5 Common Tactical Mistakes Made by Club Players - Full Version

Most often, the fastest way to improve is to change the shots you play - the where and when, not the how. In this video, I talk about 5 common tactical mistakes that club players make. This is the full version. The short version can be found here: • 5 Common Tactical Mist...
CONTENTS
00:00 - Start
03:47 - Decision Making
09:25 - Utilise the Height
12:34 - Wasted Power
15:50 - Wasted Serve
20:11 - Take Opportunities!
RACKET REVIEWS
Ashaway Powerkill 115ZX: • Ashaway Powerkill 115Z...
Grays Illusion 110: • Grays Illusion 110 - S...
HIT Drive 130: • Hit Rackets' Drive 130...
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ABOUT MY VIDEOS
I love creating useful and inspiring squash videos.
I try my best to regularly upload high-quality content and I'm always looking for ways to improve, so constructive criticism is always accepted.
I upload solo/pairs/group practice drills, technique and tactics explainers, general squash and mindset tips.
I produce videos on a wide variety of squash topics, some of which can't be found on any other squash channel.
I also review squash equipment and squash books.
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I respond to each and every proper comment, so don't hesitate to ask questions or offer feedback.
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MY MANTRA TO YOU
Do something every single day to improve your squash!
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Phillip. I'm an ex-professional squash coach and was lucky enough to work with some incredible coaches, including Jonah Barrington and practice with some amazing players including Jahangir Khan and Ross Norman.
Learn more about me on my website.
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[@davidwalsh8707]

Philip - you have really nailed it with this video. Over the past year I have spent some time considering each of the points you make and really appreciate your take on them. You have confirmed some of my tentative conclusions and given me some great insights. Regards from Japan

[@BetterSquash]

Glad it was helpful! Keep up the good work.

[@maseraticc2834]

So many excellent points and tips in this video and all such valid points. I could comment on them all, but just to highlight one is the point about using the height of the court, definitely something I can think about so much more and will add another dimension to my game - thank you for posting.

[@BetterSquash]

I am so glad you like it. So often, all a player needs to do is change the way they play - not improve, just use what they have in a better way. We all get stuck in habits and ways of thinking, even in sports tactics, and hopefully this video will break some of those habits.

[@GraffitiWontDie1]

Love your videos, thanks for making these!

[@BetterSquash]

That's great to hear, thank you.

[@coffignewzealand1183]

Thanks Phillip, I appreciate your time and dedication sharing your knowledge . Regards from NZ

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome. Hope squash is booming in NZ.

[@filipecoupe20vt]

Amazing video, thx for all the hard work you put on making this videos, i have learn a lot with them.

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome. Are the courts open where you play?

[@Jegan-ib6kt]

Very well explained coach. Thank you so much.

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome!

[@davidwalsh8707]

I've watched this a bunch of times and am still feeling it is time well spent. Great job!

[@BetterSquash]

That is incredibly kind of you to say so, thank you.

[@suhailwasim]

Just a small gesture of thanks for the immense help you’ve provided. I’ve been playing for a while but with the wrong technique. Looking forward to getting my game analysed by you.

[@BetterSquash]

That's very kind of you, thank you. Let me know if you have any questions regarding the Video Analysis process.

[@DoobleOw7]

Regarding point number three, I think of "how hard I hit the ball" as "how fast will the ball be coming back at me". I often see players trying to get out of a tricky situation (eg. pinned to a back corner) by hitting the ball hard and failing to realize that how fast the ball travels is not only how much time the opponent has to hit the ball but more importantly how much time I have to get back into position. I like to split my balls (forgive the unintended innuendo) into two categories: hitting for space or hitting for time. Hitting for space is the go-to shot: a clean, precise, clinical ball hit with purpose and aiming for a specific target. That is my choice when my opponent is in position. I hit for time when my opponent is out of position (and generally at the front of the court) and all I want to do is get the ball as fast as possible into the open space not caring so much about the precision but with the intent of having the ball bounce twice before the back wall.

[@BetterSquash]

Yes, that's right. The speed you hit the ball should be balanced with the speed you can move. I can probably hit the ball at 90% of my previous maximum, but probably move at 75% of my maximum speed. Something has to be compromised and it is hitting speed.

[@abelheirasquash]

One more excellent video. Thanks a lot!!! 🙌👊🙌

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome.

[@shalindravs]

This is fantastic, really helps and I fully agree, I genuinely make these mistakes even though my technique is good. Will try to keep your recommendations in mind to minimize these mistakes. Thanks 🙏

[@BetterSquash]

Glad to hear you find them helpful. Now you just need to address one or two at a time and hopefully you will see the improvement. Good luck, and remember: DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SQUASH!

[@leonardocosta2826]

Great advices, thanks!

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome.

[@Peacewiser]

great video thanks BetterSquash.

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome, thank you for your kind words.

[@Kayla-qs3ld]

thanks this video was really helpful for many

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome. I am glad to hear it helped.

[@rajivagnihotri3088]

Very well explained. Shows your experience. Grt videos. Pls do a video on different types of serves and how to serve different types of serves from both the courts. How much ht in front wall? How hard to hit. Where should the ball land?? Look fwd to ur video on different variety of serves and how to practice and perfect them.

[@BetterSquash]

Hello, thank you for your kind words about my videos. I promise to make a video about serves.

[@davidjsutherland]

Thanks coach! Great program as always! Here's a crazy thought - do you have a series of how to structure a training program? For example, juniors do 2 hours cardio, 2 hours of lessons, 1 hours solo, 1 league match and 1 fun match per week for 12 weeks. Club level players - 2 hours solo,...blah blah blah. I'd watch that series. Structuring a program for each season for different calibres of players would be a good series. Just spit ballin'. Take care and thanks!

[@BetterSquash]

Sorry for the very late reply. I don't have something exactly like you are looking for because each player is different and a training programme should really reflect that. That said, these videos might be of interest to you: Training Guidelines: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3zdcpeZrb-jaLc Time on court: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4bMZn9sbc-de9U Hope that helps.

[@karlmorgan7888]

This all made sense with sound practical advice, maybe you could do a video on attacking, defending tactics against the...young and quick, ... or hard hitter, or early volley etc good video thanks.

[@BetterSquash]

Yes, I do plan to make some videos like that but for now I, and therefore my viewers, are stuck with me on the sofa.

[@larryditkoff7058]

You make really good points. I think my biggest problems on the court are shot selection and positioning. The things you mention I need to work on

[@BetterSquash]

Well, you have taken the first step to improvement and that is recognising the areas to work on. Go get em, tiger!

[@MrPatrick1414]

Excellent!

[@BetterSquash]

Thank you, I hope it helped.

[@albertoachavalrodriguez2461]

great video!!

[@BetterSquash]

Thank you!!

[@javierhenao9401]

Thanks a lot!.

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome.

[@pedropablonoya7339]

Thank you for all those usefull tips. I will try next time I stay on court...one by one XD.

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome, I hope they help.

[@swingeasyguy]

Hi coach, as always I love all of your videos, so well done with your heart and soul put into it. One question: I'm wired to be an aggressive player and person, and when I take videos of myself playing tournaments, (you've coached me in one of those) I give an average of 6 points up per game by clearly playing the wrong shot, usually going short way too early. I know this, even while I'm playing, I'll say to myself "Don't hit crosscourt", and of course I hit the next one crosscourt. Or I'll tell myself, hit 4 in a row down the backhand rail to length, and then the opponent leaves a fat juicy one up, and i go for it and tin it, because i know it's against what I'm trying to do. Any hints on playing discipline? thanks, David from Canada

[@BetterSquash]

Well, firstly we need to recognise that the shots you play are not exactly conscious choices, they are habits. As with all habits, it's not always easy to suddenly stop. Ideally, we would replace them with better habits, but that's easier said than done. Secondly, start with some drills that reinforce whatever you are trying to achieve. To begin with, make the drill co-operative, which means neither player is trying to hit a winner - you are both trying to keep the ball going. As you get better, adjust the criteria of what is acceptable. For example, when you first perform a drill a straight drive would have no criteria. As you improve it must bounce past the short line and at some point in the future, it must be within the service box width. Then, if it is appropriate for the drill, make them competitive. Score it and start with a serve. Keep the criteria you established earlier. Thirdly, you need to play condition games with a training partner. The conditions are up to you. Sometimes a condition is useful for both players, other times it may only one really benefits. If that's the case, make sure each player gets a fair chance to play the type of game that helps them. That should help you begin to slowly replace your bad habits with better ones. Good luck.

[@swingeasyguy]

@@BetterSquash Thanks so much, you're right, these are hard wired ingrained habits, so I love the condition games idea which I will work on this summer, appreciate your insights, David

[@BetterSquash]

You are most welcome. Don't skip the drills though. They lay the foundation for good habits.

[@swingeasyguy]

@@BetterSquash As a follow up, last night I subbed for our summer league, played a guy who has beaten me twice in the past year, (a runner and 25 years younger) and i thought of your comments; wrote a game plan, stuck to it for once in my life, made only 5 unforced errors over the match of 5 games and won, and was very proud of myself. You had a hand in that thanks! It was all discipline!

[@BetterSquash]

That's wonderful to hear - great job! What I am passionate about is getting amateur players to realise that even without ANY improvements in their fitness or the technical aspects of their game, it *IS* possible to play much better squash (see what I did there?) by focusing on shot selection and gameplans.

[@barrypreshner7188]

Just one question about serving with a novice club player. It's all very well being coached on having a good serve but don't you think it's more important that they have more practice playing a rally than being concerned with winning the point based on the serve? They need game time after all. Just a thought. Thanks for the vids. Very helpful.

[@BetterSquash]

Yes, you could easily make the case for that, although I would advise that they spend at least half their time on court doing drills and make the matches competitive. This particular video is about winning matches, not improving, so that's where that point of view comes from.

[@samrao5889]

Yes, all good points. Specifically no 4, DONT copy the Pros w regards putting more effort in your Service. So I agree that at that level, the rallies are longer & top players r better at Backhand volley return of service, so y risk a Lob serve which might hit the side wall line. To add to that I’d say, the ball is bouncing much more when 2 pros play each other, so a greater chance that a Lob serve doesn’t Stay In?

[@BetterSquash]

Yes, I agree that the ball is MUCH hotter when pros play than when club players play, but pros play with a ball that hot all the time, so it's not really important. Look at how often they lob. They are happy to hit the ball high when the need to. If a club player were to suddenly find themselves using a hot ball, then they might hit it out simply because it's much hotter than they expected.

[@swingeasyguy]

Say "Peggy Babcock" 5 times fast!!!

[@BetterSquash]

I just cut my tongue trying it!