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  2. Squash Old Boys
💡 Tactics and Technique 💡

Squash Old Boys

517 commentsu/Overall-Length10831w ago
I'm trying to play more social and Americano events, when I can actually get a place on them, and I'm finding myself encountering men over a certain age who have clearly played a lot of squash in their time. They generally have 1 shot; a hard, flat slice. Used for their serve and their back of court shots. I find these shots, particularly on their serve, hard to return and just end up getting frustrated. The glass rebound is very low and I struggle to return. I'm only a level 1.1 on Playtomic, however am probably closer to a 1.8/2, I just haven't played any competitive matches in a long while. I'm just after some advice and also opinions from other players who encounter these one shot squash players. I know I need to stop it getting to me, but I just get frustrated, especially during socials where you're there to play Padel, not watch a ball go past you every serve. I also see, that given the pace they put on it, there is no chance of them reaching the net position before my (possible) return, so that adds to the pressure as I know that if I can return it it'll catch them out.... If only I could 😭.
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Comments (17)

u/GlapLaw1w ago
Keep them under pressure, especially moving backwards and at their feet with chiquitas. And when you read they get into the ball on one of those low flat slices, don’t let it go to glass as it won’t come back. The shots you’re giving them where they can hit a low flat slice clean are the same ones a former tennis player would bury hard into the corner. Don’t give those to anyone if you can help it. But also just recognize they have an easier learning curve so it’ll take longer for you to reach their level.
5
u/eggplantpot1w ago
Exploit them at the net. Get comfortable with the walls. Those serves seem difficult but all you need to do is to attack the ball. Don't let it bounce on the wall and pray to get it after it as the effect wil make it rebound on a way you cannot respond yet. For those tight balls just try to hit them exactly after they touch the wall in a way that you use the energy to just set your racket on the right place where the ball bounces back at them without any sort of swing. As you nail this attacking the ball before it goes too much off the wall then maybe you can try to adjust where you send it to etc.
4
u/Overall-Length1083OP1w ago
Great advice! Towards the end of the last social I did I was trying to attack them more, either by getting them before the glass rebound or trying to take it as soon after..... I need to tell myself to get low enough and get my racket in position and that should help
1
u/morningcoff3e1w ago
A good ready position, early preparation and having the racket low enough are key, so you're on the right track. Sometimes I have a knee on the ground when returning really low, penetrating serves - whatever it takes to get the racket low enough.
3
u/FREESTHAI1w ago
Don't hate the players, hate the game
4
u/Overall-Length1083OP1w ago
Squash? Because it's not padel that they're playing 😂
-2
u/FREESTHAI1w ago
Sorry wrong post, dunno how it's possible ahah
1
u/Sure-Key68821w ago
Without wishing to sound glib, it sounds like they have a good serve, so I would recommend training your serve return. Easier said than done perhaps
1
u/Overall-Length1083OP1w ago
That is true... It's just difficult to train that sort of thing although I do have a mate that I play Padel with who came from a high standard of squash, who has a similar style of serve so I think I need some time with him just serving at me. Only problem is, his accuracy is probably about 50% 😬
1
u/mudpieduck1w ago
how can someone have a flat slice?
1
u/pomp-o-moto1w ago
Likely means the trajectory/arc. A penetrating fast slice that just about flies over the net. A slice can also be floaty and slower if you don't have good technique or open up the racket face too much.
3
u/GlapLaw1w ago
I take offense to that last sentence! 😭
1
u/Overall-Length1083OP1w ago
Yes, this👍 Appreciate that "flat" in padel means a shot with no spin at all. Probably not the best choice of words from me😳
0
u/Super_Jello13791w ago
While *flat* might be a little misleading, this is what OP refers to. I would say, in padel, they play a stroke that is kind of between these two: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rbEYi05hb4M https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N07Ds7olyj8
1
u/Overall-Length1083OP1w ago
Yep, that 2nd videos looks just like their shots 👍
2