Probably one of the most recognized quips in squash is Hashim’s “keep eye on ball”. Even the documentary they made of the man carried it as the title. Not watching the ball at all times is a very common error to make, especially if you have a tennis or racquetball background. You hamper your reaction time, which in turn makes you have to rush to the ball, giving you little time to get into a good position to strike, which limits your options, lowers your consistency… the reasons go on and on.
The problem occurs when the ball is behind the player. You have to make sure you turn your head – not your body (or hips) – and focus on the ball with both eyes. Not just out of the corner of one eye. Keep your weight forward and racquet up and you should be able to react a lot faster to your opponent’s shot. I am sure many of you have heard me shout “watch the ball!” countless times during a lesson – so much so that it probably keeps you up at night. Hashim also has some basic footwork tips here that I am sure would be rather helpful too!
To see all the blog articles on Hashim, go to: Hashim Khan
