By Chris Walker, World No. 8
| |
| 
Chris Walker |
I thought that this month we would cover a variety of issues under the same banner: tournament play. After all, we practice routines for hours, we focus on our technique to cut down errors under pressure, and we train our bodies to sustain the physical work necessary to endure match play. But we sometimes overlook the little things that occur at tournaments—things that can cost us dearly or give us the upper hand.
Physical and Mental Preparation
How many times have you gone on court and lost the first few points or even the first game because you just weren’t there mentally? I know where you are coming from! If you can establish a routine for the build-up to all your games it will help you find focus at the start.
Be in the right frame of mind before you go on court. Find what works for you in the 30 minutes before your match: you may like to listen to some music to relax and focus. You should almost certainly stretch in that last 30 minutes. Maybe you should break a sweat to ensure you are going to be fully mobile at the start. I like to sit and rest in the hours before my game to rest my legs and keep them fresh.
Drink and eat properly. Be fully hydrated. The key is to take in a lot of water over the eight hours before a match rather than in the last 20 minutes. I have won several matches at hot and humid venues because I have been hydrated and able to perform while my opponents have come up short because they have overheated. As for food, I allow at least three hours from eating to playing. Usually I have a light pasta dish and some Green Magic© (a supplementary “Body Rejuvenation Food”) to keep me fresh and focussed. Don’t eat too much and walk on court bloated!
You might consider a light practice a couple of hours before your match to loosen up a little (If you can practice on your match court, that’s better). Don’t exert yourself too much—just a few boasts and drives, or hit some lengths and drops by yourself.
By the time the knock-up begins, you should be mentally positive and ready to go. Don’t let the first few points be your way of easing into the game—let them be your opponent’s! In the first few points, practice the main shots of the game—drives, good width on the crosscourts (perhaps try a few crosscourt lobs to judge the pace of the court better), some drops, volleys and boasts.
Assess the Court
Watch a game that is being played on your match-court. Look for anything that may help you during your match: See how hot and bouncy or cold and dead the court is, and look for the best pace of shot to get the ball to the back.
On a dead court, hit the ball higher and at a medium pace to get the ball to the back and don’t be afraid to take the ball in short a little more than usual; it will be difficult for your opponent to consistently get the ball back deep and safely.
If the court is hot and bouncy, hit the ball lower than normal to reach the back. You also might play less to the front of the court so you don’t give your opponent too much time and space in front of you. Let them be the impatient one going short; let them give you the chance to control the game.
(If you happen to be on a glass court, run dropshots in tight along the side wall rather than towards the nick. The visibility of the ball on a glass court is not quite as good as on a normal court, and when players go into the front of the court under pressure they tend to miss time the ball more if it ‘clings’ to the side wall.)
Turning Negatives to Positives
Always try to remain optimistic about events that happen around you. Those in ‘the other corner’ may try putting doubts in your mind. Tell yourself that they are just nervous about the game, or take it as a compliment to you that they need to stoop to such levels. Whatever happens, don’t let it faze you—that’s what they want. Gain strength and resolve from it. Turn the negative into positive energy.
If you are playing away from home, be prepared for a partisan crowd. Don’t let the crowd or the referee beat you. You will get greater satisfaction from shaking your opponent’s hand as victor in such a match. Give yourself the best chance to win—play hard, fair and turn any negatives to positive energy for you.
If it gets to the stage where everything is getting on top of you, don’t stress. Instead, find your own quiet space to relax or switch off. The Walkman is ideal for these situations.
Be ready for anything. If some of the worst doesn’t happen, you have a bonus! At the start of play it is just you and your opponent out there. Think of your game, your preparation and your tactics, and don’t be fazed by other clutter.
At the end of the day if you lose, your consolation should be that you did your best—you prepared to the best of your ability, tried 110 percent and didn’t let anyone affect your performance negatively. Rodney Eyles, World Champion in the ’90s, used to say to me, “Remember the 6 P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance”—a worthy bit of advice!
Use your game to play to your opponent’s weaknesses. It doesn’t matter who that opponent is in the end. This is about you. Go get ’em!
Please continue to email me at chris@walker.net or Squash Magazine (editor@squashmagzine.com) if you have more questions. |
| |
|
