How to learn squash
So, I've been teaching myself squash. I have this idea this idea about most things that you can learn just about anything with enough effort, and a good book/strategy. I applied this idea to learning mandarin from cd, and I made out pretty decently. I tried the same strategy to learning the piano -- have some easy music and a keyboard, and do some practicing. I never made it quite so far on the keyboard (but I tell myself it is not that I might need lessons or anything, but more that I didn't work at it enough).
So, I started learning squash. My strategy for learning was pretty much play a lot of squash, and lose a lot, but gradually get better. This has taken me to a certain point, and I'm sure can take me further, but I wonder, is there a more efficient way to learn squash?
I got to thinking about how to better learn the game last weekend. I had played some squash with Charlie, and he had smoked me worse than I liked. I went back to the courts later on my own, just to practice hitting. By trial and error, I worked out some exercises that seemed useful:
I practiced for quite a long time, and left the court feeling pretty good about my improvement. The Harvard gym had to put my improvements in perspective however -- while I was practicing, the 12 court squashplex had filled with kids competing in some sort of kids squash tournament. They were generally about half my height and, uniformly, could have destroyed me on the squash court.
So, any advice friendslist, on the best way to learn and improve at squash?
So, I started learning squash. My strategy for learning was pretty much play a lot of squash, and lose a lot, but gradually get better. This has taken me to a certain point, and I'm sure can take me further, but I wonder, is there a more efficient way to learn squash?
I got to thinking about how to better learn the game last weekend. I had played some squash with Charlie, and he had smoked me worse than I liked. I went back to the courts later on my own, just to practice hitting. By trial and error, I worked out some exercises that seemed useful:
- Hitting the ball not that hard, but accurately at a certain point on the wall
- Hitting the ball as hard as I could, and returning it as long as I could
- Returning the ball repeatedly without letting it hit the ground
- Any of the above exercises, but trying to alternate forehand and backhand swings
- Trying to continually hit forehand or backhand strokes parallel the wall
I practiced for quite a long time, and left the court feeling pretty good about my improvement. The Harvard gym had to put my improvements in perspective however -- while I was practicing, the 12 court squashplex had filled with kids competing in some sort of kids squash tournament. They were generally about half my height and, uniformly, could have destroyed me on the squash court.
So, any advice friendslist, on the best way to learn and improve at squash?