The global COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on everybody. With the PSA Tour suspended until the end of April and most local clubs now closed, it's definitely a very strange and uncertain time for squash worldwide.

BUT... (and that's a big but), it's amazing to see so many amateurs, professionals, and fans shining a positive light on such a negative situation. The sense of community in the world of squash has been overwhelming on social media, with players from all over coming together to share training regimes, challenges, general help, and all-round awesome content.

PSA Content

With no live squash to watch, the PSA have done a great job of giving squash fans their regular fix of professional content. The PSA Youtube Channel is full of awesome segments like 'Signature Shots', 'PSA Rewinds', and, our personal favourite, the 'Greatest Battles' videos, the most recent of which highlights some of the closest matches between Mohamed Elshorbagy and Ramy Ashour.

PSA also post regular content on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts which feature some great trickshot compilations, isolation games, and even videos to wash your hands to...

 

Professionals Share Workouts & Training Tips

It's clear that many people are using this time to work on their strength, fitness, and flexibility to make sure they're fully prepared for getting back on court.

Many squash professionals such as Miguel Rodríguez, Grégory Gaultier, and Nouran Gohar have been sharing squash-orientated fitness exercises and challenges on social media, giving amateur players an insight into the world of the pros, and allowing them to tailoring their own stay-at-home training. English ex world no. 1 Nick Matthew has also been streaming his own regular live training workouts so you can train in real time with an all time great!

Be sure to take a look on their social media accounts if you're trying to prepare your body for when squash clubs re-open.

However, it must be mentioned, one of our personal favourites is Amanda Sobhy's 'In Home Workout' video, if you haven't seen it, be sure to take a look on her Instagram.

You won't be disappointed!

The #toiletpaperchallenge Revolution

Possibly the most entertaining thing to come out of this situation is the numerous squash challenges and trickshots being posted by professionals and amateurs, which are getting more extreme by the day!

(We believe) it all started with Daryl Selby posting a video of himself hitting a squash ball through the middle of a roll of toilet paper... and Bog Roll Bullseye was invented. Over the past week or so players from all over have been posting their own creative versions of the #StayAtHomeChallenge, hitting squash balls at various targets. Many of the best clips have been shared by Daryl and other pros and gone viral within the squash world.

This creativity is doing an awesome job of bringing squash players together through a difficult time, while promoting the sport and giving it an entertaining edge, and we hope it continues even when we're all back playing again!

To finish with, here's one of the best clips from 'The Colombian Cannonball' Miguel Rodríguez:

 

I hope the title of this post grabbed your attention and that you are here because you love the game of squash! I love the game.  I love being able to play, I love running a squash business and I love blogging about squash.

A good friend of mine first introduced me to squash in 2010 while we were both in school.  The Arthur Currie Gymnasium at McGill University had recently been renovated to include 7 new international courts, where I spent my early days learning the game. However, tucked away in the older sections of the facility, there were courts which seemed to be narrower and had sidelines which were step-wise rather than angled uniformly.  Initially I shrugged off these differences and assumed that these were just old-fashioned, out of date courts which were only to be used when the newer courts were unavailable.  However, after a little more exposure, I’ve come to realize that these courts in fact were for Hardball Squash.

A Short Rundown of the Event:

This year's Windy City Open in Chicago was an absolute rollercoaster of unbelievable squash, and was packed full of marathon matches. With some stand-out performances from multiple players such as Borja Golan, Diego Elias, Mathieu Castagnet, Camille Serme, Sarah-Jane Perry, and of course Paul Coll... just to name a few! This tournament certainly wasn't one to be missed.

When someone asks me about doubles the first few words that come to mind are; Dynamic, engaging, social, interactive and entertaining.

The average squash player knows that cut (often used interchangeably with 'backspin') is important on drop shots, but not many players know how it can be used on every single shot in squash.

Professional players will hit almost every single shot with cut.

Just as topspin allows a tennis player to apply more pressure on a ground stroke, backspin allows a squash player to hit more severe drops, kills, boasts and lengths.

 

 

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