tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78213586386984823802024-03-14T10:57:05.165+00:00NO LET! THE SQUASH VIDEO BLOGTHE FREE SQUASH VIDEO DATABASE - A SELECTION OF GREAT SQUASH RALLIES FEATURING THE WORLD'S BEST SQUASH PLAYERS - ANALYSING TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-27329792099098346532013-11-12T18:18:00.001+00:002013-11-12T22:25:21.776+00:00DARYL SELBY GOING TO HEAVEN - QATAR OPEN 2013If you have never ever beaten a rival that you've been playing against for about 23 years, and then you get a chance to do so by going up 2:0, then again 5:0 in the fifth, and then you go matchball down as you have so many times in your life, and then you still manage to get the win, on top of all with a shot like the one below, then you are having a good day, aren't you, Mr. Selby ;) <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_MdUqfbhvEQ?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-52566124206280699432013-10-03T16:02:00.003+01:002013-10-03T16:02:56.205+01:00THE HEAD-TURNING DECEPTION A LA FRANCAISE - by GREGORY GAULTIER AND RAMY ASHOUR<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is a round-up video of the two semi-final matches of the 2013 Netsuit Open in San Francisco. It's worth to watch every second of it but I would like to point out two shots that demonstrate a type of deception that all advanced/pro players use to a certain extent, but nobody more expressively as <i>Gregory Gaultier</i> (and in previous times, the other great French player, <i>Thierry Lincou</i>): </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
it's the head-turning deception, when you, simultaneously to hitting the ball, turn your head in the opposite direction of where you in fact are going to hit the ball. In the below video, <i>Gaultier </i>does it on the volley at 0:14. There is also an almost totally identical version of this shot at 4:54 by <i>Ramy </i>(against <i>James Willstrop</i>). And if you prefer seeing how this deception looks like when played not on a volley, but on a drive, then go to 3:58 (even if <i>James</i>, this time, was not confused by it). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So which is the right time/situation to use this type of deception? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I think you need two things coming together in front of the court. 1) your opponent's shot must be loose off the sidewall to make the deception of a straight shot really threatening. 2) you shouldn't be on an extreme stretch as you need some extra hold/delay on your shot to send your opponent towards the direction your are turning your head to. Oh, and finally, strong neck muscles are an advantage as well.</div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/56ZzE8BMiX8?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-35285994174813677652013-09-26T15:03:00.001+01:002013-09-27T07:20:01.604+01:00UNCLE HISHAM, A LEGEND OF HIS OWN: HISHAM ASHOUR vs. SAURAV GHOSAL<div style="text-align: justify;">
As far as it seams <i>Hisham Ashour</i> retired from the PSA (he played only four matches this year, only won one of them - the one in the clip against <i>Saurav Ghosal</i> - and he's not in the draw of any upcoming event). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A shame. What to say, he is a legend in his own way, one of the greatest, if not the greatest shotmaker of all times and older brother/coach of one of the greatest, if not greatest player of all times, <i>Ramy Ashour</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Notwithstanding his incredible shotmaking capabilities, I could never refrain from feeling something strange, something funny about <i>Hisham</i>. He obviously resembles his brother <i>Ramy</i>, but in some way he is also the total opposite of him. Regarding shotmaking, understanding of the court and interception they are similarly amazing; however regarding speed, agility and mental toughness, there are worlds between them. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Hisham </i>is obviously someone who loves life, not only squash. Not that <i>Ramy </i>isn't a really nice guy outside the court, but <i>Hisham </i>would definitely not sacrifice any type of fine dinner that you would invite him to. No disrespect to this genius, but at times he turned up as chubby on the court that I couldn't believe my eyes and started to adjust my screen's width ratio. I really thought it must have been the uncle of one the players who helped out warming up the ball. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, I remember very well when he made his last attempt to take squash slightly more seriously (from a physical point of view). It was at the end of 2010 after a visibly serious diet, he came back slim and agile (for his standards) in order to ultimately achieve the minimum carrier-goal, being a top10 player (he used to mention top5...) And indeed he amassed victories over such ultra-steady players as <i>Thierry Lincou</i> and <i>David Palmer</i> (who were both still top8 those times).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately it wasn't to be, he peaked at #11, and in 2012 his results - notwithstanding cashing in a long awaited first carrier win over <i>Amr Shabana</i> - got weaker and his ranking got lower in straight proportion with his body weight getting again higher. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, #10 or #11, or #16 is just a number, and regardless of his rankings <i>Hisham Ashour</i> will always be remembered, if not as the best, but definitely the funniest player of all time in the history of squash. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A good friend of mine, who represented Kenya at a junior World Championships event reported to me that the then youngster <i>Hisham </i>told him that he should watch out, as himself and his brother will soon rule the squash world. He was definitely not far away from the truth, as one of them became indeed the best, and the other one the most entertaining player out there.<br />
By the way, I wish I was wrong, and there will be soon another diet... </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5FDBs5UveSE?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-38495254223726495172013-09-21T18:10:00.001+01:002013-09-21T19:10:25.687+01:00HUNTING HIGH AND LOW: RAMY ASHOUR vs. CAMERON PILLEY<div style="text-align: justify;">
Obviously when <i>Ramy Ashour </i>is involved in a rally where he has to chase the ball it's always hilarious: such is his agility, speed and most of all, his extraterrestrial interception. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But even when it's that entertaining, there are also lessons to note: when you watch the rally for the second time, observe to what extent they use the very low (just above the tin) and the higher parts of the frontwall. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Common players hit mostly the mid range of the wall, <i>Ramy </i>and <i>Pilley </i>play in average at least every second ball either just above the tin or over the service line. Good squash - or as I like to call it: beautiful squash - always requires not only to use all four corners of the court, but also the full range of the frontwall, and pretty often the extremities of it. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ALu9hh-S1r4?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-42187720379570712622013-09-17T10:27:00.003+01:002013-09-17T10:30:26.369+01:00THE DAVID PALMER EFFECT: STEVEN COPPINGER vs. SIMON ROSNER<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the best surprises of the last 12 months was the progress that <i>Steven Coppinger</i> has been showing on the PSA World Tour. <br />
About two years ago he went down to Florida to start to train with retired legend <i>David Palmer</i>; by doing so, he joined <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/04/miguel-angel-rodriguez-great-david.html" target="_blank">another much progressed player <i>Miguel Angel Rodriguez</i></a>. By now you can clearly notice the influence that the iron man - or the marine, as some call him - has had on both of their playing styles and results (in the current September 2013 PSA Rankings they are #16 and 17# respectively).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Coppinger </i>was a brave a top50 player before with a good complete all-round game and the typical slight lacks that distinguish the top20 from the players ranked below. In <i>Coppinger</i>'s case it was clearly the physical aspect that needed an upgrade to achieve better results; he is very tall and that's clearly not an advantage in a sport where every two seconds you need to bend, lounge and brake at the end of a sprint. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Steven </i>told me about his brutal off-court training regimes with <i>Palmer </i>(you can make yourself an idea if you watch <a href="http://youtu.be/gGdxyQspchY" target="_blank">this clip by squashskills</a>). In squash, balance is essential and <i>Steven </i>is now really steady on his foot even at heavy stretches and severe lounges. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Note how quickly he recovered from a wrong-footed position at 0:34 to play a beautiful forehand drop shot, how well he hit and regrouped to the 'T' after a heavy stretch to the deep backhand corner, his quick reaction in the middle at 1:08 and the excellent reaction-volley at 1:21, and after all that hard work he still had the strength to get into a perfectly balanced position to execute a winning forehand drop shot to conclude this mega rally. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Simon Rosner</i> and <i>Steven Coppinger</i>, two tall men to watch next to the giant that <i>James Willstrop</i> is in both senses of the term.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zH4yCs2ZlaU?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-69951790559666530062013-07-10T13:52:00.000+01:002014-03-16T22:10:16.554+00:00PETER MARSHALL: SHATTERED - BEST SQUASH BOOKS II.<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpPr9YOGcoiy1Dub5Foq1vnHXhWXzoWJG38O19uqFfC6DNNtKoyD2jCuJIqagloTpBUmtq_6sGCwM-j6UpedWAjST9ScEk2NH618uiGDNLL8_i1Ja-aP0v0jo9nNRqLBAvhDqfznaKTg/s1600/Peter+Marshall+Shattered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Peter Marshall Shattered" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpPr9YOGcoiy1Dub5Foq1vnHXhWXzoWJG38O19uqFfC6DNNtKoyD2jCuJIqagloTpBUmtq_6sGCwM-j6UpedWAjST9ScEk2NH618uiGDNLL8_i1Ja-aP0v0jo9nNRqLBAvhDqfznaKTg/s200/Peter+Marshall+Shattered.jpg" height="100" title="Peter Marshall Shattered" width="70" /></a></div>
<i>Peter Marshall</i> is a well known name in squash history: a former world #2 (in 1995)
and protagonist of a brand-mark double-handed hitting technique. However, his
name is not only linked with his particular technique and great
achievements, but also with a disease that ruined in big part his
carrier and his ambitions of going one step further and becoming world
#1. <i>Peter Marshall</i>'s <span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) </b></span>generated quiet some
question mark and debate in its time, but all the external controversy
was insignificant compared to the inner fight that <i>Marshall </i>himself
put into the understanding and handling of his disease. Writing (with the help of co-author Nick Kehoe)
a book about it became, I presume, part of the healing process. The book was published in
2000 under the title <b><span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>Shattered: A Champion's Fight Against a Mystery Illness</i></span></b>; it's a very well written book analysing with honesty <i>Marshall</i>'s personal and professional issues and
describing the surrounding world of squash in fine and entertaining
detail. In the below video you can see the last few rallies of a match <i>between Peter Marshall </i>and <i>Jansher Khan</i>, and underneath you may read on our in-depth review of the book (apologies if it seems almost as long as the book itself, but I got carried away as I found it really intriguing, maybe a fraction even more than <i>James Willstrop</i>'s recent <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/06/james-willstrop-shot-and-ghost-and.html" target="_blank"><i>Shot and a Ghost</i></a>).
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IcpsAptkDvo" width="640"></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>The first part of <i>Marshall</i>'s</b> </span>squash carrier was pretty straight forward.
Even though he had a very unorthodox two-handed racket-technique inherited form
his early childhood when he simply couldn't bear the weight of the
heavy wooden rackets, he has won basically all the main British junior
titles and became relatively quickly a world top10 player in the early
nineties. At that time, <i>Jansher Khan</i> has already substituted Jahangir
Khan at the top of the squash world (no one else in squash history has
ever established such a dominance compared to the rest of the field as
those two). <i>Marshall </i>was one of those players who got to the finals of
the main tournaments just to be stopped all the time by <i>Jansher</i>. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>However, whilst other players</b></span> might have become disgusted and gutted
with the constant defeats, <i>Marshall</i> put himself into a mindset where
every defeat became a lesson to take in order to achieve the long-term
goal: beating and substituting <i>Jansher Khan</i> as the world #1. It was not
to be. By the time <i>Marshall </i>became world #2, his disease obliged him to
stop playing professionally and hang up the racket for two years, just
to make a short comeback tentative in 1997 (in which he still managed to
beat the then up-and-coming sensation Jonathon Power), and then being
out for another two years to make his ultimate comeback in 1999 when he
managed to climb back very quickly into the world top10. Soon after
though, he was out again, then for good. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>So what was this disease,</b></span> how come it came out at a peak-stage of <i>Marshall 's carrier</i> so close to the top of the world (rankings)? Was it purely a
psychological problem as many have presumed or does CFS also have physiological roots? If yes, what was the link between the psychological and the physiological aspects?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>At the very beginning,</b></span> <i>Marshall </i>had to struggle even
with the fact that the doctors couldn't really diagnose his disease.
He's done all the tests, but there was nothing wrong with them. In a
later stage, when at least someone came up with the name of Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), he still had to face either scepticism or lack of knowledge about the eventual forms
of treatment by the doctors.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>Unlucky for <i>Marshall</i>, the disease started</b></span> to become more specifically
diagnosed/known by the medical world only after the end of his carrier. By
then, it was commonly assumed that there is a viral infection at the
origins of this disease. It is a virus (in <i>Marshall</i>'s case glandular
fever in his youth) that weakens the immune system which then will
become more sensitive to other infections. Of course, not everybody who
had glandular fever will have CFS and <i>Marshall </i>himself went up to world
#2 before CFS struck him in such degree that he was not able to play
anymore. <i>Marshall </i>comes to the conclusion that CFS was probably the
result of a self-defensive mechanism of his body that he had put under
exaggerated training regimes in order to try to fight the supremacy of
<i>Jansher Khan</i>. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b><i>Marshall</i>'s idea was that <i>Jansher </i>covers</b></span> the court too well, so there is
no way to win rallies with quick winners; he presumed that the only way
to win against him would be to make the rallies last as long as possible
in order to tire his opponent and squeeze the points out of him. <i>Marshall </i>thought age too would
be on his side, <i>Jansher </i>- even though extremely fit himself - must start
to fade at some point. In the book <i>Marshall </i>refers to himself as
probably one of the fittest athletes in the world of his time, and to
get to this stage he was not shy to afflict his body with horrendous
amount of stamina and muscle exercises. Only five years later, at his
second comeback did he realise that what he did is commonly called
over-training, which in his case - in the complexity of having had a
weakened immune system and having had to climb a mountain called <i>Jansher
Khan</i> - turned out to be fatal.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>It must have been an interesting situation:</b></span> there was the mind and iron
will of <i>Peter Marshall </i>on one side to fight and beat the beast (<i>Jansher</i>)
and there was on the other side the body of <i>Peter Marshall</i> that could
just not cope with the mind's and will's projects. <i>Marshall </i>thought of
himself exclusively in terms of mind and will; he considered his body as
an everlasting tool that would execute anything he dictates him. I think
mentally and psychologically that was the greatest error that <i>Marshall
</i>committed: founding his fight against <i>Jansher</i> mostly on a physical basis
(the idea of making their rallies last). By doing so, he basically
admitted that he could not beat him with the racquet (shots) or with the
head (deception/anticipation) and this in itself might have produced
unconsciously a complex of inferiority. Not to talk about the fact -
that <i>Marshall </i>himself describes so well - that <i>Jansher</i>'s general tactics
was exactly based on "rallying", and nobody was better than him in
doing so, because he was more economical than anyone else in the history
of squash in terms of movement but still as quick and agile as a panther. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>And this is another great part</b> </span>of the book, where <i>Marshall </i>describes <i>
Jansher Khan</i>'s playing style in comparison with <i>Jahangir Khan</i>'s.<i> </i><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>Jahangir
</i>used to be an overwhelming</span> </b>warrior; from the very first moment he
stepped on the court he was about to devour you. It was immediate and
constant attacking; high pace, high position on the 'T', lot's of
volleying. Add to this speed and fitness, and often he seamed to beat
his opponents even before they put their feet on the court. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b><i>Jansher </i>had a different approach.</b> </span>He was not a destroyer, he liked to
play slow pace and didn't mind to let the rallies last long, allowing
his opponents to settle and attack, to go for shots. He was using his
opponents attacks to get them trapped; he was transforming their
positive energies into negative, not with one shot, but with a sequence
of shots and with a never before seen stubborn tenacity. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>Personally I do think that from</b></span> a psychological point of view <i>Jansher
</i>must have been the tougher one to compete against. <i>Jahangir </i>was a
terminator, what can you do? You are a professional so you try, but you
are not surprised to lose quickly. With <i>Jansher </i>you might even fancy
your chances, just to understand gradually that you have been trapped
into a procedure called 'slow death'. The even more amazing thing about <i>
Jansher </i>is that he has figured out and employed these almost
philosophical tactics at a very young age; he beat Jahangir first at the
age of 17 and became world #1 at 18. <i>Jansher </i>could afford these tactics
for three reasons: 1) fitness 2) economy of movement 3) incredible
anticipation. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b><i>Marshall </i>was equal if not better </b></span>in terms of fitness, but was way
inferior in terms of economy of movement and anticipation. I know it's a
constant debate in coaching whether one shall concentrate to improve
his strength or work on his weaknesses. But I think when it comes to the
highest standards, there is no way you will outplay your opponent by
concentrating exclusively on your strong points and improving mostly
only one aspect of the game. I think Peter Nicol demonstrated perfectly
straight after <i>Marshall</i>'s failure how to face and prepare against
naturally more gifted players. Nowadays, Nick Matthew is a great example
how to do it. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc;">Today probably Matthew is the hardest</span> </b>trainer out there (just as <i>
Marshall </i>used to be in his time) but he does not rely exclusively on his
superior stamina and mental toughness; you can definitely see how with
time he has constantly adjusted his game by learning from the naturally
more talented players (<i>Jonathon Power, Amr Shabana, Gregory Gaultier,
Karim Darwish, James Willstrop, Ramy Ashour</i> - to mention the most
evident ones of his contemporaries). <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>But Matthew has already a whole institution</b></span> behind him with an army of
psychologists, physiotherapists and trainers. <i>Marshall </i>observes in his
book bitterly that in his time coaching was not as scientific as it is
nowadays and he did not have the same facilities that the current
British players have at their disposition. He had to look for doctors
himself and quiet a few of them were not very sympathetic with him; they
had very little to advise and some of them were even sceptic about the
reality factor of his illness. This, from a professional and ethic point
of view is outrageous I think: whether the problem is psychologically
or physically based, it is there, it creates real obstacles, therefore
it has to be treated. It is in another question if you as a doctor are
incapable of treating it; but then assume it and do not insult instead
your patient.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>In 1999 <i>Marshall</i>, after having tried</b></span> all the official and alternative
treatments proposed by that time, came to the conclusion that he had to
change his mindset in order to be able to live a normal life and maybe
even compete again on a professional level. He found that one of the
antidepressants that he has been prescribed allowed him to feel a lot
better when dosed carefully. In a first time the dose was too high and
created panic and other disturbances, so he stopped taking it. Later,
due to another doctor, he started to take it again, but only a quarter
of the dose he used to take. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it helped
a lot.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cccccc;">And this is exactly what <i>Marshall </i>had</span> </b>to understand and accept:
there is probably no solution, but only ways to handle and keep under
control the disease. The physical way to keep it under control was the
antidepressant, the psychological way to handle the situation was to
accept that there will be days when things go worse, and as soon as he
feels tired he will have to stop training and rest as long as he does
not feel better. He has to cope with this handicap, and if he does so,
he will be more relaxed mentally, which on its turn will also help the
body to relax and recover quicker. In 1995, when the disease started to
turn up, he couldn't have adopted this mental approach; he was a young
professional full of ambition and keen on giving it his all or even more
if possible. As a professional sportsman he was taught to accept only
the maximum end anything less would have worried him. By 1999, he became
a lot less demanding and with four years of desperate searching for a
normal life he has gained a different perspective of the importance of
things. He realized that the main thing is to be capable playing squash
and competing with the best. Everything beyond this will be considered a
bonus. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b><i>Marshall </i>might have committed an error </b></span>by over-training at a certain
point of his carrier. However, he has always accepted and assumed with
nobility and a high level of intellectual honesty whatever destiny
threw at him. And he still went up being world #2 which in itself is
an amazing achievement that only a handful of players have achieved. He is also one of the five players ever to beat <i>Jahangir
Khan</i> in an official match. En bref, there might be one or two things
that <i>Peter Marshall </i>might regret, but there is much more he can be proud
of. He is also a historical example of demonstrating in a coaching-wise
somewhat orthodox country that technique is a totally personnel thing
to be developed specifically by each player. Add to this that he has
always been a really nice and humble person in the flesh. A pretty
complete package to deserve squash fan's true appreciation and
admiration.<br />
<br />
If you want to read the book yourself, you shall be able to find used copies on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Champions-Against-Mystery-Illness/dp/1840183950" target="_blank">amazon.com,</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shattered-Champions-Against-Mystery-Illness/dp/1840183950" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk </a>or on <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shattered-A-Champions-Fight-Against-a-Mystery-Illness-Kehoe-Nick-Marshall-/130923847831?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item1e7bab6097" target="_blank">ebay.co.uk. </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-82002134346462381102013-05-13T15:18:00.000+01:002013-05-26T12:04:46.265+01:00KARIM DARWISH SKILL LIBRARY - LIKE BACK IN THOSE OLD TIMES...<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is a great compilation showing the executional skills of one of the purest and classiest players, at least racket technique-wise speaking. Back in the days when he was world #1 <i>Darwish </i>used to exercise these shots on his top-player rivals, these days we can rather admire them against the slightly lower ranked players, like <i>Ryan Cuskelly</i> and <i>Saurav Ghosal</i> in the below examples. Throughout the 3 year existence of this blog we have been talking a few times about the <i>Karim Darwish</i> drops and his exemplary racket preparation, but let's see again, based on the below rallies, the main features of his amazing technique.</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4wNgGN8GH28?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>1) the forehand drop at 0:12</u></span></div>
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I love to talk about this shot and I think everybody should aim to hit it like that. The amazing thing about this shot is that he mixes up racket-head speed and touch. How does he achieve that? It's simpler to show than to explain but I will give it a try: first of all <i>Darwish </i>menaces for his compact standards with a relative high backswing, then he approaches the ball with his racket in a 'caressing' way; I mean he is not cutting the ball straight up-down but simultaneously also from inwards to outwards. It is also key to observe that, whilst executing this 'caressing' movement, he advances a lot more his wrist than the head of the racket. In a normal drive it is the opposite, the head of the racket is making more distance in the air than your wrist. In the case of the drop shot, in order to achieve that extra cut, <i>Darwish </i>does the opposite: the wrist is almost in front of the head of the racket at the moment of impact.</div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>2) the return into the nick at 0:25</u></span></div>
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Many players can return the ball into the nick when they receive a poor service. But only a few can do that when the service hits first the sidewall. <i>Darwish </i>used to be a master of this solution even if dares to use it a lot less frequently than in the old times. Not sure how to teach this one, but I guess the compact racket-preparation helps for sure. </div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>3) the forehand cross-drop flick at 0:38</u></span></div>
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again a <i>Darwish </i>special, probably learned from the great <i>Jonathon Power</i> (I think in general it is way underestimated how much <i>Darwish </i>must have learned by observing<i> Power</i>'s technique back in the days). Basically it's a similar set-up as in the case of the first straight forehand drop: relatively high (but still compact) racket-preparation (menacing to hit a deep hard drive) but in this case he adds the 'hold' which makes his opponent guess for a straight drop, and as soon as the opponent commits for this straight drop he flicks his wrist for a cross-drop. </div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>4) the backhand drop at 0:57</u></span></div>
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as on the forehand, quick and high, menacing racket-preparation and then the soft touch. Observe that, in opposition to some coaching canons, he is not taking the ball early on the top of the bounce but in between the top of the bounce and the descending of the ball. When the ball is over its top bounce, it decelerates and allows you to control your shot a lot more. If you observe the best drop shot players (<i>Darwish, Ramy Ashour, Willstrop, Shabana...</i>), you will see that 95% of the times the drop shot is played after the top of the bounce.</div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>5) the backhand cross-drop flick at 1:17</u></span></div>
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hard to teach this one. You need to be a top athlete I suppose to have the core strength the execute this shot on the run with such balance and control. There was no time for a hold, but still observe that instead of rushing his shot he was again waiting that the ball exceeds the top of its bounce.</div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><u>6) the backhand trickle-boast at 1:34</u></span></div>
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again a <i>Darwish </i>classic, he used to employ this shot more frequently in the past. The trickle-boast is probably the shot that supposes the most that you are also a severe and solid drive-hitter from any position of the court (also when you are late on the ball or on the backfoot). <i>Darwish </i>is very steady length hitter, hehence his opponents have to expect all the time the severe straight drive; and when they do so, he employs the trickle-boast. Observe that even here he takes the ball late, after the top-bounce. </div>
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By the way, let's also mention that Darwish's exceptional executional skills are founded by a very solid basic technique. <i>Darwish </i>is not <i>Ramy</i>, he will not go for shots 'out of nothing' (well, even <i>Ramy </i>doesn't do that too often if you watch carefully); watch the video again and you will see that almost always there is a very solid basic drive that gives him the opening to show then with his next shot his executional skills.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-43951138224437910092013-04-17T15:37:00.000+01:002015-04-05T09:59:43.378+01:00MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ: THE GREAT DAVID PALMER DISCIPLE<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's been now some time that<i> David Palmer</i> started to coach the funniest and quickest guy on the tour, <i>Miguel Angel Rodiriguez</i>. Just a few days ago we had a very <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/04/vintage-david-palmer-dive-vintage-karim.html" target="_blank">similar <i>David Palmer </i>dive</a> here on the blog and here we have the Colombian cannonball doing even two of them in a row in opposite corners. </div>
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<i>Rodriguez </i>has visibly benefited a lot from the training with his legendary supervisor, but it has to be said that in the decisive moments when the loose shots arise his choice of shots are not yet as good and as sharp as his tutor's used to be. Still it's high quality squash and extremely entertaining. </div>
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Oh, and concerning his opponent, Mr.<i>Willstrop</i>, it's just each time a pleasure to observe his timing of shots: there is a delay on each shot, even on the most basic drives. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_vMGjHe3BU4?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-8485619513840734212013-04-13T13:56:00.000+01:002013-04-15T19:38:56.354+01:00THIS IS NOT AN OLYMPIC SPORT? 15 SQUASH RALLIES THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD GET TO KNOW<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some people don't know squash. Some people know squash but think it is not fun to watch on TV. Have a look at the below 15 videos, a selection of the hardest and most fun rallies of the past few years, and you might change idea. </div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) vs. Gregory GAULTIER (Fra) / 2013 Tournament of Champions, New York </b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yEBiJguscMY?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/01/rock-and-roll-squash-ramy-ashour-vs.html" target="_blank">ROCK AND ROLL SQUASH: RAMY ASHOUR vs. GREGORY GAULTIER IN THE 2013 TOC FINAL</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Amr SHABANA (Egy) vs. James WILLSTROP (Eng) / 2013 World Series Finals, London </b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jRFJE6Ue-ns?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-best-double-fake-ever-amr-shabana.html" target="_blank"> THE BEST DOUBLE FAKE EVER: AMR SHABANA vs. JAMES WILLSTROP</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>David PALMER (Aus) vs. </b></span>Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) / 2011 Tournament of Champions, New York </b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jD6XNnceXPY?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/02/shot-of-century-by-david-palmer.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> THE SHOT OF THE CENTURY: by DAVID PALMER</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><b>Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) vs. Nick MATTHEW (Eng) / 2012 El Gouna International, Egypt</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ko6vgW2xMIA?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/04/it-wont-get-crazier-than-that-2012-el.html" target="_blank"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">IT WON'T GET CRAZIER THAN THAT - 2012 EL GOUNA - RAMY ASHOUR vs. NICK MATTHEW</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><b>Nick MATTHEW (Eng) vs. Amr SHABANA (Egy) / 2011 Tournament of Champions, New York</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1hcmEl9bKRs?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="640"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">about this video</span>:</span><a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/01/squash-going-crazy-tournament-of.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> SQUASH GOING CRAZY: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS 2011 NEW YORK</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Mohamed EL SHORBAGY (Egy) vs. Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) / 2012 PSA World Championship, Qatar</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f5WbnadzK9M?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video:<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-new-contender-for-greatest-rally-ever.html" target="_blank"> A NEW CONTENDER FOR THE GREATEST RALLY EVER: MOHAMED EL SHORBAGY vs. RAMY ASHOUR</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (Col) vs. Thierry LINCOU (Fra) / 2011 US Open, Philadelphia</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QALEN9kJGHI?rel=0" width="640"></iframe> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">about this video</span>:<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/10/probably-most-stunning-shot-of-all.html" target="_blank"> PROBABLY THE MOST STUNNING SHOT OF ALL TIMES: by MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) vs. Nick MATTHEW (Eng) / 2011 Australian Open, Canberra</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6qrUBS5lw8M?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video:<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/08/nick-and-ramy-keep-it-rolling.html" target="_blank"> NICK AND RAMY KEEP IT ROLLING - AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2011</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>John WHITE (Sco) vs. Gregory GAULTIER (Fra) / 2008 Tournament of Champions, New York</b></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/074Gex6vOAs?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video:<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-post_16.html" target="_blank"> THANKS, JOHN!</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Karim DARWISH vs. Mohamed EL SHORBAGY (Egy) / 2012 El Gouna International, Egypt</b></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2lbjezjk4d4?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/05/monster-rally-karim-darwish-vs-mohamed.html" target="_blank">MONSTER RALLY: KARIM DARWISH vs. MOHAMED EL SHORBAGY, 2012 EL GOUNA INTERNATIONAL</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) vs. Nick MATTHEW (Eng) / 2012 El Gouna International, Egypt</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F744p7uoBXM?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/04/great-squash-is-always-fair-squash-too.html" target="_blank">GREAT SQUASH IS ALWAYS FAIR SQUASH TOO: RAMY ASHOUR vs. NICK MATTHEW</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Amr SHABANA (Egy)</b></span> vs. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Miguel A<span style="font-size: small;">ngel RODRIGUEZ</span> (Col) </b></span></b></span></span></span>/ 2011 Tournament of Champions, New York</b></span> </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yg76TbFa6nU?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video:<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/01/squash-going-crazy-again-toc-2012-amr.html" target="_blank"> SQUASH GOING CRAZY AGAIN - TOC 2012: AMR SHABANA vs. MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>James WILLSTROP (Eng) vs. Nick MATTHEW (Eng) / 2010 Canary Wharf Classic, London</b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KNXVsAKqsMY?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video:<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2010/05/canary-wharf-matthew-willstrop-best.html" target="_blank"> CANARY WHARF 2010 - MATTHEW vs. WILLSTROP: BEST EVER SQUASH MATCH?</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Amr SHABANA (Egy) vs. Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) / 2012 British Open, London, UK</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mJCdfIKZ46k?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/05/amr-shabana-vs-ramy-ashour-three-corner.html" target="_blank"> AMR SHABANA vs. RAMY ASHOUR - THREE CORNER SQUASH ULTIMATE EGYPTIAN VERSION</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>James WILLSTROP (Eng) vs. Ramy ASHOUR (Egy) / 2013 North American Open, Richmond </b></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GT9P6aBcWa4?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to read the full No-Let post about this video: <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-extraordianry-triple-fake-by-james.html" target="_blank"> THE EXTRAORDINARY TRIPLE FAKE by JAMES WILLSTROP</a></span><br />
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Squash has finally become a serious contender <a href="http://squash2020.com/" target="_blank">to be included in the Olympics.</a> It has been shortlisted and it has received several prestigious public backings, like for example <a href="http://getsquashintheolympics.com/?p=45" target="_blank">from Roger Federer.</a> If you too would like to see <span style="font-size: small;">such entertaining actions within the Olympics then please feel free to spread these images.
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-24684224560197129532013-04-09T14:37:00.001+01:002015-04-05T09:59:27.190+01:00VINTAGE DAVID PALMER DIVE, VINTAGE KARIM DARWISH EXECUTION<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some vintage stuff in vintage quality (unfortunately), but it makes me miss <i>David Palmer</i> and his crazy dives (which were in such interesting opposition with the general discipline and steadiness of his game). The rally is also telling stories about the Dark Prince, <i>Karim Darwish</i>, who after winning the rally, shows signs of being p... off instead of enjoying the crowd's celebration, having just won a spectacular rally that got him to matchpoint. But okay, it's part of <i>Darwish</i>'s character, he has never aimed to be a crowd-pleaser, however, in his prime times, he was both sharp as a knife and entertaining due to his deadly touch and exceptional reading of the game. He's not the old himself anymore, but he's still there as he has just recently proven by beating new ace <i>Mohamed El Shorbagy</i> 3:0 in the final of the CIMB KL Open. </div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M9F5D7a_K34?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-48262528589443142292013-03-20T13:55:00.001+00:002013-03-20T13:55:12.211+00:00SPEED AND FLAIR, SHOW ME ANYBODY MORE FUNNY THAN MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ<div style="text-align: justify;">
We can be really grateful that <i>Miguel Angel Rodriguez</i> has chosen to play squash. Just imagine what football player he could have become for example (and how much money and fame he could earn with that). Not only is he incredibly quick, he's got also an interesting deception and a special sense of humour that he can express with his movement and shots whilst playing the world #2. Look how cool he waits on the 'T' whilst <i>Nick Matthew </i>is in front of him at 0:26 or the surprise factor of his deep lob at 0:44, or the way he walks after another lob at 0:53, like on a promenade on a sunny Sunday afternoon, or the way he reacts to <i>Matthew</i>'s bump after he sent him the wrong way with a great straight deep forehand volley at 0:56 - it's all quality and funny at the same time. Mr. <i>Rodriguez</i>, you are hilarious and we are enjoying very much your presence on the PSA World Tour. Keep walking! Keep running like crazy!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CW6-c7h-aDs?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-80691492779139476642013-03-06T16:42:00.001+00:002013-03-06T22:38:43.212+00:00RETRIEVING MEANS COUNTER-ATTACKING: RAMY ASHOUR vs. TAREK MOMEN<div style="text-align: justify;">
Probably the two most exciting players to watch on the tour, <i>Ramy Ashour</i> and <i>Tarek Momen</i> give us a pretty good example of how the Egyptians conceive the idea of "retrieving". In their eyes, retrieving is not always just getting out of trouble, it is also opportunity to counter-attack in unattended fashion. </div>
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In general Egyptian squash is labelled as attacking, and it is exactly the attacking mentality that teaches them also, as a logical consequence, the retrieving skills. At the end of the day, <i>Ramy </i>wins as many points with inch-perfect width and length as he does with his more fancy solutions, the volley-nicks and cross-drops. </div>
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Concerning <i>Tarek Momen</i>, this rally demonstrates that he is very near or equal to <i>Ramy</i> when it comes to attacking; but he doesn't really master yet the notion of "squeezing a point out of the opponent", he mostly wins (and loses) his points either with a straight winner or a tin. As soon as he learns just a bit from <i>Ramy</i> how to vary more the factors of pace and heights, he will knock straight away on the door of the top5, in my opinion. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pMPYJeBI5lg?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-21360954020509347822013-03-03T14:43:00.003+00:002013-03-06T23:43:01.733+00:00RAMY ASHOUR + JAMES WILLSTROP + USA = MASTERPIECES FOR THE AGES<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, if there had been only that <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.co.at/2013/03/the-extraordianry-triple-fake-by-james.html" target="_blank">extraordinary triple-fake</a> by <i>James Willstrop</i> at 6:10, matchball down in the fourth game, this match would already feature in the history books. But just two rallies earlier, at 03:49 in the below video, there was the sauciest nonchalant shot ever, by <i>Ramy Ashour</i> of course. And about a dozen of another incredibly skilful solutions executed with casual ease. <i>James </i>and <i>Ramy </i>have a long story together, and for some reason they almost always take squash to an extraterrestrial level when they play in the USA. You know <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/07/ramy-ashour-masterpiece-in-2011-new.html" target="_blank">the 2011 masterpiece</a> at the TOC in New York, or even some of their earlier TOC matches, but I consider a masterpiece even last year's North American Final where <i>James Willstrop</i> demonstrated that IT IS possible to contain <i>Ramy Ashour</i>, it is just god-dam rare as you probably need to consult the gods to achieve it the night before the match. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_fwmPlFeUjk?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-10124385281685984222013-03-02T18:44:00.001+00:002013-03-07T00:06:02.991+00:00THE EXTRAORDINARY TRIPLE FAKE by JAMES WILLSTROPEven though considering the whole match, <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/03/ramy-ashour-james-willstrop-usa.html" target="_blank"><i>Ramy Ashour</i> created another masterpiece</a> against <i>James Willstrop</i> in the semi-final of the 2013 North American Open, finally it's <i>Willstrop</i>'s turn to drive <i>Ramy </i>crazy and make him feel what it means to get a massive "taxi". In some way, <i>James </i>can praise himself of revenging virtually also <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-best-double-fake-ever-amr-shabana.html" target="_blank">the majestic double fake that <i>Amr Shabana</i> inflected to him</a> a few months ago at the Queens club in London. All in all, I think it's just fair that for once, and even if for just a couple of seconds, <i>James Willstrop</i> produces more flair than <i>Ramy</i>. He deserves it as he deserves the standing ovation. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GT9P6aBcWa4?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-91239338792089578612013-02-19T15:11:00.000+00:002013-03-07T00:06:57.711+00:00CAROUSEL SQUASH II.: JONATHAN KEMP vs. MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ<div style="text-align: justify;">
A few months back we've aready had a "carousel" rally with <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/11/caroussel-squash-gregory-gaultier-vs.html" target="_blank"><i>Gregory Gaultier</i> and <i>Simon Rosner</i></a>.and another one with <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/11/chasing-ball-around-house-alister.html" target="_blank"><i>Alister Walker</i> and <i>Chris Simpson</i></a>. "Carousel rallies" are similar to what we call "Four Corner Squash", when every corner of the court is employed/explored/visited, with the slight difference that in a "carousel" rally we've got also looser balls and not always perfect shot-selections; albeit the lower quality of some of the shots the athletic ability of the players allow them to stay in the rally and shift the momentum again with some unexpected solutions and so on. </div>
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This time it's two of my favourite "outside the top10" players,<i> Jonathan Kemp</i> and <i>Miguel Angel Rodriguez</i> who show us some furious volleying and attacking. You might remember me praising <i>Rodriguez </i>a couple of times (<a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/10/man-who-likes-to-go-wrong-way-miguel.html" target="_blank">The Man Who Likes To Go The Wrong Way</a>, <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/10/probably-most-stunning-shot-of-all.html" target="_blank">Probably The Most Outrageous Shot Of All Times</a>, <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2012/01/squash-going-crazy-again-toc-2012-amr.html" target="_blank">Squash Going Crazy Again</a>) this time let's concentrate on his opponent.<br />
Even though I hardly ever had the opportunity to talk about him, I am an absolute fan of <i>Jonathan Kemp</i>; it's "agressive squash" at its purest, such a high "T"-position, chasing always the volley. It's also funny if you have ever met <i>Jonathan </i>in the flesh, as his personality is in total opposition with the aggressiveness of his squash; he is one of the nicest and most modest persons you will ever meet (reminding me <i>Stewart Boswell</i> in this respect).<br />
He is about to retire as far as I know so please make sure to remember one of the great under-achievers of the modern times (his highest ranking having been #20).<br />
If you ask me why he has under-achieved I would guess that it was partially due to the very demanding nature of the type of squash that he has chosen for himself; to be that hight on the 'T' and chasing the volley even more than <i>Nick Matthew</i> or <i>Ramy Ashour</i> requires an extreme physical talent and preparation. <i>Kemp </i>might probably have gone higher in the rankings with a slightly more conservative aptitude, but we squash-watchers would have definitely lost some of the unique blend that he has created throughout his carrier with this relentless attacking style. Luckily, <i>Kempy </i>will keep working in squash circuits and we wish him success for his future coaching carrier. We look forward to see some young Egyptian-type English players coming out of his hands...</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g43114p1Uxo?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-35384657255987456062013-01-26T20:08:00.001+00:002013-03-07T00:08:00.490+00:00ROCK AND ROLL SQUASH: RAMY ASHOUR vs. GREGORY GAULTIER IN THE 2013 TOC FINAL<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before this year's event, <i>Nick Matthew</i> said that the TOC is the only tournament where the squash players feel like Rock stars. Well, here you have it, <i>Gregory Gaultier</i> on the drums, <i>Ramy Ashour</i> on the guitar. Super Mario stuff.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yEBiJguscMY?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-53944714910560705882013-01-25T16:04:00.001+00:002013-03-07T00:10:27.331+00:00BACK FROM THE BRINK OF DEATH - 2013 TOC FINAL: RAMY ASHOUR vs. GREGORY GAULTIER<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, we've said it thousands of times already, you get each time the very best of squash for your money at the Tournaments of Champions in New York City / Grand Central Terminal. </div>
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If you follow us on facebook or twitter you also know that my money was on <i>Gaultier </i>for this one. And I was not that far off the truth. But <i>Ramy Ashour</i> is the best player ever, even if he would chose to retire tomorrow. When did he lose the last time? In May at the British Open. That's 8 months being unbeaten in an era where the general level of the field and competitiveness is way higher than back in the times of the other two greatest palyers ever, <i>Jahangir </i>and<i> Jansher Khan</i>. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EPrEIOGuTWo?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-55478043866388787912013-01-24T21:15:00.003+00:002013-03-07T00:10:50.761+00:00JUST THE USUAL TOC MAGIC: JAMES WILLSTROP vs. RAMY ASHOURYou know this blog now for a while, we always try to capture some interesting technical or tactical details based on a rally or two. But sometimes it's just so nice just to keep the mouth open and stare and say a big thank you to the players. Mr. Willstrop, Mr. Ashour, will you please accept the expression of our deep respect. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9PfKq_sa3MA" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-57462957463763935022013-01-19T20:10:00.000+00:002013-03-07T00:11:51.017+00:00BEST AND WORST WAY TO CONCLUDE A MATCH: GREGOIRE MARCHE vs. OLLI TUOMINENOups! Hitting a volley nick is always a pleasure. Finishing a match with a volley nick is always an extra pleasure. Getting your biggest win of your carrier by date with a volley nick makes it even more special. You probably just have to make sure that you don't knock your opponent's head off afterwards ;) Anyway, welcome to the blog <i>Gregoire Marche</i>, one of the potential up-and-coming players to be confirmed in 2013. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/stlWDHB7Aeo?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-60304486882193525812013-01-10T14:56:00.001+00:002013-03-07T00:12:56.663+00:00HITTING THE BALL TO THE BODY II.: AMR SHABANA vs. NICK MATTHEW + 2013 TOC PREVIEW<div style="text-align: justify;">
I guess most of you have already seen the highlights of the PSA World Series Finals, <i>Amr Shabana</i>'s steam roller win over <i>Nick Matthew</i>. The reason why I am getting back to this clip is the shot at 4:01. </div>
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I have never seen a solution like this. Of course, the-cross-court-to-the-body, is a shot that both <i>Matthew </i>and <i>Shabana </i>play with predilection (in fact, they are probably the two best to employ it, as <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2010/12/cross-court-to-body-by-nick-matthew.html" target="_blank">this earlier example also shows it</a>), but it's always played from the front when they are late on the ball and squeezed in a corner from where a straight passing shot would result in a stroke and a wide cross court shot would probably be chased down by the opponent; but this version played from around the 'T' is new to me. I can't decide whether <i>Shabana </i>hit this one on purpose or not, but he for sure he reacted very fast to clear <i>Matthew</i>'s path, who on his turn could not avoid to be hit by the ball. So even if the shot was not intentional, it was very quick thinking and reacting by <i>Shabana</i> to make sure that <i>Matthew </i>can not argue that he couldn't get out of the way of the ball because of his opponent's obstruction. </div>
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By the way, just out of curiosity, did you know that <i>Shabana </i>and <i>Matthew </i>could meet again as early as in the second round (last 16) at the 2013 Tournaments of Champion in Grand Central Station in New York? If the black-purple court of the Queens Club in London is the best court in the world, then the Vanderbilt Hall of the Grand Central Terminal is probably the most beautiful and also the most exciting site for a squash tournament. The mystical darkness and the relative smallness of the Queens Club produces a hermeneutic, almost sacred ambiance, whereas the sumptuous Art Nouveau architecture and the huge amount of noise and light of the main New York train terminal create a much more dizzy, distracting context to play in. </div>
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Will the warrior, <i>Nick Matthew</i> get his revenge or will the squash god that <i>Amr Shabana</i> is maintain his almost transcendental winning mood under the totally opposite conditions? And if he will, will it be also enough against the best current player is in the world, <i>Ramy Ashour</i>? What a final that would be. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L1W-Qaic69E?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-31527938558749794442013-01-08T17:08:00.000+00:002013-03-07T00:13:51.193+00:00OKAY, THE VERY BEST DOUBLE FAKE EVER: JONATHON POWER vs. MARTIN HEATH<div style="text-align: justify;">
So we had <i>Amr Shabana</i> a few days ago concluding a perfect tournament, and producing <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-best-double-fake-ever-amr-shabana.html" target="_blank">an incredible double fake</a> against <i>James Willstrop</i> in the semi-final. I have been reminded then by some attentive readers that in fact, <i>Shabana</i>'s shot is only the second best ever double fake, as the very best has been produced by <i>Jonathon Power</i> about nine years ago. Well, I knew that shot from <i>Power</i>, but I thought to remember that it was an exhibition match, as<i> Martin Heath</i>, just before <i>Power</i>'s lizard shot, made himself two cork-screw lobs (the second one even on a volley!), so it was three exhibition-like shots in a row, but, as I realize now, in a real competitive match. The image quality is horrible as it is dating almost a decade, but latest in the replay from the frontwall camera point of view you will understand the complexity of the faking. And listen how amazed the co-commentator, the great Jonah Barrington himself was!</div>
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Note, even if the image quality is even worse, the second rally where, at 1:08, <i>Power </i>shows another double fake, probably a less spectacular one but still so crazy! Faking first the backhand and then hitting a forehand with unbelievable dexterity. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bwqwQ-vszpY?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-51719798111594359832013-01-06T18:38:00.001+00:002013-03-07T00:14:33.333+00:00THE BEST DOUBLE FAKE EVER: AMR SHABANA vs. JAMES WILLSTROPWe've had in the past a few examples of <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/07/double-fakeing-yourself-amr-shabana-vs.html" target="_blank"><i>Amr Shabana</i></a> and <a href="http://no-let.blogspot.com/2011/08/double-fake-correct-way-james-willstrop.html" target="_blank"><i>James Willstrop</i></a> employing the double fake in the front of the court: showing a menacing a big swing just not to hit the ball with that swing and then hitting a subtle drop shot. Well, in the past Shabana might have missed one or the other, but the below one must be clearly one of the best ever. By the way, it looks like there is no way to beat him on this dark-purple court in the Queens Club, he just won the title again by crushing <i>Nick Matthew</i> after having lost the first game. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jRFJE6Ue-ns?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-81622894820777946012013-01-02T10:20:00.000+00:002013-03-07T00:44:02.094+00:00THE 2012-2013 PSA WORLD SERIES FINALS IN THE QUEENS CLUB IN LONDON<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just as an appetizer for the this year's PSA World Series Finals on the emblematic purple courts of the Queens Club in London - that you can follow from today onwards live on <a href="http://www.psasquashtv.com/page/Home/0,,12933,00.html?WT.mc_id=aff009" target="_blank">Squash Tv</a> if you are not lucky enough to be in the flesh. Here you are, a fine rally showing from a frontwall perspective how it looks like when Maestro <i>Amr Shabana</i> is attacking with almost every single shot of his. Believe me, <i>James Willstrop</i> is a <i>Shabana </i>fan, not less then ourselves. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XCiqpzz3obU?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-23513803004555581882012-12-26T13:53:00.001+00:002013-03-07T00:45:19.850+00:00BACK AND FORTH: THE TEN BEST SQUASH PLAYERS OF 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Last year we did our "back<span style="font-size: small;">-and-forth" </span>year-end <i>resum<span style="font-size: small;">é</span></i> based on the 2<span style="font-size: small;">011 </span>December rankings. This <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">year </span></span>we do it based on the 2013 January rankings, as it is this one that reflects the whole of 2012 (the December rankings taking into consideration the results only until end <span style="font-size: small;">of </span>November, hence results of two major tournaments, the Hong Kong Open and the World Championships in Qatar are only inc<span style="font-size: small;">luded in the January Rankings which we have calculated for you in advance</span>). </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>#1 RAMY ASHOUR</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRziC4M37MX7vgR6MOQHFXT-Cl6-0f3eTJJ6HGQbCFMrgStamWCyDmV-JNKwZAOeiKByMZcfpr4ASRmuRjbNucveHATINYkx6AD9LJkxqPZmOjwGcuwTHhzOXoVSItwtCBd-zCmBESo4/s1600/Ramy_Ashour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRziC4M37MX7vgR6MOQHFXT-Cl6-0f3eTJJ6HGQbCFMrgStamWCyDmV-JNKwZAOeiKByMZcfpr4ASRmuRjbNucveHATINYkx6AD9LJkxqPZmOjwGcuwTHhzOXoVSItwtCBd-zCmBESo4/s200/Ramy_Ashour.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>
After a year of injuries, he is back, stronger and healthier than ever. And he is back to number one as well. Apparently there is now also a new factor - not to his game, but to his mentality: consciousness. He is finally treating his training, his preparation, his body as a real professional, and it shows: no serious injuries and altogether only two losses in 2012, one against <i>James Willstrop </i>in the Final of the North American Open and the other one against <i>Nick Matthew</i> in the final of the British Open. Both time 0:3, both times he has been contained by the British forces. But it can be assumed that those two were bad days in the office, as every other time he met them, he beat them (<i>Nick </i>5 times, <i>James </i>3 times and let's add 5 more wins against <i>Gaultier</i>) in highly entertaining matches.<br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><i>Predictions for 2013: world #1 </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvfdP6PB6S1hwV_uFPAfSsaF3oSddDlQCZnUEaYcxGeUcscmuXZXXM5LBNVQjMC8p-r6udc1Yu-RaKtRDvXbUFJnzaSDQ9oWSJjzWostLu4CLHyeLai9pUJMnbZPS_xnrbG_cZw9PtXo/s1600/nick_matthew_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvfdP6PB6S1hwV_uFPAfSsaF3oSddDlQCZnUEaYcxGeUcscmuXZXXM5LBNVQjMC8p-r6udc1Yu-RaKtRDvXbUFJnzaSDQ9oWSJjzWostLu4CLHyeLai9pUJMnbZPS_xnrbG_cZw9PtXo/s200/nick_matthew_2.jpg" width="116" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><b>#2 NICK MATTHEW</b></span></div>
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I think few of us have realized that <i>Nick Mattew</i> has only lost against two opponents this year: <i>Ramy Ashour</i> and <i>Gregory Gaultier</i>. Okay, against <i>Ramy </i>five times altogether. However, <i>Matthew </i>is still defying age and probability: whilst his notary contemporaries like <i>Shabana </i>and <i>Darwish </i>are clearly on decline, <i>Matthew </i>keeps improving technically and tactically and does not show any signs of slowing down or losing any of his legendary fitness. In last year's "Back and Forth" I asked the question: will he be able to defy age for another year? Well, this time am not asking anything, he has already proven his longevity.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for 2013: world #3 - #5</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6api1tLBzk0x8Q7TzRIK12fLQvnS0OZ4WQCZIWb6hER6A8uVe1vAQDfToIIICEtSr3LtTZ7nEuFek4ZBM-VV5eifpCvPGcDKpSH59SWYLZrVNYCKh6y7NAzrDrAk43TH3XjdHQDpLrcw/s1600/james_willstrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6api1tLBzk0x8Q7TzRIK12fLQvnS0OZ4WQCZIWb6hER6A8uVe1vAQDfToIIICEtSr3LtTZ7nEuFek4ZBM-VV5eifpCvPGcDKpSH59SWYLZrVNYCKh6y7NAzrDrAk43TH3XjdHQDpLrcw/s200/james_willstrop.jpg" width="134" /></a>#3 JAMES WILLSTROP</b></span></div>
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Infact, nothing dramatic has happened with <i>James</i>' level compared to last year, just both <i>Ramy Ashour</i> and <i>Nick Matthew</i> were healthy for the whole of the year and he lost to both of them three times (with only one win on the other hand against <i>Ramy</i>, however that match was a master-class of how to contain a shot-maker). <i>James </i>has had also losses against <i>Gaultier </i>(that's not a shame, and even less so if you consider that he also beat him twice this year), <i>Shabana </i>and most famously against <i>Mohamed EL Shorbagy</i> at the semis of the World Championships at the end of the year.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for 2013: world #2 - #4</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t3sscO0aeUTzwwaplqQmTa2SCj37HzIOd7EN8qLGh92EgfLpWehXwPVvvAhcjRO9LBgZpE1Ef8cCObin4QDGb5Xgif9QQg3tmcfTRiZjEjTTWJqTsCFJyj6qeb3_91zpjGW_vjcJJL0/s1600/Gregory_Gaultier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t3sscO0aeUTzwwaplqQmTa2SCj37HzIOd7EN8qLGh92EgfLpWehXwPVvvAhcjRO9LBgZpE1Ef8cCObin4QDGb5Xgif9QQg3tmcfTRiZjEjTTWJqTsCFJyj6qeb3_91zpjGW_vjcJJL0/s200/Gregory_Gaultier.jpg" width="124" /></a>#4 GREGORY GAULTIER</b></span></div>
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I had the feeling throughout the year that Gaultier was playing incredibly well - he always has of course, but this year he seemed to improve further on, and finally also on the mental level (mostly since the arrival of his first child in June and not considering his headless loss against <i>Peter Barker</i> at the British Open). Hence the #4 ranking seems a real understatement compared to his global performance, but of course, the statistics, the ranking don't lie. <i>Gregory </i>has fad wins this year against everybody (also against <i>Nick Matthew</i>), the only player he hasn't beaten was <i>Ramy Ashour</i> (0:4). All in all I feel he would have deserved, just a fraction more than James, the #3 year-end ranking. It's always unpredictable what's going to be the next step of this moody but highly professional Frenchman. However I have the funny feeling it's going to be a strong one for him. <br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Prediction for 2013: world #2 - #3 </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>#5 MOHAMED EL SHORBAGY</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hrslJ5KAobxD7H0TJQxtV1xVXtaY4U4reJ2YLEuDmKYgXqS9aaVECeZxIK7KX5CPHFJwJoJo_T0VlOqCgbxzYSxtvpMspT98oLVWkIoAjgMkno2mbk1ou_jMnvEO1GeqAgBRwquaR_o/s1600/Moh_EL_SHORBAGY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hrslJ5KAobxD7H0TJQxtV1xVXtaY4U4reJ2YLEuDmKYgXqS9aaVECeZxIK7KX5CPHFJwJoJo_T0VlOqCgbxzYSxtvpMspT98oLVWkIoAjgMkno2mbk1ou_jMnvEO1GeqAgBRwquaR_o/s1600/Moh_EL_SHORBAGY.jpg" /></a></div>
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Last year I said I was expecting big things from him for 2012. The big things didn't come until the very last tournament, the PSA World Championships at Qatar, where he beat in a thrilling five-gamer semi-final then world #1 <i>James Willstrop</i> and just - really, just - lost in another thrilling five-gamer to re-crowned world #1 <i>Ramy Ashour</i>. Anyway, he has matured into the top5, and next year he will be very eager to make sure to beat more than once the top4 above him. Age is on his side. Not that determination, talent, physical and mental strength wouldn't. Only domain where he has a slightly larger room for improvement is variation of pace and of usage of the full heights of the frontwall. But in Qatar there were already signs that he's been considering also these points.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Prediction for 2013: world #3 - #5 </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb9QjL0jU81g75RHVRADYJdiD5rPJ6eP_NJxHy-JWk2Xc7jwR8WocOuM7cIgX93fs13Y15Ejhm3cA3aOUzDqH-RKTXzNkvb3A0nMtn-7aaHEcNI_t1xSAjT9eR6W8J78NaVs-LtO0b-U/s1600/Karim_Darwish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb9QjL0jU81g75RHVRADYJdiD5rPJ6eP_NJxHy-JWk2Xc7jwR8WocOuM7cIgX93fs13Y15Ejhm3cA3aOUzDqH-RKTXzNkvb3A0nMtn-7aaHEcNI_t1xSAjT9eR6W8J78NaVs-LtO0b-U/s1600/Karim_Darwish.jpg" /></a><span style="color: orange;"><b>#6 KARIM DARWISH</b></span></div>
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Well, with all the respect that we have towards this great former champion, there is nothing special to say about his 2012. Already last year it was clear that he is on decline but there at least he has had one big win against <i>James Willstrop</i> in the final of the World Team Championships. This year, no big wins, and his famous terminator-manners against the lower ranked players were not that redoubtable anymore; even if he still only occasionally loses to any of them. Joey Barrington form Squash TV has very well noticed that <i>Karim </i>has been<i> </i>using a lot less two of his major weapons: the forehand kill and the forehand drop. At the end of the year he seemed to realize this and started using those shots more again, and it showed for example against up-and-coming <i>Simon Rosner</i> in the last 16 of the World Championships, but there was not much he could have done then against his - presumable - successor, <i>Mohamed El Shorbagy</i> in the quarter-final, losing for the very first time 3:0 against his talented disciple.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for 2013: world #7 - #12 </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>#7 PETER BARKER</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9wLLILGlyU5_S42nr9MK-6zERYjbTAkMusxLxXKZYMzcOWyzIp8DKleACevkClikAUm8qmS5rcSn-R5wyXmb27HPr_B5BLk7PciJIDId-QNAyZ2HzhS14Ix6cNH5QN3qnHVxL0XK9CM/s1600/Peter_Barker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9wLLILGlyU5_S42nr9MK-6zERYjbTAkMusxLxXKZYMzcOWyzIp8DKleACevkClikAUm8qmS5rcSn-R5wyXmb27HPr_B5BLk7PciJIDId-QNAyZ2HzhS14Ix6cNH5QN3qnHVxL0XK9CM/s200/Peter_Barker.jpg" width="115" /></a></div>
Next to Gregory Gaultier I think that it has been <i>Peter Barker</i> who progressed the most compared to his own 2011 edition. He has always been a role model for smooth moving and hitting, without having the perception/intuition of the top players how to go short. He has now progressed considerably in this domain even if his results and ranking don't show the progress. He's had only one big win this year (a rather ugly one) against <i>Gregory Gaultier</i> at the British Open, for the rest, he's been terribly reliable, even more than <i>Karim Darwish</i>, hardly losing (in fact, just once, against <i>Borja Golan</i> being diminished by an injury) to lower ranked players. Can we expect more from him next year, real top5 stuff? <br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for2013: world #5 - #7</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>#8 AMR SHABANA</b></span></div>
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Even though he has won at the very beginning of the year the World Series Finals - which unfortunately does not account for the world rankings - it hasn't been a great year for the Maestro's standards. In fact, it's been worse than last year (where he at least won one major PSA event, the US Open next to a few uninspired results). This year only one big scalp on his account: against <i>James Willstrop</i> in the quarter-final of the Netsuit Open. But the good news is that he went through a serious training regime during the summer. He looked really fit coming back to the major tournaments in September, but the results - apart from beating once <i>Willstrop </i>- were not really coming. When losing to <i>Nick Matthew</i> in the last tournament of the year he even looked gutted. I hope that was just a wrong impression as it would be great to see him doing a last major effort, even if obviously time is not on his side. But nor is it for <i>Matthew</i>, and look! But <i>Shabana </i>- being a God - is moodier than the British soldier, so it is really tough to predict the combination of how much his body will hold and how much he will be eager to give it a last big push in 2013.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for #2013: anything between world #5 and retirement (hoping to be wrong)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>#9 OMAR MOSAAD</b></span></div>
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The big man, the most powerful hitter (yes, more powerful than <i>Cameron Pilley</i>, I think) of the tour has made the top10. He's been near to it for a couple of years now and in 2012, a single top10 scalp, the one of <i>Karim Darwish</i>, was enough to make this important carrier-defining step. Of course he's had a lots of other good wins against top20 players players as well, beating <i>Tarek Momen, Alister Walker</i> and <i>Tom Richards</i> for example. <i>Mosaad</i>'s power/pace is really outrageous. And the thing that makes this pace even more of a problem for his opponents is that he's got even a fine touch, a good reading of the game and is also moving very well for being such a big fellow - I mean when he is indeed willing to move. Unfortunately he is not always, as he is also one if not the main blockers and fishers in the top100, and that makes this otherwise so intriguing package a bit faded. In this blog we are always concentrating on the positives of each player, or in the worst case the domains that one player might still improve. It's absolutely not our thing to insult anybody and I have even towards <i>Mosaad </i>a lots of respect. However, the above mentioned problems are not only making the life of his opponents tough but also harms the enjoyability of his matches and the general image of squash, and this is not a good thing. I really wish he will be looking to improve not only his rankings but also his reputation in 2013 and then he could become a really characteristic (and redoubtable) force of the top10, or even top5.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for 2013: world #7 - #9 </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>#10 BORJA GOLAN</b></span></div>
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Mad man, crazy man, emotional man <i>Borja Golan</i> is back in the top10! What a comeback! It took him years after his disastrous injury in 2009, but his devotion got him through all the pain (and the rankings). Interestingly I think his off-court attitude is more professional than his on-court attitude. Of course he is a very complete and strong player notwithstanding his unorthodox racket-preparation and movement-patterns, but I think he is capable of losing matches on the mental front. Whereas watching him warming up before matches or warming down after matches is absolute spot-on. For example at the British Open he has already been doing his warm-up routine for half an hour when his opponent of the day, <i>Ramy Ashour</i>, was just coming off the tube station. And what a lesson he gave to the Egyptian genius for two games and a half, just to collapse mentally 3 points away from victory. Bit like <i>Gaultier</i>, he is a strange mix of Mediterranean moods and highly professionalism and as such always a warmly welcomed colour spot in the top range of world squash.<br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>Predictions for 2013: world #10 - #15</i></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7821358638698482380.post-85064291759926803302012-12-23T13:00:00.000+00:002013-03-07T22:23:49.683+00:00THE FOREHAND DROP MASTERS: KARIM DARWISH vs. MOHAMED EL SHORBAGY<div style="text-align: justify;">
To control a forehand drop shot, most players need to reduce their swing dramatically. The two guys who have developed an incredibly skill-full forehand drop technique are old master <i>Karim Darwish</i> and new master <i>Mohamed El Shorbagy</i>. We've had several examples already here on the blog as demonstration, but this is the first one where such a shot is filmed from the frontwall. </div>
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Normally most of the players need to reduce both their natural backswing and the speed of their swing when they go for a drop shot. Try to pause the footage between 0:06-0:07 and you will see that basically <i>Darwish</i>'s (back)swing is higher and quicker than he would do for a normal drive: he really fakes a big and hard shot; the only (huge) difference is that whilst with a hard paced shot you generally also have a big and round after-swing, by playing the drop-shot you have to brake your swing and stop your racket in order to hit the ball softly; pause the footage again a fraction later at 0:07 to see how <i>Darwish </i>used his body balance in order to help to stop his racket with as much control as possible. </div>
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Be assured that latest hot gun <i>Mohamed El Shorbagy</i> has been watching/observing this forehand technique ever since his childhood days every single time he got the opportunity to watch the 'big guys' (<i>Shabana, Darwish, El Hindi, Abbas</i>) training. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5ME63A52oA?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com