The
ability to anticipate volleying opportunities and to volley competently so
that you can dominate the T are crucial. Volleying skills are easily
improved with solo practice and your ability to react to volleying
opportunities can be developed with pairs practice. The ability to use the
volley in matches can be developed in easier practice games where a player
specifically looks for and sets up these opportunities.
An easy
way to practice volley opportunities in pairs is to move to the short line
(the line that goes across the court) or further forward if necessary and
practise volleying across to each other. Initially feed the ball for your
partner within reach but clear of the body so you can both get into a
rhythm.
Step back
from each shot, leave room, bounce on your toes, snap your racket up early,
hold it there and then punch with a short swing. Gradually build up pace and
vary the shots, perhaps even playing into the side wall or body to test each
other’s reactions.
Initially
if you are starting out with this practice you may move to the front of the
court and see how many you can play together. This is great for
concentration and children love it.
One of
the things we would like to be able to do in squash is volley straight off
crosscourt shots. This needs a little adept positioning to the side of the
ball and we must let the ball come to a later impact point than the one for
the easier crosscourt volley. You may like to volley straight once or twice
off the crosscourt, then volley crosscourt again. One of the really
important things you can practise while you do this, is to study your
opponent and try to read when the crosscourts are coming – the key is in the
ball position in relation to your opponent’s body. Watch both ball and body!
Change
your partner into an opponent with the volley crosscourt game. From one back
quarter, volley crosscourts to land the ball in the opposite quarter, that
is your opponent’s territory. Your opponent volleys to your quarter. If you
land the ball within the quarter, that is beat your opponent’s volley, you
win a point; if you hit outside it, your opponent wins a point. (The first
shot, that is the serve, doesn’t count. Adapt the rules as you wish – maybe
you will exclude shots that his the backwall on the full.)
1. Players A & B volleying across to each other to practice their volleying;
2. Players A & B practice straight volleying off a crosscourt. Here Player A
hits two straight volleys to himself then crosscourts.
3. Initially while players are learning it may be useful to do this front
court.