Learn to get the Ball Out of the Back Corners.

In this Silent Squash video, you will learn how to get the ball out of the back corner.

There is NO SOUND in this video.

It contains 4 photos that clearly demonstrate the technique and process required to successfully hit the ball back along the wall.

Each photo has text and arrows to draw your attention to the points I make.

Watch the video or use the images and text below.

In this video, we are going to look at 4 images, each taken just before a players hits the ball in the back corner.

PHOTO 1:

We are going to start with the backhand.
To get the ball out of the back corners and straight along the wall...

Your racket needs to come from a low position.
Previous to this part of the swing, it can have been much higher, but at some point it MUST come low.

Notice that the side of the strings that will make contact with the ball are facing upwards.
In fact, they are facing the ceiling and if we were able to pause time, you could place a ball on the strings and it would not fall off.

This racket position is called an "open face".

Now, let's look at his wrist.

Notice that it is not "broken" or bent.
You can't have an open racket face with a bent wrist.

He is about to use his forearm to rotate his racket around and make contact with the ball.

One last thing. Where is his left arm?
It looks like he doesn't have one.

It is completely behind him. Almost certainly out-stretched.
It is helping him balance himself.
If you right arm is out stretched, then so should your left arm.

Not only is it helping him balance, it is completely out of the way of his swing.

PHOTO 2:

As you can see, the player is much closer to the ball.
His feet are closer together

But the swing elements are still the same.

The racket has dropped to almost parallel to the floor.
Again if we could stop time, there would be a point in the swing where we would almost certainly be able to place a ball on the strings and it would not fall off.

The wrist is cocked (almost 90 degrees) and the forearm is ready to rotate and bring the racket head towards the ball.

The left arm is not behind the player this time because he is not stretched out.
But it is out of the way and under the right arm.
Too often, I see the left arm limiting the range of movement of the racket.

BACKHAND SUMMARY:

- Get you racket head low and open.

- Rotate you forearm. Do NOT "flick" your wrist.

PHOTO 3:

Now let's look at the forehand. This player is left-handed, but that is not improtant for this demonstration.
This is almost the last part of the swing.

Just like the backhand, the racket head is behind the wrist and dropping down low.It will get parallel or almost parallel to the floor.

Notice the gap between his index finger and his other fingers.
I discussed this in both my grip videos:
- The Grip (18 minutes)
- How to Hold and Grip a Squash Racket Squash For Beginners [009] (7 minutes)

Just like the first photo, this player is stretching to reach the ball, therefore his non-racket hand is out-stretcehd to provide balance.

This player seems perfectly placed to maximise his options and limit his opponent's options.E

PHOTO 4:

This photo is slightly later in the swing.
The player is micro-seconds away from hitting the ball.

The player's racket is now parallel with the floor - just like in the backhand!

His racket face is open, in fact it is facing the ceiling.

His wrist is cocked, almost 90 degrees to his forearm and is ready to rotate the racket head towards the ball.

This position allows the smallest area of swing with the maximum amount of movement.

FOREHAND SUMMARY

- Get you racket head behind your wrist.

- Rotate you forearm. Do NOT "flick" your wrist.