Running Forehand vs Squash Shot

[LeeD]

Squash underspin shot for defense, and quicker recovery with an open stance.
Running forehand for offense, to end the point on that shot, you running into the bleacher's, to kiss the nearest hottie spectator while your shot goes for a winner.

[crazygamer2091]

Haha, that made my day LeeD!

[Phonco]

I think a lot of it has to do with the ability/capability of yourself and your opponent.

If I have to hit a passing shot, then I would prefer a running forehand. Unless I can blast a squash shot Kiefer style or my opponent can't volley underspin, then any slice type of shot will be an easy put away. I

If your opponent is not coming into the net, then the options tend to vary. If I can recover quickly and can hit an offensive shot, then I will go for the forehand. If I know I'll be lagging in my recovery, then I will opt for the squash shot. However, the most important thing for me is to make sure the squash shot neutralizes the rally. If I can't then the squash is pointless, it just gives my opponent a huge advantage. I'd be better off just blasting the forehand and hope for a winner.

If I'm on the dead run, then the squash shot is preferred. I need the extra time to recover. This is barring me deciding "screw it, I'm going to hit a winner" and hoping for the best.

tl;dr

If you can neutralize the rally, and know your opponent won't/can't do anything, then hit the squash shot. Reset the rally and buy yourself time to recover.

If you're confident in your offensive capability, then hit the running forehand. You'll either regain advantage or win the point. This is my (and should be the) preferred/optimal choice.

[mxmx]

I agree that the "forehand slice" shot is generally normal when one is really on the run. Like a defensive lob or a defensive slice, except on the forehand. But that low percentage "squash like" you see these days, to me, is a far from ideal and lazy stroke. It is played with the wrist and not proper technique like one would normally play a backhand or forehand slice.
One can defensively play just as much spin, except topspin, and loop the ball to give yourself time to recover. Or one could reach the ball with better footwork, and play a forehand slice with the correct technique. Any spin slows a ball down. The miracle squash shot is just too low percentage and that can become a bad habit very quickly.

Questions to ask are:
- could you have used better footwork to reach the ball in time?
- could you play topspin or proper technique slice instead?
- Are you serious in hitting that in a a match or leisurely just hitting a fun shot socially?

Imo: Serious shot, hardly ever...leisure shot, sure.

[Off The Wall]

Cheetah's answer is the correct one...if you're a high level player. For high level players there is no debate about which one to use; it's decided for you.

Otherwise, I guess there's plenty to think about.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by Rob1

I find hitting a cross court slice on the run can be equally an
offensive shot as you got your opponent by surprise.

Exactly plus it gives you more time to recover.

[LeeD]

The reason the squash open stanced underspin forehand works is that it is underspun for slow ball speed, it stays low over the net to discourage the opponent from moving forwards, and you stop as you hit the ball, rather than run thru like a running forehand, which gives you better positioning to recover over the running forehand. Plus, an underspin from the forehand side is seldom hit, so it's harder for the opponent to attack. He's used to your topspin forehands.
If you just need the time, why not lob?

[KineticChain]

Originally Posted by Phonco

If I have to hit a passing shot, then I would prefer a running forehand. Unless I can blast a squash shot Kiefer style or my opponent can't volley underspin, then any slice type of shot will be an easy put away.

Here it is
I could watch that all day. And I just might..

[LeeD]

Yes, you could watch it all day, but it's a low percentage shot...which is why you would watch it all day.
Sliced forehand passing shots are tough to hit consistently, especially for a winner. You hit topspin forehands all day, then expect a once in a match slice to win you the point?
How about....lucky shot.

[mikeler]

I hit a beautiful squash shot forehand crosscourt passing shot last night. Too bad I lost the match...

[KenC]

Most people aren't capable of consistently ripping a FH for a winner with good setup, so the chances of hitting it on the run are really low. Everytime I do get to a wide ball while running and rip it the ball returns to the opposite corner for the winner.

Every now and then I may hit a squash shot CC, but usually I just pop the ball up high and deep to their backhand and hope it resets the point.

[Cheetah]

pop it up high and deep to their backhand? are you a lefty?

[KenC]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

pop it up high and deep to their backhand? are you a lefty?

Yep.

But also a righty could pop it up to the same court, or even center court to lessen the angles, and still recover in plenty of time. It's just not a great idea to smack a ball from a bad position to the opponent's stronger wing. I think there are better chances of resetting the point and winning it rather than being able to hit a winner on the run.

Here is where the FH slice is a viable shot as if hit well enough can give time for recovery and hopefully it stays low enough that the opponent has to hit up on it. But I still think a high ball to the BH is harder for the opponent to manage.

[LeeD]

I love this thread.
So, all practice sessions, you hit topspin forehands.
All warmups, you hit topspin forehands.
So, in a match, when driven wide to your forehand side, you look to hit a squash shot underspin forehand for a clean winner.
Good strategy!

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by KenC

Yep.

But also a righty could pop it up to the same court, or even center court to lessen the angles, and still recover in plenty of time. It's just not a great idea to smack a ball from a bad position to the opponent's stronger wing. I think there are better chances of resetting the point and winning it rather than being able to hit a winner on the run.

Here is where the FH slice is a viable shot as if hit well enough can give time for recovery and hopefully it stays low enough that the opponent has to hit up on it. But I still think a high ball to the BH is harder for the opponent to manage.

by 'popping up' are you saying a lob?
and are you saying a righty could pop it up to a righties fh on a running fh?

most running forehands go back crosscourt which for righties would be to their stronger wing. that's the best shot in that situation.

[KenC]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

by 'popping up' are you saying a lob?
and are you saying a righty could pop it up to a righties fh on a running fh?

most running forehands go back crosscourt which for righties would be to their stronger wing. that's the best shot in that situation.

Put yourself in the opponent's shoes. You just hit a wide FH and your opponent is running off court. What shot do you want him to hit back to you? I want him to hit a hard CC so I can quickly hit the open court so that he will have no chance of getting to it.

One thing I have learned in tennis is to not give my opponent his preferred shots to work with. I certainly don't want to help him beat me. If he pulls me off court he is getting a topspin moonball high and deep to his BH in response.

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by KenC

Put yourself in the opponent's shoes. You just hit a wide FH and your opponent is running off court. What shot do you want him to hit back to you? I want him to hit a hard CC so I can quickly hit the open court so that he will have no chance of getting to it.

One thing I have learned in tennis is to not give my opponent his preferred shots to work with. I certainly don't want to help him beat me. If he pulls me off court he is getting a topspin moonball high and deep to his BH in response.

Put yourself in the defender's shoes. The opponent has just hit a wide fh and you are running off court. What shot do you want to hit back? A risky low percentage down the line shot and pray for a winner? Pop up a high ball on the same side of the court leaving the other side of the court wide open and giving the opponent a no-brainer to go the open court and hope that your pop up is high and deep enough so that it doesn't become an easily attack-able chest high ball and hope your opponent doesn't force you to run all the way back to the other side of the court?
Hit it back to the middle of the court where the opponent is waiting and now has his pick or high percentage shots going either to the ad court, up the middle or crosscourt?

Or would you do the smart thing by choosing the high percentage shot which is to hit it back cross court preferably a 3/4 wide shot which gives you more court to hit into, gives you more margin for error, makes the opponent move out of the court which reduces his capacity for power and short selection and thereby forcing a smart opponent to now choose between either
1) the high percentage return which is going back crosscourt right to where you already waiting, giving yourself more time to recover, less area to recover back to and more time to setup, or
2) choosing a low percentage shot by attempting a down the line winner from their wide position?

One thing I've learned in tennis is to pick the correct shots for a given situation.

The correct shot in this situation is back crosscourt. Sure, everybody likes to hit the occasional highlight dtl winner at times but you miss those more often than not.

If you watch the pro's more than 90% of the time they are going 3/4 wide cc on a running forehand. The pro's play smarter tennis than we do so this is what we should emulate.

[martini1]

Can somebody post a pic of a squash shot?
Is it the one where Fed or Djoker streth legs almost to a split, facing the net and scoop the ball back?

[VeeSe]

Originally Posted by martini1

Can somebody post a pic of a squash shot?
Is it the one where Fed or Djoker streth legs almost to a split, facing the net and scoop the ball back?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRhEdF-GVkg

Basically it's a forehand slice.

[Jay_The_Nomad]

Originally Posted by crazygamer2091

Over the summer whenever someone pulled a ball out wide to my forehand that caused some trouble for me, I would resort to a sliding squash shot. Recently, I found myself to be hitting more running forehands and now have completely forgot how to hit a squash shot.

What do you guys think is a more beneficial shot to use. A squash shot will buy you more time when you are on the defensive because it is more like a flat slice and you can stretch out more to reach it. A running forehand on the other hand gives more variety but chances are the ball will come back if you do not hit a straight out winner. In addition, the ball must be reachable to hit it.

Thoughts? Pros and cons of each shot?

Use the running forehand if you think you have time to turn the shoulders, hip load and drive through the ball while on the run.

If the ball is coming too fast and is about to bounce past you, then hit the squash shot because it requires less preparation.