http://www.prlog.org/10119574-
Our annual Halloween tournament had some spooky moments but the Pro Invitational winners were as follows:
ROY OLLIER'S
Squash Tips & News!
Squash Tips & News!
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EVENT NEWS
As you know, I work at the fantastic Village Health Clubs in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Coming up we have a few events which you might be interested in being a part of. So put these on your calender and hope to see you on court if you make it.
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THE SQUASH CHRISTMAS LEAGUE
Nov 13 - Dec 30
Play your way through the holidays with a hard league match every week.
The best way to meet some new players and work your way up the ladder. Cost $15
The best way to meet some new players and work your way up the ladder. Cost $15
THE HOLIDAY BOAST
Sat Dec 6 at DC Ranch (10am-3pm)
Get into the Holiday Spirit in the last tournament of 2008.
Burn off a few calories, have some fun, some holiday cheer and celebrate the season. Cost $20 includes snacks, drinks and Four Peaks Ales and prizes.
Burn off a few calories, have some fun, some holiday cheer and celebrate the season. Cost $20 includes snacks, drinks and Four Peaks Ales and prizes.
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PRO INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Village Clubs' Halloween Squash Open
Jonathon Power def Stefan Castelyn 3 / 1
Stefan Castelyn def Manuel Loza 3 / 0
Jonathon Power def Roy Ollier 3 / 0
Roy Ollier def Manuel Loza 3 / 1
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TOURNAMENT SQUASH STORY
The Shot
by
Roy Ollier
Jonathon Power def. Stefan Castelyn
I would be laughing too if I could hit shots like this!!!
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2008 Atlanta Masters
Enter @ GlobalSquash.com
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• World Champion No 6. Heather McKay •
Village Clubs' Halloween Squash Open
October 24 - 26, 2008
http://www.prlog.org/10119574-
http://www.prlog.org/10119574-
Stefan Castelyn def Manuel Loza 3 / 0
Jonathon Power def Roy Ollier 3 / 0
Roy Ollier def Manuel Loza 3 / 1
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TOURNAMENT SQUASH STORY
The Shot
by
Roy Ollier
Jonathon Power def. Stefan Castelyn
I would be laughing too if I could hit shots like this!!!
What can you say when someone hits a shot that is so completely unbelievable that all you can do is stop, shake your head and appreciate that you have been a part of something great?
This just happened to me during our annual Halloween Tournament at the Village Health Clubs in Scottsdale when I played an exhibition match with Jonathon Power. If you have read my stories on World Champions you would have noticed that in my description of Jonathon’s game I mentioned his creativity. Well, I certainly experienced it first hand... once again.
‘The moment’ went like this: It was in the second game and, as expected, Jonathon was jerking me all over the court with his holds, wrist flicks and early ball taking. I will tell you I almost had a case of motion sickness with all the up and down, side to side, twisting and turning that I had to do. Being quite fit though and enjoying the challenge, I kept on going and tried to occasionally turn the tables on him, much to the amusement of both him and the crowd.
At this stage I don’t know whether he got bored or just had one of those flashes of genius that he is famous for, and he showed his amazing skill. Being a right-hander I was in the backhand deep corner with Jonathon a little behind the T. To move him I hit a backhand boast up to the front forehand corner. I thought it was a reasonable shot and was preparing to cover the usual shots that I thought he would play: forehand drop shot, forehand straight drive, cross court or a lob, after all that’s what everyone else would have played. Ahhh but not Jonathon!
Instead, he shaped up to play a forehand drop shot, went PAST the ball and hit it BEHIND his back, delicately dropping the ball cross court into the backhand front cross court nick. Yes, that’s right he was running full steam up to the front of the court and was still able to hit a DROP SHOT BEHIND HIS BACK CROSS COURT INTO THE OPPOSITE NICK!!!
I hope you can understand my description as it left me and the crowd all shaking our heads in amazement. How do you think of hitting that shot, how do you pull it off and how much racquet ability do you have to have to be able to do it? I knew I was in big trouble after that.
After playing for over 30 years and thousands of players and seeing millions of shots this certainly was a one-of-a-kind. To me I will always remember it as THE SHOT.
This just happened to me during our annual Halloween Tournament at the Village Health Clubs in Scottsdale when I played an exhibition match with Jonathon Power. If you have read my stories on World Champions you would have noticed that in my description of Jonathon’s game I mentioned his creativity. Well, I certainly experienced it first hand... once again.
‘The moment’ went like this: It was in the second game and, as expected, Jonathon was jerking me all over the court with his holds, wrist flicks and early ball taking. I will tell you I almost had a case of motion sickness with all the up and down, side to side, twisting and turning that I had to do. Being quite fit though and enjoying the challenge, I kept on going and tried to occasionally turn the tables on him, much to the amusement of both him and the crowd.
At this stage I don’t know whether he got bored or just had one of those flashes of genius that he is famous for, and he showed his amazing skill. Being a right-hander I was in the backhand deep corner with Jonathon a little behind the T. To move him I hit a backhand boast up to the front forehand corner. I thought it was a reasonable shot and was preparing to cover the usual shots that I thought he would play: forehand drop shot, forehand straight drive, cross court or a lob, after all that’s what everyone else would have played. Ahhh but not Jonathon!
Instead, he shaped up to play a forehand drop shot, went PAST the ball and hit it BEHIND his back, delicately dropping the ball cross court into the backhand front cross court nick. Yes, that’s right he was running full steam up to the front of the court and was still able to hit a DROP SHOT BEHIND HIS BACK CROSS COURT INTO THE OPPOSITE NICK!!!
I hope you can understand my description as it left me and the crowd all shaking our heads in amazement. How do you think of hitting that shot, how do you pull it off and how much racquet ability do you have to have to be able to do it? I knew I was in big trouble after that.
After playing for over 30 years and thousands of players and seeing millions of shots this certainly was a one-of-a-kind. To me I will always remember it as THE SHOT.
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2008 Atlanta Masters
Enter @ GlobalSquash.com
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PRIVATE LESSONS & CLINICS
I am available for single, group, and children's lessons as well as weekly clinics. Kindly contact me for more information.
602-350-5173
rollier@cox.net
602-350-5173
rollier@cox.net
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http://squashfantasycamp.com/index.html
At the moment I'm giving someone a squash lesson or running a tournament or just running between three clubs... So if you are looking for the latest on the international squash scene, check out these informative websites:
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BI-MONTHLY TIPS & TRICKS
During my career, I've been fortunate enough to play numerous World Champions and many of the world's best players over the last 30 years. Let's look at some of the greats of the game and see what parts of their game made them great.
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• World Champion No 7. David Palmer •
Another of the true greats of the game, David has had an amazing career. Not only a former World Open winner, he is the current British Open Champion and has been in the top 10 World rankings for longer than most of the other players' entire professional careers.
Once again, a junior squash prodigy from Australia, who unfortunately also happened to beat me 15/13 in the fifth set when he was 16 years old, Davis has become as tough as an overcooked steak mixing great fitness, pinpoint accuracy, and fantastic shot making to develop what I would consider a complete mastery of the game. David has so many ways to win that he is probably the player no one wants to play in any tournament. Although a little older now he still seems to be in the last 4 in most tournaments, and looking at the results always seems to give 110 percent. In this year's British Open final, for example, he saved a handful of match balls before ending up the champion. He is definitely a text book player for any coach to try and emulate.
What can we learn from David’s Game?
A combination of things. First, being superfit is always a plus. It gives you confidence that you can last any hard match, no matter how tough. Second, great technique means superior accuracy; always try to improve it. Being able to glue your drives to the sidewalls will create lots of opportunities for hitting winners.
Third, hit the shot when it is there. You might only get one opportunity in a rally; make the most of it.
Remember practise makes perfect. As with all the World Champions, David knows every inch, every angle and every shot on the squash court. Try to do the same.
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• World Champion No 6. Heather McKay •
If we want to talk about the world’s greatest squash players, then we have to put Heather McKay at the top of the list. Not only did she win 16 British Opens, and I don’t know how many World Opens, but she also conquered the world of racquetball and represented Australia in field hockey, as well.
Not to be outdone with those achievements, Heather has played some Masters squash events and, of course, remains unbeaten. To my knowledge Heather has remained undefeated for over 40 years. Yes, that’s right… OVER 40 YEARS! Incredible. Unbelievably amazing. In my opinion, she may be the greatest athlete ever.
I had the honour of practising against Heather right before her last World Championship victory in 1979. Very strong and extremely accurate, her game was a classic approach of how the game was played at the time. Straight wall drives with quite a bit of pace, mixed up with drops and boasts, and a deceptive little flick cross-court when she was at the front of the court that 9 times out of 10 got her opponent going the wrong way - a shot that I have certainly added to my game (thanks, Heather, it has won me quite a few points!)
What can we learn from Heather’s game?
Heather practised very hard for her victories therefore giving her unbeatable confidence. Again, tight wall hugging and length will setup your game. Keep your opponents scraping the walls, and they are guaranteed to hit loose shots. Mix it up when you have the opportunity to keep them guessing and before you know it the match is over and you have another victory. It also helps if you have some sort of supreme natural talent such as all these world champions have. However, dedication and practise is the key to all success.
* * * * * * * * *Not to be outdone with those achievements, Heather has played some Masters squash events and, of course, remains unbeaten. To my knowledge Heather has remained undefeated for over 40 years. Yes, that’s right… OVER 40 YEARS! Incredible. Unbelievably amazing. In my opinion, she may be the greatest athlete ever.
I had the honour of practising against Heather right before her last World Championship victory in 1979. Very strong and extremely accurate, her game was a classic approach of how the game was played at the time. Straight wall drives with quite a bit of pace, mixed up with drops and boasts, and a deceptive little flick cross-court when she was at the front of the court that 9 times out of 10 got her opponent going the wrong way - a shot that I have certainly added to my game (thanks, Heather, it has won me quite a few points!)
What can we learn from Heather’s game?
Heather practised very hard for her victories therefore giving her unbeatable confidence. Again, tight wall hugging and length will setup your game. Keep your opponents scraping the walls, and they are guaranteed to hit loose shots. Mix it up when you have the opportunity to keep them guessing and before you know it the match is over and you have another victory. It also helps if you have some sort of supreme natural talent such as all these world champions have. However, dedication and practise is the key to all success.
THE ARCHIVES
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