Racket Head Speed and Deception

Total Squash - 30 Jul 2009

video coaching

To view this video you need to login.

Secure Login
Username:
Password:
  Remember my login
 

Let me introduce myself. I'm Richard O'Connor and I'm the coach at Nottingham Squash Club. I spend a lot of time working with good players and I would like to show you a couple of ideas about the importance of racket head speed with regard to deception. I will also try to show where you are trying too hard to get racket head speed how deception can break down and the quality of shot can break down.

From a very still 'tell your opponent nothing' type of position, which I call the 'hold' position, it is important to generate some racket head speed from that position. If you are a weak player or untrained, not a professional, you will probably have to lift your racket a little higher. A professional can with a breaking of the wrist increase that acceleration of the racket head.

That's a peach! 

One of the pitfalls that I have to look for is if I'm allowing a pro to break the wrist to get racket head speed is that they don't continue that break right through the shot because it pulls the ball offline. You need to have a moment of bracing just on impact, and I call that the 'catch'. You tighten your wrist and the follow through becomes a little more directed.

Yes, that's a beauty!


Back