Get the Right Grip! by Nick-at-Will
Raneem El-Weleily of Egypt, #3 player in the world!
November 5, 2014
- Ever notice how much discussion continues as to what the right "grip"
for playing the game of squash is!?. Arguably one of the best technical
and shot-making female squash-players in the world is former two-time
world junior champion and current world #3 Raneem El-Weleily of Egypt.
Can anyone argue or deny that the "grip" she (and other top players)
use could just be the "right" one!? We don't think so!
Take a close look at the photo above! Notice how Raneem's thumb is on
the inside "flat" of the racquet handle, resulting in the racquet face
being held open on the forehand side, not to mention how she has her
wrist softly cocked with the head of the racquet held above her hand in
a "ready" (for whatever) position.
Is this grip something new to squash...you ask!? The answer is...NO,
not really ! A few years back, (October 1st, 1986), the great Jahangir
Khan (who won ten British Open's in a row) said this in his book...
"My grip is different from the norm. I "twist" the racket about 1/4
inch clock-wise, so that the "V" of the thumb and forefinger are
aligned with the top inside edge of the racket shaft. This "opens" the
face of the racket on the forehand side, helping to alleviate errors -
and also results in closing the face slightly (which is naturally open
anyway) on the backhand side, adding more pace to the stroke." Jahangir Khan, ten-time British Open Champion
Oh...and if there are other questions as to what the right (and most
effective) grip is to use when playing squash, take a look at these
familiar faces... Former world #1, Natalie Grainger of the U.S...
Former world #1, current world #3 Nick Matthew
And how about arguably the greatest female squash-player of all
time...pointing out "the right grip" to a couple of aspiring junior
squash-players... Nicol David, the world's #1 player for over eight years!
Again...any questions? We don't have any! "Get the right grip!"
