Squash analysis - Beginner to advanced forehand drive

We go through the development of your swing from beginner with un trained muscles to advanced with fully controlled muscles.
The advanced swing is quick, powerful and energy efficient but takes time to develop but as long as you understand the swing you are working toward you will continually improve as you get stronger.
What stage of development is your swing?

[@meldonellis1051]

This is an amazing explanation for an intermediate player focused on improving his swing. Cheers

[@squashanalysis5670]

It is hard to improve if you don't know how to so hopefully this gives players a clear direction.

[@michaelyu5768]

Thank you

[@squashanalysis5670]

You're welcome

[@TorontoSquashCoaching]

For me you are very relatable❤.

[@squashanalysis5670]

Thanks, I give resource to coaches at no cost so PM me at [e-mail] if you like and I may be able to help you

[@TorontoSquashCoaching]

@squashanalysis5670 that's awesome . Would be very much interested in this!!!

[@uwen1443]

appreciate and shows that u know your stuff. but we can generally state that the swing improvement from amateur to expert is not a change in the swing technique itself-even beginners must learn the correct swing mechanics using the core muscle - but a progressive improvement in muscle strength and contraction speed of core muscle group which optimise the swing technique into the shortest duration.

[@squashanalysis5670]

I agree with you in some ways, the advanced swing becomes more of a pendulum swing rather than a round body swing and you have several different swings depending on the circumstances. You are correct with the core muscle and muscle strength, all advanced swings require core muscle strength and focused muscle strength. Thanks for your input.

[@simesaid]

I hear what you're saying, but if you take that argument to its logical conclusion then it clearly doesn't make sense. For example, a novice player who also happens to be a gymnast should have as well-developed a swing as Mustafa Assal! Yes, greater levels of match fitness - including having more core strength, more attuned muscle specification, and more fast-twitch muscle "memory", _will_ naturally all improve a player's swing action. But you should still _always_ be paying conscious attention to improving technical aspects of your swing wherever that is possible.

[@squashanalysis5670]

@@simesaidYou are clearly an experienced player and I appreciate your view. There is not one swing that fits all situations and you blend different swings depending on your court position, opponent position and balanced ball to body position on strike. Players have different body characteristics, some are fast and flexible and others are powerful and strong and all variations in between. I try and not use terms like the "correct swing" or the "right way" and prefer to generalize with beginner, intermediate and advanced which should help players identify if the skill is attainable for them at their current level. Gymnasts will have an accelerated learning benefit but regardless you can not replace years of focused muscle training for high quality outcomes you just need to be training good habits and not bad habits.

[@chrispowell8043]

Everyone should note.... The Follow Through decides where the ball goes. As in the target line. To say... "We get rid of the follow thru" is just wrong.

[@squashanalysis5670]

You are correct, I have found after 40 years of coaching that if you over emphasize the key area you are trying to change you will settle in a happy medium with the result. Players can not swing without a follow through but it will definitely make them reduce it significantly rather than reduce it minimally.

[@chrispowell8043]

@@squashanalysis5670 I take your point. Tho I work on getting players to develop a smaller or shorter swing in less space ie the corners , then open up when in space. As it is possible and desired that a ball can be hit with very little back lift and then follow thru...

[@squashanalysis5670]

@@chrispowell8043 Everything is relative to the standard of the player. If you have time then the full follow through is great and this happens nearly every shot when the ball comes off the back wall but if you have a high tempo game with players taking rising balls then there is little option as show by the PSA players mid to three quarter court. You need all the skills for several different swings so you are completely right.👍