Supination: Yes!, Pronation: No!

All:

While stroking, the proper release of the wrist is an essential and immutable squash skill.

Along with a proper release of the wrist, one should use the continental grip when hitting the forehand and the backhand.

Important tip from legendary Jonah Barrington to the acclaimed Geoff Hunt.

“First, Jonah got me to change my grip on the racket from a hammer grip to something that was more, how can I describe it, in my fingers.

“Secondly he told me to undercut the ball and how effective cutting the ball could make me in terms of hitting short and kill shots.

Imagine during practice that you are in front of one of the court walls readying to strike a forehand. Then position your hand of your stroking arm in the supinated position (with your palm oriented toward the ceiling). Now swing your forearm against the wall with the same rate of acceleration as you would with a forehand squash stroke. I shall wager to say that there was no trauma on impact done to your hand.

Now reprise the same exercise with your hand accelerating to the wall with your hand using a forehand stroke in the pronated position - with the back of your hand oriented toward the ceiling. Upon impact: a very different outcome. "Ouch!!"

I think that the trauma induced by this flawed technique may call for immediate medical attention!

Just imagine how ineffective this stroke is. Persisting with this trouble-some top-spin technique also prevents one's fueling further development of all the shots the game has to offer.  Think of how unsatisfied you'll be with your play unless you use proper squash technique to get the most out of your game.

Like I said before - Supination: Yes!!!! Pronation: No!!!! Remember Jonah Barrington’s sage councel - undercut the ball.

People often say a picture is worth a thousand words. Below are a few examples. (Faces obscured to protect the innocent. 😉)

John

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Correct supinated backhand follow-through

Correct supinated forehand follow-through

Incorrect pronated forehand follow-through

Correct supinated backhand follow-through

Incorrect pronated backhand follow-through from a righty    

Correct supinated forehand follow-through

Incorrect pronated forehand follow-through from a lefty

Incorrect pronated forehand follow-through from a lefty

Incorrect pronated forehand follow-through from a righty

Do you need more examples? I hope not!

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