2011/09/24

Weight transfer 重力轉移


I have observed that most squash players only use the arm to hit the ball. Yes, the arm is directly involved in swinging the rackets, however, the rest of the body should also facilitate to supplement this action otherwise it's as if the rest of the body is disinterested in the action of the arm. Because only the arm is doing all the work, the arm has to use a lot of excessive force to achieve this. The result? A very forceful looking shot which lacks timing and accuracy not to mention the inability of the rest of the body to keep its balance after the shot is performed.
我發現很多的人在打壁球時只用到手臂的力量,的確手臂擺動會直接影響揮拍,但是揮拍時也必須一併帶動全身,不然你整個揮拍動作會變得很僵硬不自然。只用手在出力的結果就是你不但要花很大的力氣去揮拍,你還會失去打球的時機跟準度,更不用說讓你的身體在揮拍後保持平衡了。

For a shot to be natural and effortless, a few basic requirements must be met:
要自然且不費力地擊球 必須要達到下列幾點:
1)    Body must be balanced
身體必需平衡
2)    Body must be aligned
身體要諧調一致
3) Good racket length distance between you and the squash ball.
人跟球要維持一段距離讓球拍有足夠的空間擺動
4) Relaxed upper body but firm core muscles to keep the upper body from tipping over
放鬆上半身但是核心肌群要穩定以避免上半身過分翻轉
5) Strength in the legs
下盤要有力
6) No twisting or turning of the hips and waist
臀部,腰不能扭轉
7)Timing (Hand-eye co-ordination)
擊球的時間點 (眼手協調)

The momentum of the ball is the product of the mass and the velocity generated by the racket. Therefore the speed of your shot can be determined by either increasing the speed with which you swing your racket, or by increasing the mass of your racket. The discussion in this article is "how to increase the mass of your racket?". You can either buy a heavier racket or you can utilise "weight transfer". Weight transfer is the technique where you transfer much of your body's weight behind the swing. So even though your racket may only weight 140 grams, after weight transfer, the racket may have as much as 2 kg of mass behind the swing. Because mass has increased during a weight transferred shot, the swing does not need to be as fast, reducing the excessive force required of the arm. For beginners, a slower swing would help improve the timing and accuracy on a shot. When the racket head is moving slower you are more able to observe the racket angle of the racket head. Racket angle ultimately determines the direction of the ball. Of the 7 points mentioned above, points 1-6 are required to facilitate weight transfer. Real power comes from the legs. The arm controls the racket head angle and the legs provide the power behind the swing.
球的動量來自於球拍擊球後產生的重量和速度。因此,球速取決於你擺動球拍的速度,或是球拍的重量;擺動越快或球拍越重,球速會越快。在這篇文章中討論的是「如何增加球拍的重量」?要不購買較重的球拍,或利用「重力轉移」。重力轉移概念在移轉大部分身體的重量到你揮拍的擺動。即使你的球拍可能僅有140克,重量移轉後,揮拍所產生的力量,可能就如同擺動2公斤球拍所產生的力量。因為重量因「重力轉移」增加,揮拍並不需要求快,這樣可以減少手臂用力過度。對於初學者來說,速度較慢的擺動,將有助於提高在擊球的時機和準度。當球拍移動速度較慢,你更能夠觀察到拍面的角度,拍面的角度最終會決定球的方向。在上述7點裡,16點都能促進重力轉移,真正的力量來自下盤,手臂控制拍面的角度而下盤才是擺動的力量來源。

When the hips are twisting and turning, there is no weigh transfer in the shot. When power comes from twisting of the hips, the legs become off-balanced and the body becomes distorted. Inevitably a poor shot results as the racket head angle is affected by the excessive movement of the body.
一旦臀部扭動,就無法重力移轉。當力量來自臀部的扭動時,下盤失去平衡、身體也會歪曲。難免身體會過度移動,影響拍面角度導致球就打不好。

When the body is relaxed, balanced and aligned, the mind also becomes calmer which leads to better decision making and greater enjoyment of the game. When the body is tense, off-balanced and distorted, the mind becomes frustrated and aggressive leading to overall poor decision making and performance.
比賽時當身體放鬆、平衡和諧調一致,思緒也變得清晰而會有更好的決策和更多的樂趣。相反地,當身體處於緊張狀態,失衡和扭曲,心情就會變得沮喪導致不佳的決策和表現。

To improve on your timing, make sure you watch the ball right until the squash ball makes impact with the squash racket. Many squash players shift their head to the front wall just before the moment of impact which often results in the squash ball hitting the frame of the squash racket. You will require another person to feed you balls which are travelling at the same speed, height and angle so that all other variables are removed and only timing of the shot remains to be practiced.
為提高時機,必須盯著球看直到球跟球拍兩者相互影響後。許多球員在那個相互影響時刻前就轉頭看前牆,往往導致球擊中球拍的外框。你將需要請另一個人用在同樣的速度,高度和角度穩定地餵球,這樣才能排除其他所有變因,你也才能純粹練習出手擊球的時機。

Translated by Wendy
Copyright © [20/09/2011 by Hugh Kuo]

Being relaxed for squash (Part I) 放輕鬆打壁球 (之一)

What does "being relaxed" mean? The state of being relaxed is the absence of physical and mental tension. You cannot "try" to be relaxed because the harder you try, the less relaxed you become. It is a natural phenomenon- you are either relaxed or you are not. You will not be more relaxed by trying harder for the very reason that "trying" implies something adopted or learnt therefore, how can you be relaxed when you are adopting to become something you are not already. 
何謂處於放鬆的狀態?所謂的放鬆是身體和心靈完全沒有緊張。你是沒有辦法強迫自己放鬆的,因為當你越想要逼自己放鬆時,你反而會不由自主得變得不輕鬆。這原因在於當你「想要試著」做某件事時,其實你是放不下、心有罣礙的。你在放不下的情況,怎麼能夠強迫你自己到達一個你還沒準備好的放鬆情境呢?

Being relaxed should be the simplest thing. After all, babies are absolutely relaxed at all times that's why babies breath deeply and rhythmically. Babies do not need to try to be relaxed because babies are relaxed.
讓自己到達放鬆的情境應該是最簡單的事;就像嬰兒無時無刻都在一個完全放鬆的狀態下而能有平穩且深沉的呼吸。他們根本不需要試著放鬆因為他們本身已經處於放鬆的狀態。

Being in a state of relaxation is the optimum state for playing squash. Moreover, it is absolutely essential if you want to perform at your peak during a competition. The mind and body is an integrated whole therefore, if the mind is tense, the whole body will be affected and vice versa. A player should seek to achieve mind-body harmony so the whole system works in unity.
人在放鬆時就是在一個打壁球的最佳狀態;甚至,當你想在比賽時達到巔峰,放鬆是非常重要的,身體與心靈會因放鬆合而為一。一旦你情緒緊張身體也跟著會緊張,反之亦然。一個球員應該要讓自己達到身心和諧進而讓自己全身上下的律動是一致的。

Players often struggle to take the quality of squash performed during training to an actual competition. There could be many reasons for this but almost all these causes are based on the psychology of the player. When your mind is tense, your body also become tense, tense muscles gets fatigued a lot faster and energy does not flow as well through the meridian channels. Nervous tension also cause breathing patterns to be erratic and abnormal. Decision making also gets worse. In this mind set, not only is much more effort required of the mind and body to perform even simple tasks but also lower overall quality is achieved. You feel tired even before you start!
許多球員往往想讓自己在競賽時表現出如同練習時的高水準卻反而使不出力。可能原因很多,但最主要的原因其實是來自於球員本身的心理狀態。你一旦情緒緊張,身體也會跟著緊繃,導致肌肉很快就變得疲勞,氣就無法順暢地流通你的經絡。緊張的情緒也會讓人的呼吸變得異常急促,思緒會被擾亂而讓判斷能力下降在這樣的情形下,你不只需要花費更多精神跟體力去做出平常覺得簡單的事而且還會降低你原有的水準。如此一來,比賽還沒開始你就覺得疲憊了!

Anxiety during a game is often caused by worrying about some form of an outcome, whether it is the outcome of the game or how you will be perceived by others. The anxious mind is never in the "here and now" and therefore how is it possible to execute your game when your mind is not even on the job at hand. Squash is a game where you are required to process information quickly and be decisive in your execution. To achieve this your mind must be relaxed and open to all possibilities so that not only do you see the game but also feel the rhythm of the game. This rhythm could be set by you or your opponent whoever is controlling the game at that point in time.
比賽時的焦慮感往往來自於擔心某些結果,不論是比賽結果或是他人對自己的觀感。焦慮的情緒是在擔心下一刻的結果與自己前一刻的預期有落差,未曾存在於當下;因此,你在焦慮時,怎麼能夠心無旁晤地打好一場比賽?打壁球需要的是準確的判斷跟執行力,放輕鬆並不設限才會讓自己能透視整場比賽並感應比賽的節奏。不論是你或是你的對手,誰主導整場比賽,誰就能的掌控比賽的節奏。

To reduce unwanted tension, forget about winning or whether you look good or not on court- just play the game. Forget about your existence, only the game exist now.
要減少不必要的緊張,就要忽視輸贏或是表現好壞,純粹 打球就對了!忘掉自我的存在,彷彿當下只有這場比賽。

Just be totally immersed in the moment, taking one shot at a time, not worrying about what spectacular attacking shot your opponent might hit if he reaches your shot. Hit this immediate shot with as much passion and enjoyment as if this is the last time you will ever hit a squash ball. By being "total" in your act of hitting and running, your mind stops worrying about a million and one things. Play the game as if it's your first time and drop all reputation, pride and expectations. You can only relax if you are enjoying the game. Enjoyment and relaxation go hand in hand.
就讓自己沉浸在打球的時光吧!專心在打每一球的瞬間,不用去擔心你的對手下一球會有多優秀的回擊。每一次的擊球都伴隨著你對壁球熱愛跟享受的感覺,彷彿擊球那的一刻是你最後一次打壁球。當把你自己的心緒投注在擊球跟移動步伐,你就不會去擔心成千上萬無關的事。打每場比賽猶如是你的第一次,拋下外在的聲譽,自傲和期望。惟有是你在享受比賽時,才能放鬆。放鬆跟享受的感覺是相輔相成的。

From the outside squash is an intense sport, but when you are playing at your peak performance, you will find a silence in you which can only be experienced to be understood. In that silence, the constant chatter of the mind stops, everything seems to be in slow motion, even the ball is moving slower. You experience every second so much more intensely. I believe many activities can take you to that space, but I reached it through playing squash.
壁球表面上看起來是一種激烈的運動,然而當你的狀態達到顛峰時,你卻能感到內在的寂靜,這種感覺只可意會不可言喻。在那樣的寂靜下,心緒停止波動,所有看到畫面都呈現慢動作,甚至你會覺得球速也變慢了,你會更強烈地感受每一秒。或許會有很多的活動會讓你體驗上述的境界,但我透過打壁球而得到那樣的感受。
  

Translated by Wendy
Copyright © [20/09/2011 by Hugh Kuo]

2011/09/22

郭教練的壁球十五要點

 15 concepts to keep in mind during match play
15個牢記在心的比賽重點

- Good length keeps you in the game but its good width that wins the points.
好的長球只能讓你在比賽時不被對手得分但球的廣度能夠讓你得分

-Aim higher on the front wall to get better length on the shot.  Generally aim for the service line for straight drives and cross courts. Hitting the ball higher on the front wall saves you energy.  
擊出的球在前牆( front wall) 位置越高,球落點位置會越後面。打直線球(straight drive)或穿越球(cross court)時盡量瞄準發球線。擊出越高的球會越省力。

-Cross courts must be wide enough to pass the opponent’s volley. Once an opponent has been turned by your wide cross, a defensive shot usually follows.
穿越球必須要夠廣避免的對手用截擊球方式回擊。一旦對手必須轉身去回應你的穿越球時,他只能打出防守類型的球。

-Boasts must be wide too!
側牆球也必需要夠廣

-Hit softer and run faster! This ensures you always get back to the T with time to spare.
放軟擊球並快速移動,這樣你一定會有充裕的時間回到球場中央 T點。

-Stay balanced. Balance gives you more accuracy on your shot.
保持平衡:平衡能增加擊球的準確度

-Watch the ball at the time.
專注於球

-Observe->process the information-> decide how to approach this shot-> then start running. If you process information faster, it will save you a lot of running and frustration.
謀定而後動:先觀察對手及球移動方向,評估後判斷將如何回應擊球再開始移動。越快速的評估判斷將可避免不必要的移動及浪費體力的沮喪感

- Be decisive! Should I attack on this shot or defend on this shot? So many players make errors due to indecision.
切記優柔寡斷:許多人比賽時的失誤來自於不確定自己要擊出攻擊或防守球

-Stop hitting the ball so low and hard all the time. Play each shot on its merits.
不是每球都要打得低且用力,每顆球都有適合回應它的最佳打法。

-Play what you have practiced. Do not play a shot you have never practiced.
擊出你練習過且熟悉的球路。千萬不可冒險擊出不熟悉的球

-Have a game plan. Just as you would take simple brief notes with you when making a public speech, you should also have a simple game plan going into a game. This helps you relax. Your objective is to keep to your pre-determined game plan not to beat your opponent.
擬定比賽計畫就如同有人公開演講前會把他想要講的內容大概寫在小紙條上,比賽前先思考自己要如何打這場球這將幫助你放鬆比賽帶來的緊張情緒並且讓自己比賽時專注於執行你的計畫而不是要擊敗對手

-Always think in terms of court positioning. The player who acquired good court positioning wins the match easily.
要注意球場上自己所在的位置取得球場上的最佳位置將幫助你輕鬆贏得比賽

-Create doubt in the opponent. But do not attempt this if you are indecisive yourself.
讓你的對手產生疑慮: 但若你比賽時優柔寡斷,千萬不要這樣做。

 -Most importantly relax and do not think about the result!  This is so you are in “the zone”. Psychology is the difference between winning and losing game ball. Keep your brain in the relaxed state of mind.
最重要的是輕鬆打而不是一直想著輸贏,要在「境界之內」(in the zone)。「境界之內」來自競技心理學(sports psychology)理論,即運動員在一個最佳的心理狀況下會有最佳的表現。保持平常心而非重視結果才會讓你有最佳表現。

 This is my personal concept that I stick to when I play squash. Simple tactics often work the best,   especially when you are under pressure or when the game is a very close game. Close games are often decided by psychology rather than any technicality or physical attributes.
這是我堅信的比賽重點並分享給大家。簡單的戰 略其實最實用,尤其在比賽接近結束或與對手比數相近時的壓力下。贏球重要的關鍵在於心理而非技術或體能。

Try it and enjoy your squash
試試看我的方法並且享受打壁球的樂趣吧

Translated by Wendy
Copyright © [15/09/2011 by Hugh Kuo]

2011/09/15

Hugh's 15 points for squash

 Hugh's basic concept and mind set for squash

15 concepts to keep in mind during match play

- Good length keeps you in the game but its good width that wins the points.

-Aim higher on the front wall to get better length on the shot.  Generally aim for the service line for straight drives and cross courts. Hitting the ball higher on the front wall saves you energy.   

-Cross courts must be wide enough to pass the opponent’s volley. Once an opponent has been turned by your wide cross, a defensive shot usually follows.

-Boasts must be wide too!

-Hit softer and run faster! This ensures you always get back to the T with time to spare.

-Stay balanced. Balance gives you more accuracy on your shot.

-Watch the ball at the time.

-Observe->process the information-> decide how to approach this shot-> then start running. If you process information faster, it will save you a lot of running and frustration.

- Be decisive! Should I attack on this shot or defend on this shot? So many players make errors due to indecision.

-Stop hitting the ball so low and hard all the time. Play each shot on its merits.

-Play what you have practised. Do not play a shot you have never practised.

-Have a game plan. Just as you would take simple brief notes with you when making a public speech, you should also have a simple game plan going into a game. This helps you relax. Your objective is to keep to your pre-determined game plan not to beat your opponent.

-Always think in terms of court positioning. The player who acquired good court positioning wins the match easily.

-Create doubt in the opponent. But do not attempt this if you are indecisive yourself.

-Most importantly relax and do not think about the result!  This is so you are in “the zone”. Psychology is the difference between winning and losing game ball. Keep your brain in the relaxed state of mind.

This is my personal concept that I stick to when I play squash. Simple tactics often work the best,   especially when you are under pressure or when the game is a very close game. Close games are often decided by psychology rather than any technicality or physical attributes.

Try it and enjoy your squash.


Copyright © [15/09/2011 by Hugh Kuo]