[see also Column Three: Drills for pairs of players]
Pro Tips: Improve your Squash with Cyrus Poncha
Column Number Four: Drills for Coaches to use with groups of 3 or more.
June 18, 1999 Bombay ©1999 Cyrus Poncha and SquashTalk. All rights reserved.
Cyrus Poncha is Indian National Juniors Coach and a leading coach in the squash hotbed in Bombay, India. In addition to his highly regarding coaching activities, Cyrus and his brother Neville have
created an excellent coaching website, dispensing information and advice for the improvement of your
game. You can browse Cyrus's Squash Website at:http://www.cyrus.indianet.org
Dear Squash Player:
Here are some drills to help you improve your game this summer. I have found all of these drills to be at the same time simple but particularly useful in getting students to think about the objectives of their shots, to find the flaws in their games themselves, and to work on improving themselves.
1. CIRCLING
Purpose
Hitting drives in the target area (service box) along with achieving early racket preparation, using both left
and right feet to hit the ball and keeping the ball tightly along the wall.
Routine
For 3 or more players - players take turns to straight drive the ball to land in the target area (service box),
then move to the T and join back the queue. Players must aim for the longest rally or drop out after
loosing 3 lives.
Duration
This should be done 10 minutes on each side - forehand 10 minutes; backhand 10 minutes (Total 20 minutes)
Difficulty
Average
2. SPEED DRIVES
Purpose
Moving swiftly from one side to another hitting straight drives under pressure.
Routine
For 3 players - Player A on T plays straight drives, player B and player C standing on the
short line, on opposite sides with a ball each, feed alternate straight shots. Player A has to move as fast
as possible from side to side hitting the drives accurately under pressure. Player A, B and C then rotate.
Duration
Each should do this for 4 minutes or else time the player hitting 100 drives.
Difficulty
Average
3. HIGHER - HIGHER
Purpose
Hitting lobs, trying to pass
opponent who stands at the T, trying to volley the lob and finally, hitting accurate boasts.
Routine
For 3 players - Player A stands in the front of the court and tries to hit X-court lobs. Player B on T and tries to volley straight or cross-court the lobs hit by
player A. Player C standing at the back of the court hits accurate boasts. Players A, B and C then rotate.
Duration
Each should do this for 10 minutes
Difficulty
Advanced
4. KILLERS
Purpose
To be able to kill consistently,
hit short winners of any loose ball hit by opponent. Ball should hit the nick or bounce twice before the short line.
Routine
For 3 players - Player A on T tries to kill the ball with either a nick or a kill drive, straight or cross-court,
player B and player C standing on the short line, on opposite sides, feed straight or slow boasts. Player A has
to move from side to side hitting the kills. Player A, B and C then rotate.
Duration
Each should do this for 10 minutes.
Difficulty
Advanced
And finally - Have fun!
Your friend, Cyrus
