Martin Gilliard
About Martin Gilliard
Posts by Martin Gilliard:
Karakal Squash Grips
Now, I’m no professional, in fact, the highest standard I ever got to was a sub a couple of times for the county league at my local club. So I’m not sure if professional players would match my thoughts, but for me, the Karakal grip is by far the best grip out there.
And yes, I know, there are different Karakal grips, but I am referring to the basic Karakal grip which I think they call the PU grip. I’ve always been one of those players that sweats a lot during play. It often runs down my arms onto my hands making the grip incredibly slippy. However, not with the Karakal grip, as long as I change them regularly, and by regularly I mean about once a month after playing two to four times a week, then I’m fine.
Features
Karakal themselves give the following key features of the grip:
- Non-Slip Nano PU Surface
- Replacement Grip
- Super Absorbent
- Super Tacky
- Extra Thick
- Self Adhesive
- Universal Length
- Extra Long Life
History
Karakal grips have actually been around for over 28 years now. The PU grip is the improved version of the original grip.
Use & Design
The grip isn’t solely used by squash players either. You also get badminton, tennis, racketball, hockey and ice hockey players using the grip. It can generally be used by all ages. Many say that the grip is number one on the market.
The grip incorporates nanoparticles at the molecular level that helps increase the durability and comfort of the grip.
The grips come with a self-adhesive backing and a thin plastic covering that protects the grip prior to wrapping.
Installation
To place the grip on your racket first remove your old grip or shop supplied grip. Please note that if you have big hands or prefer a thicker grip then you may be best leaving your original grip in place. However, do make sure that it is dry.
Step 1: Remove the film from the PU surface of the grip tape.
Step 2: Remove a piece of the sticky side foil. Please note: Start at the narrower end.
Place the thin end of the grip tape at the bottom of the grip so that it fits exactly. The grip tape should not extend over or expose any of the handle.
Step 3: Start wrapping the grip tape. You will see that the grip tape is pre-shaped and makes a “bow” upwards. Now follow this bow evenly and wrap the grip tape up to the end of the grip. Depending on whether you prefer the grip band thinner or thicker, the width of the overlap may vary.
Step 4: Now cut the grip tape in a horizontal, straight line so that it optimally closes with the grip cap.
Step 5: Now attach the grip tape to the handle cap using the enclosed end adhesive strip.
You can purchase a Karakal grip from Amazon. They come in various colours to match either your racket or your favourite colour preference…
Head iX 120 Squash Racket
This is a great, lightweight racket for a player I’d say of intermediate standard. It has a 120g (4.2 oz) frame with a decent sized head.
It has Heads so-called Intellifibres which are meant to provide a stiffer touch as you make contact with the ball
The racket is pre-strung in a 14 x 18 pattern using a synthetic string. It is sold as a head heavy racket to supposedly give more explosive power with each stroke.
It comes complete with a full-length cover.
You can purchase this racket from Amazon…
HEAD i110 Squash Racket
The Head i110 squash racket has been around for a good few years now, but it is still one of the lightest rackets on the market.
Personally, I’ve always preferred a light racket but then again I’ve never progressed further than low-level county standard. I’ve heard that a lot of professional players like a little more weight to help with the swing.
The racket is made of titanium carbon fibre and is 260 grams including strings. Possibly doesn’t need stating but 110 grams for the racket unstrung or 3.9 oz for our American friends.
It has a teardrop head shape and includes HEAD intellifibres apparently these aim to reduce 20% of vibrations on ball impact stiffening the racket for explosive power. It is kind of a black and grey in colour.
Light rackets can be a good choice for players that like to use a lot of deception. The lightweight enables a little flick of the wrist so that hopefully you can play a shot different to what your opponent was expecting!
I have actually used this racket myself, honest, and personally, I liked it, however, it was many years ago and I seem to remember it breaking pretty quickly from a light tap on the wall after playing a boast shot
It includes a ComforTac- grip for great traction, feel and moisture absorption although personally, I hate racket supplied grips and usually replace them with a Karakal grip. The racket comes with a 3/4 cover.
Asics Gel Blast 3
Asics squash shoes use such technologies as the Impact Guidance System (IGS), the core gel cushioning system and Biomorphic which aim at increasing both comfort and performance for the squash player.
IGS is designed to allow the squash player’s foot to feel natural upon impact.
The gel system is optimized for shock absorption with the use of a special kind of silicone. The gel units are placed in strategic impact points across the base of the shoe in order to enable the player to feel natural in the positions they adopt throughout the duration of a typical game.
Their high-end indoor shoe is named Gel Blast 3 and incorporates resistant synthetic leather built into the upper of the shoe to help prevent too much wear from the player dragging their feet; Asics refer to this technology as ‘Rhynoskin’.
Hi-Tec Men’s Squash Classic Trainers
These squash court shoes are an absolute classic. They have been around for years and years and are loved by many people. In fact, According to Hi-Tec they have been around since 1974 and were the first-ever squash shoes! I guess they meant he first ever squash shoe that they made given that squash has been played in some form or another since 1960!! Anyway, that said, I don’t think that the design has changed at since 1974.
They come in only one colour white, but as you can see in the pic they have a bit of green on them too.
They’re made of a leather upper with a non-marking rubber base and are lace-up shoes, that generally have a medium width. People often say that you should buy half a size up as they tend to be a little on the small size.
They’re breathable and comfortable with decent padding to the heel and ankles and incorporate a multi-directional grip.
Personally, I’d put these squash shoes down as beginner’s shoes as I don’t think they have enough support for the more advanced player. Better players might be better looking at the range of shoes from Asics.
You are however getting a classic design and a very hard-wearing shoe which is great value for money and that cannot be knocked!
You can purchase these classic squash shoes directly from Amazon…
Squash Marathon
My club took part in a 26-hour squash marathon. We raised over £3000 for St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds which looks after terminally ill patients. All in memory of a former member of Rothwell Squash club.
We played in a relay type fashion non-stop from 4 pm on Friday through to 6 pm on Saturday. Everyone got to play everyone else at least once, sometimes twice. The most time you’d get between games was just over one hour.
The first part of the marathon was pretty easy. It started getting difficult on the stretch from 3 am to around 9 am. Your body just wants to sleep, but just as you are beginning to feel sleepy you’re back on the court for another burst of adrenaline!
All in all a great experience though and I would definitely do it again.
We even got published in the local newspaper, although the link has since expired! 🙁
Keep Your Head Up
(Photo Credit: David Rush)
Keep your head up even when you’re mid-match and you’re losing by a couple of games. Don’t beat yourself by walking back onto the court feeling like you’ve already lost.
Stay Positive
If you’re two games down and are about to walk back on to the court to start game three then walk on the court as if you’ve already won the match. Keep your head up, look and feel positive.
If you don’t walk back on to the court with a feeling that you’ve got a chance of winning then it’s highly unlikely that you will win even a single game.
Change Tactics
Now is the time to mix it up. What can you do differently? Have you been playing a fast hard match up to now? If so, then try slowing it down, throw a few high lobs into the game – think more about your game and use the lobs to give yourself that extra thinking time.
Conversely, if you’ve been playing a slower, more thinking type of game then try notching it up a gear. Play your next game like your life depends on it. Put everything you’ve got into it. Your opponent might be more tired than you think.
If you have friends or teammates watching your game then ask them to remind you of which of your shots have been your most effective. Or have they noticed any weaknesses in your opponent?
Change it up and go back on court believing that you’re going to win.
Squash Play
(Photo Credit: Ian Butterworth)
Squash play follows a pretty standard pattern. First at the start of a match the right to serve is determined by spinning the racket. The person not spinning the racket usually chooses for a logo on the butt of the racket to be either up or down. Whoever wins the spin gets to serve first.
The server can choose to serve from the right or the left box on his initial service. Most players choose to serve to their opponents backhand as this is assumed to be the persons weaker side for returning.
Let’s say for example that Bill is playing Bob and Bill wins the spin and gets to serve first. Bill serves and then Bob returns the ball, each player then proceeds to strike the ball alternately until either Bill wins the point or loses his service.
If Bill loses the rally then Bob serves.
If Bill wins the rally then he gets a point.
Play continues like this with the server gaining points if he wins the rally, or losing his service if he loses the rally.
You lose the rally if you hit the ball out of court (touching the red line is deemed out of court), if you hit the ball into the tin, if you serve a fault, or if you give away a stroke by obstructing access to play the ball. For further details please see squash rules.
This pattern of play continues throughout the match.
The above assumes the scoring to nine system where only the server scores for more details on scoring including the new point-a-rally system see squash scoring.
Keep Your Distance
When playing squash remember to keep your distance. If you’re wondering what I mean by that – in the amateur game, you often see players overrun the ball. This happens a lot in the back corners. The player puts so much effort into getting to the ball that they end up practically on top of it, leaving little more room than a hopeful flick of the wrist to get the ball back to the front wall.
Keep Your Distance by Preparing Early
Concentrate on preparing your racket early and making sure that you have kept enough distance between you and the ball to be able to effectively swing through the shot.
(Photo Credit: flickr.Marcus)
More Efficient
Doing so doesn’t just give you the opportunity of a much cleaner, more effective swing but it also means that you are better positioned for recovering back to the ‘T’. So it’s much more efficient too.