We’re delighted to welcome Tania Bailey to SquashSkills for the first time this week, with a great new playlist taking a look at the knock-up.
Tania had a very distinguished junior squash career, and successfully transferred her success to the senior ranks when she embarked on her professional career in 1998. Going on to reach a high of number 4 in the PSA world rankings, she was also a British champion and 2-time doubles medalist in the Commonwealth games (silver in Manchester ‘02, and bronze in Melbourne ‘06).
Now one of the leading coaches in the UK, Tania brings her expertise to SquashSkills with this new series focusing on an aspect of the game of which the importance is so often dismissed. The knock-up should not be seen simply as a chance to warm up the ball (or warm up yourself!) – approached in a considered manner by the astute player, it can provide a great opportunity to get an early strategic advantage in a match before the first rally has even been served.
Tania covers a wide range of topics in the playlist, emphasising again the deeper complexities of this oft-undervalued area. Elements discussed include shot variations, footwork, and body language, as well as highlighting of some of the more common mistakes frequently seen.
The aim of this blog in conjunction with the playlist is to spark some ideas of how you can better use the knock-up period to maximise your chances of success in your matches. We’ve put together a sample knock-up session for you to try, built around all the critical points that Tania introduces.
Watch through the videos from the playlist and then click through the links to the sessions below to check them out, and discover how a deeper understanding of the knock-up can really help you in your on-court matchplay.
Put it into practice
Try this sample solo knock-up session, constructed around some of the themes discussed by Tania in the playlist.
Use our SquashSkills warm-up circuit to help prepare your body, ready to step on court for the knock-up primed and ready to go.
Related content
Match preparation with Paul Coll
In this mini-documentary, Paul takes us through his process when preparing for a match, from his morning routine right through to his post-match recovery.
The mental side: How to approach matches with Paul Assaiante
In this series, Paul Assaiante explains everything you need to know to improve your mental toughness during matches.
Let us know how you get on with the sessions, we’d love to hear your feedback!
Haven't seen the full series yet?
In this new series, Tania Bailey analyses the knock-up, showing how to fully prepare for the start of your match.
Watch now