This page was last updated in September 2005
	WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO PRACTICE?

 

Squash Drills All players must practice their sport to get better.  Great players practice:  Michael Jordan shoots free-throws, Tiger Woods hits thousands of golf balls, and Peter Nicol (World Squash #1) hits rails until he hits fifty perfect rails in a row.  We can learn from their example by using practice drills to improve our ability to move on the court, hit consistently, and disguise our shots.  Below, I highlight several drills that you can do anytime.  Most require partners, but you can always be like Peter Nicol, and hit 50 perfect rails in a row every time you step on the court!

 

Rotating Rails Skills: Consistent Rail Stroking and Good Movement Difficulty: Easy This drill is for two players.  Player A starts on the T with the ball, and hits his best rail shot to player B.  Player B plays a rail shot (1), then rotates around to the T as best he can.  Player A moves to the ball and plays another rail (2), then Player B plays (3), and so on and so on.  Both players should try to keep the T by volleying any loose rail shots from their opponent.  A tight rail stays within five floor boards of the wall and lands behind the service circle.  After several rallies, the drill is reversed and repeated on the other side of the court.

 

Deep Game Skills:  Deep Rails and Volleys Difficulty:  Moderate    This drill is for two players.  One player serves to the other, then the point is played out, but every shot must be a deep shot, usually defined as landing behind the service line.  Rails are preferable, but cross court shots are allowed.  Players should focus on volleying and moving to the T whenever possible.  Deep Game, Volley Short Skills:  Deep Rails and Volleys, Volley Drops Difficulty:  Moderate    This drill is for two players.  It adds the element of the volley drop to the Deep Game described above.  In this drill, a player may hit short if the short shot is a volley.  Otherwise, all shots must be deep rails and cross courts.  The players retrieving the volley drop must hit deep, either with a crosscourt lob or deep rail.  Players should focus on cutting the ball off early to catch their opponent off balance!

 

Boast-Rail Skills:  Consistent Stroking and Good Movement Difficulty:  Moderate    This drill is for two players.  Player A starts on the T, with player B behind with the ball.  Player B plays a boast (1), then moves to the T.  Player A moves in a banana shape to the front wall and hits a tight rail (2), then returns to the T.  Player B retrieves the ball from the back corner, hits a boast (3), then returns to the T.  Player A moves in a banana shape to the other corner of the court, then plays a tight rail (4).  Play continues until an error is made, although a good goal is to complete 100 strokes per player without stopping.  Both players should focus on moving to the T after each shot, and on hitting each shot with good precision.  After the drill, Player A and Player B switch places and repeat.

 

Boast-Drop-Crosscourt Lob-Volley Rail Skills:   Movement, Drops, Lobs, Volleys Difficulty: Hard    This is an advanced drill designed to drill many different shots.  The play proceeds as such.  Player A is on the T, with Player B behind.  Player B plays a boast to the front (1), then moves to the T.  Player A moves in a banana shape to the ball and hits a good straight drop (2), then recovers to the T.  Player B moves in and hits a crosscourt lob (3), then recovers to the T.  Player A must volley to the ball to length (4), then Player B recovers to the corner where he started and plays a boast again (1).  The drill continues, then Player A and Player B switch places.  Finally, the pair switch sides, and perform the drill from the other side.

 

	Tar Heel Squash - 203 Woolen Gym, CB#8605 - Chapel Hill, NC 27599