Ball Placement
By Julian Wellings
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Julian Wellings (foreground) |
Most coaching tips can be utilized by players of all levels, to varying degrees. For example, most coaches will tell you to have a firm wrist when hitting the ball as a general rule (myself included), yet there are professionals playing at the highest level who use a lot of wrist. If you have the natural timing ability of a John White (currently world No. 3), probably the hardest hitter of a squash ball in the world, or the deceptive talents of a Jonathon Power (currently world No. 4), fine, use your wrist!
Ball placement is an issue that has equal importance at all levels. I’ve witnessed good club players competing in various amateur events playing matches in which there is a lot of hard hitting, a lot of running around, but not a lot of structure to the rallies. Also there is generally not much thought to where the ball is bouncing, what each shot is doing for you and what it’s doing to your opponent.
Diagram 1
Diagrams 1 & 2 show where the ball strikes the front wall and where the ball bounces on the floor much of the time in club level matches. The area on the front wall is okay as long as the ball is directed well, but it is clear the upper section of the front wall is not used enough.
Diagram 2
However “no man’s land” in diagram 2 is much more of a problem. If your shots are hitting this area then you are probably doing most of the running and are not spending a great deal of time on the T! All the time, I see decent club players expending unnecessary energy. They hit with a lot of power from the back of the court and the ball then bounces into “no man’s land,” therefore they gain nothing from it—in fact the player probably puts himself under pressure in the process.
This can be avoided by using the height on the front wall more, making sure of the length, gaining possession of the T and control of the rally. I’m not saying that every time you’re in the back of the court that you should aim for the top 12 inches of the front wall, but maybe mix the height according to the situation. If you’re under pressure, lift and buy yourself the time to recover the T. If you have space and time then maybe use more power but not at the expense of control or placement. If you’re in the back of the court and your opponent is on the T, your first concern should be to trade places. Many people see lifting the ball as a defensive play, but if it has purpose, e.g. to gain the T and take positional control of the point, then it’s very much attacking. Once you have the T‚ always look for the next shot and the volley to keep control of the T.
Diagrams 3 & 4 show two examples of very different patterns of ball placement. Even if you’re not at the skill level to execute the high quality placement shown in 3, that’s okay, but make it your aim and it will improve.
Diagram 3
Diagram 3 shows two players thinking about where they want the ball to go in order to gain control of the T and move their opponent right into the corners, the furthest distance from the T.
Diagram 4
Diagram 4 shows two players without strategy, running and reacting to whatever presents itself, without having an idea of what they are trying to accomplish, except to win! Don’t be like the players in diagram 4!
One more example: Why does world No. 1 Peter Nicol perform to a higher level more consistently than the players previously mentioned (and any other player in the world, for that matter!) when he admits that he doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard? His ball placement is one reason. He is able to hit shots consistently wide and to the corners (front and back), constantly making his opponents feel stretched; therefore they may never feel completely comfortable on the ball. In addition, Nicol takes the ball incredibly early, not giving his opponents the time between shots that they would like. Another tactic is his use of the entire front wall and the ability to turn defense into attack from an impossible position in a single shot.
Pete may not look as exciting or explosive as other players ranked below him sometimes, but his focus, strategy, placement and use of the entire front wall and court means he denies openings, applies pressure, takes control of the T. And he can do this longer and more consistently than anyone else. While Pete has no shortage of fans—far from it—I’ve heard spectators label him as a defensive player and say they would rather watch Power or White—which is fine, but Pete’s strategies are about attacking his opponents and breaking down their strengths while imposing his. It may not be done with spectacular winners, but it is very much attacking. There is purpose and placement in every shot. |
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