Did you know that your success rate at squash will affect your performance? If you’re a new player, the odds are good that you’ve probably heard some discouraging things about your squash future. You might be one of the many who feel as if there’s no hope for them.
Don’t worry! If only the higher-ups knew how much they were hurting us with their harsh words! We’ve got our eyes on other sports and we see how they handle it. They don’t make us feel like this! Yes, some people are born to bring others joy and lighten their load. The rest of us, well… we just need a little help from time to time. We have our moments where we feel down, but once the storm passes, it doesn’t last long.
Here are some strategies by experienced squash player, Marc Bistricer, that are guaranteed to give you more wins than losses in the near future.
Play to your strengths
If you’re a fancier, focus on that. If you’re a strong ball user, stick to it. If you’re a great passer, put it to use. If you’re a dominant baseliner, use your serve to your advantage.
“Don’t waste your strengths or try to be something you’re not. You’ll only end up frustrated, tired, and unhappy. Take advantage of your natural abilities and focus on improving the weaker areas. Your efforts will be worth it in the long run,” suggests Marc Bistricer.
Focus on the fundamentals
Successful squash players are disciplined. They show up on time, they stay focused for the entirety of the match, and they give it their all. If you want to be one of those players, Marc Bistricer indicates that you’ll have to add “being well-rested” to the list of things to focus on. Think about it. If a match is scheduled at 4pm and there is a 90-minute drive between you and your opponent, how will you both feel? If the drive is a straight shot, you’ll probably both be pretty beat up. That’s neither the time nor the place to put in your best performance. If you have to drive, try to avoid the early morning hours. That’s when people are less focused.
Train consistently
What do you do if you have a day off between matches? If you’re like most people, you jump around from activity to activity. You do one thing, then you do something else, and then you do something else. You’re probably surprised to know that this is how most of us train. If you want to improve, Marc Bistricer indicates that you’ll have to practice regularly. If you’re like the typical squash player, you probably practice sporadically, if at all. If you have a match coming up in a couple of days, do some training now. If you have a week between matches, practice regularly. It doesn’t matter when you practice, the most important thing is that you do it.
Set and stick to good goals
If you’re having trouble focusing on your long-term goals, try setting smaller ones. Likewise, if you’re having trouble with sticking to your training schedule, focus on sticks for a little while. If your goal is to win a certain number of matches, Marc Bistricer recommends setting a target. If your goal is to improve your ranking, set a specific set of markers that you want to hit. Write down your goals and post them where you can see them frequently. When you see these goals, remind yourself of why you set them. Remind yourself why you’re so passionate about the sport. This will help you stay focused on your goals and avoid getting sidetracked.
Conclusion
There have been many studies done to determine the success elements of any sport. One of the studies showed that there are three factors that make up 80% of a sport’s success: training, talent, and luck. If you have more than the other two, you’re in good shape. If you want to improve at squash, use these strategies and you’ll see results. No matter what your skill level is, you can improve by doing the right things.
“With a little hard work, you can see your wins increase,” indicates Marc Bistricer.
You’ll get more out of the experience and have a better chance of staying competitive. For more tips on squash playing, visit the podcast of Marc Bistricer.