Meanwhile, he had become fascinated with the venerable game of Squash Tennis. Attacking it with his usual enthusiasm and natural apt.i.tudes, in two years he mastered this relatively difficult game sufficiently to be runner-up in the Nationals Singles (1966). Concurrently, he devoted the aforementioned enthusiasm to heading a program to revitalize the game; with significant results. Finally, also in 1967, he was elected President of the 57 year old National Squash Tennis a.s.sociation.
A word about the various ill.u.s.trations showing the squash tennis court and various shots: The solid * is you and your position and the O is your opponent"s. The direction of flight of the ball is indicated by arrows and the "x" indicates when and where the ball bounces on the floor. "F" indicates forehand, "B" backhand, and the "S" is the service.
In all descriptions it is a.s.sumed the player is right-handed.
(Ill.u.s.trated by Richard Kaiser)
[Transcriber"s Note: See the HTML version of this e-book for ill.u.s.trations. Figure captions have been transferred to the text in brackets.]
WHO CAN PLAY?
Anyone who enjoys playing Tennis, Squash Racquets, Platform Tennis, or any racquet game and has good reflexes will love Squash Tennis.
Where it lacks the endurance and subtlety that Squash Racquets calls for, it offers the exhilaration inherent in powerfully hit strokes, split-second racquet work, and graceful, seemingly unhurried footwork.
The ball "comes to you" more often, but the challenge is to figure out the wider angles and exactly where the lightning fast green ball will eventually end up after rebounding off of as many as five walls.
The game of Squash Tennis has something to offer players of all ages.
The demands for fast reflexes, agile racquet work and speed of foot are intriguing challenges for the youngsters. On the other hand, placement, guile, patience, and the faster ball that actually provides more time for retrieval make Squash Tennis the ideal sport for the "older" athlete who wants to preserve that straight waistline all of his life. The average age of the ranking players today is around 43!
In addition, the promising, young (10 to 13 year old) Lawn Tennis "comer," who cannot play Tennis during the winter months and still does not have the strength or coordination to hit the Squash Racquets ball hard and often enough to heat it up and realize some prolonged, interesting rallies, is an excellent prospect for Squash Tennis.
The ball is not affected by temperature change and requires no "warming up." The youngster will improve his racquet work, hone his reflexes (especially on volleys and half volleys), and keep his legs in shape during the off winter months. Also, the racquet and ball are akin to Lawn Tennis equipment.
Finally, everyone and/or any club that presently possesses Squash courts can introduce the additional indoor bat and ball game of Squash Tennis.
All that is required is a 4 feet 6 inches backwall "out" line in addition to the 6 feet 6 inches Squash Racquets line and, ideally, the extension of the service dividing line up to the tell tale (see fig. 1 [Note extension of service line to front wall.]).
Because the ball is not affected by temperature, many people play Squash Tennis all year round, and not only in the cold, winter months. This game could, therefore, be played widely in the South.
So, we invite all racquets men, young and old alike, to accept the challenges of the fastest indoor racquet and ball game in the world. As a matter of fact, because of the speed of the ball and, consequently, the less running involved, Squash Tennis would be an excellent game for the more active distaffers.
If you are looking for a sport that you can "master" in one or two seasons then don"t take up Squash Tennis. But if you are looking for an intriguing and invigorating game which you can play practically all your life, we strongly urge you to try Squash Tennis. You, your waistline, legs, lungs and reflexes will never regret it.
STRATEGY
The strategy in Squash Tennis is basically the same as Squash Racquets; i.e., to control the so-called "T" or the intersection of the service court lines, by keeping your opponent up front, off to the sides, or behind you, the majority of the time (see fig. 2 [Desired court position.]).
The fundamental stratagem can only be carried out by your learning a wide a.s.sortment of Squash Tennis shots and perfecting your repertoire with practice and experience against many different types of opponents under compet.i.tive situations.
You will have to fight and play hard for this position. Always head for the "T" immediately after hitting the ball, but taking care not to interfere with your opponent"s stroke.
All of your shots should be hit with a purpose, which is to keep your opponent off balance, away from the "T," and of course, eventually to defeat him. Change of pace, therefore, is of utmost importance. Break up your opponent"s rhythm, never allow him to get grooved, frequently do the unexpected, so that he loses confidence in his antic.i.p.ation and, subsequently, goes on the defensive.
At all times be offensive. The game of Squash Tennis has known many so-called "great getters," but they invariably have succ.u.mbed to "purposeful power" and the aggressively angled shots of players with the burning desire to win, "the killer instinct" that spurs the great players to go all out for every point.
Play each point like an individual match. Don"t let up or intentionally "throw" a game. Squash Tennis, as with all racquet games, is a sport of momentum. Many a tide has changed, many a match won when seemingly it has been hopelessly lost. Go after every point as though you were down Match Point and had to win it. "Coasting" shatters your concentration, and lost concentration can well mean a lost match. Play to win as quickly as you can.
Finally, a.s.sume your opponent will retrieve even your best shots. Don"t underestimate his ability or overestimate your shot-making prowess.
Remember the speed of the ball actually gives your opponent more time to get to it. Always be ready for anything until the ball is actually ruled dead and the rally has ended.
FUNDAMENTAL STROKES
The Squash Tennis stroke is more closely allied to the Squash Racquets swing than to the Tennis swing.
Ground Strokes: The wrist and grip should be kept loose at all times.
The grip will automatically be tightened at the moment of contact with the ball.
The forehand and backhand ground strokes should be hit with a short, snap of the wrist--as though you were cracking a whip. There is no time and no reason to employ a long, high follow-through.
The head of the racquet at the moment of impact with the ball should be slightly "open" and you should feel the gut "biting" the side of the ball. This slight side-spin cut, with the racquet head tilting back and hit like a short, chip shot, will tend to keep the ball low and inexorably "grabbing" for the floor. The spin will produce many "nicks,"
which are shots that hit a side wall and floor practically simultaneously and die. (See fig. 3 [Racquet open when contacting ball.] for position of racquet at the moment of contact with ball.)
The follow-through is low and abbreviated. The racquet head should go straight out or up the court rather than be wrapped around your body.
The best way to "groove your strokes" and to keep the ball low is to consciously aim your racquet head on your follow-through at the very, top of the "telltale."
As in all racquet sports, the racquet should do the work. The ball willingly goes where the racquet head directs it. Do not flail or attempt to push your shots. Hit them crisply with the snap of your c.o.c.ked wrist, and at all times attempt to regiment your swing.
Ideally your body should be out of the way, which means whenever possible on your ground strokes you should turn sideways. Your weight should shift toward the direction in which you are hitting at the moment of impact, and you should have your feet planted firmly. Because of the high velocity of the ball, however, you frequently will not have the time to turn sideways and will be required to stroke in awkward and off-balance positions. Your aim, however, is always to be in the correct position of play before the ball gets there, thus allowing time for adjustment and proper stroking. Move to your position with short, quick steps rather than long, tiring strides. Consciously maintain your weight on your toes, with the knees slightly bent. This will help you to move in any direction necessary as quickly as possible.
In following the ball around the corners, do not stand still and pivot.
Go after it, again with a series of short steps with your racquet head up and c.o.c.ked, and your body in proper position so that you are ready to make a quick and meaningful stroke.
Volleying or cutting off the ball before it hits the floor is similar to the tennis stroke. It calls for lightning-like reflexes and the ability to move the racquet head practically in any given direction in a fraction of a second.