|
|
|
Any
SQUASH anyone? |
|
What does that mean?
As I make the move across to the “dark side” from my own game of
Squash to the American Hardball Doubles game, life and the
word ‘Squash’ now have new meaning!
To clarify…
‘Squash’ as I know it, over here they call ‘Softball’.
‘Squash’ as they know it over here, I call Hardball
(whether it’s the Doubles or singles game).
‘Softball’ as I know it is a game likened to baseball
but the ball is bigger and you ‘pitch’ under arm.
So when somebody here in America asks me if I want to join in a game
of ‘Squash’ I still find myself asking whether that would be
Hardball or Softball!
Well, from now on I am going to speak their language in this
article. Ok!
|
|
Chris Walker
Chris Walker, former world
number four, Captain of England's European and World champion teams,
World doubles champion, still in the world's top ten at the age of
35, and the only qualifier ever to reach a British Open final,
is concentrating on coaching and Hardball Doubles in the USA these
days.
Here he explains the differences he's found and offers tips to
players of both codes.
We'll be following Chris' exploits in the forthcoming ISDA Hardball
Doubles season ...
|
Chris in the 'old' days ...
|
Any Squash anyone?
Having played Softball singles all my life and a little Softball
Doubles it was always going to be a challenge (especially as a Brit)
to welcome and convert to the American Doubles game.
“ But”, I thought, “in the twilight of one career, why couldn’t I
prepare for another? The two games both have rackets, balls and
walls. Surely it’s not that difficult to translate 30 years of
Softball experience to the Hardball game! Just a couple of games
would do it; and I’d only have to stand on the left wall of the
court hitting forehands for the next 10 years!”
I was excited about playing the game because it would give me a
chance to continue to play at the top level of a professional sport
and help wean myself away from the Softball circuit that I loved.
Having said that, I didn’t really know what to expect.
 Under
the watchful eye of my current Doubles partner, David Kay
(formerly of the Union Club, NYC), I made a commitment to learn the
game and compete on the ISDA (International Squash Doubles) tour
where suddenly I was one of the younger players on the circuit! In
Softball the average age of a top player is probably about 27 (at
the age of 36 I have been the oldest touring Softball pro for
several years). The ISDA was definitely different…… I think the
players’ average age is nearer 35!
That was 4 years ago, time enough to reflect on the two racket
sports and have a considered opinion on both. In our first season
Kay and I reached a team ranking of 4, so that proved my Softball
experience was useful in enabling me to compete at the highest
level. It was also encouraging for me - my career expectancy as a
Softball player was already way past its sell by date!
|
The games are different
The swing is shorter and quicker on a Doubles court because the ball
is faster off the wall and through the air. With players like
Damian Mudge around, pace is also a big way of winning points –
you would rarely see a Softball pro being out-gunned by sheer power
on the ball. Something that Mudge always has the capability of doing
should you leave him with the opportunity.
 A
fun element in the Doubles game, which is not part of the Softball
singles game, is the value and necessity of Teamwork.
Building an understanding between you and your partner is crucial to
any kind of success. The introduction of strategies such as focusing
your attack on one of your opponents to expose a weakness, or
forcing an error because of relentless pressure, adds an extra
dimension. There is also an evolution of skills and understanding
between Doubles’ partners that noticeably improve through regular
matches. |
Different Winners
It’s interesting also that winning shots, or potential winners, play
a different role in each of the racket sports. In Doubles there are
many opportunities during a match for someone to play an outright
winner using the angles of the court and the speed of the ball. In
Softball you have to move your opponent around the court and wait a
lot longer for a dividend from playing great shots.
 This
may come about because you have worked your opponent so hard that
they cannot physically live at the pace of your game anymore. They
are too tired to continue effectively because they have been
patiently and relentlessly moved around the court until they just
can’t anymore!
The instant gratification is there in the Doubles game but in
Softball you get the pleasure of seeing more of your opponents
leaving the court in a pool of sweat, blood and tears that have been
brought about by the slow painful attritional side to the game. It’s
definitely more sadistic!
Jonah Barrington (ex-world Champion and British Open
Champion) wrote a book called ‘Murder in the Squash court, the only
way to win’…. And he isn’t far wrong!! |
Anticipate and win
 A
fundamental mind set and key element in the Doubles game is to try
to always anticipate what the opponents potential winning shot is
going to be, and then sprint rapidly off the mark to go and cover it
– if any other shot is played then usually one of the team is able
to cover it. (With Softball more shots can be retrieved at the top
level because the ball is so much slower and the court smaller).
With the Doubles players covering one side of the court each a
majority of the time, the most obvious difference in the two sports
is highlighted – you don’t need to be as fit ‘endurance wise’ to
play Doubles because on the Softball court you are on your own,
there’s no partner to carry you for a point or two if you need to
get your breath back.
Having said that I would say that the explosive element (being quick
off the mark) of Doubles is crucial to success at the top level and
a bit of extra upper-body strength undoubtedly helps performance
especially as a match progresses in to the second hour. |
Head Games
I try to translate my experience from Softball competition to the
Doubles game ALL the time. The mental approach, the psychology of
winning and the ‘head’ games on and around the Doubles court are
pretty much the same.
Whatever way you look at it (whether it is Squash, Doubles, Singles,
Hardball or Softball) the desire to compete, to pit our wits against
another man, to play the perfect game, to execute the perfect shot
and have the chance to ‘express ourselves through the game’ is the
motivation.
 That’s
what draws us all back to the little white room, wielding an
adaptation of a caveman’s club to chase around and swing at a tiny
piece of bouncing rubber for an hour or two!
Oh and one last thing that comes to mind … a characteristic that
does stick out as elementary to both racket sports is that ‘lobs’
buy time and get you back in to the rally! Never underestimate the
value of a good lob!
Happy Squashing!
Chris Walker |
|
More from Chris,
plus
coaching courses and dvds:
www.chris.walker.net
|
|
|
