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Latest updates, development notes, and squash training insights.

07-05 10:59 SquashRT

Court View Has Grown Up — From a Drawing Tool to a Training Tool

Every coach has drawn it. Cross court, straight drive, drop to the front. The problem was never the drawing — it's what comes after: you can't rally against a diagram. Without a partner willing to feed you the same ball a hundred times, the pattern stays in your head, and a pattern that lives only in your head never shows up at real rally speed. Closing that gap between drawing a play and actually hitting it — that's what we've been building Court View toward all along.When we first introduced Court View, it was a visualizer: one player on a court, a shot path to sketch. It's a different tool now, wearing the same name. Here's what's been added — and how it connects to real training.

07-05 03:27 SquashRT

Meet the Tactics Board — the Game Looks Different from Above

If you've ever taken a squash lesson, you've probably watched a coach sketch the court on a whiteboard and slide magnets around while explaining a pattern. We've brought that whiteboard into SquashRT. Say hello to the Tactics Board.Why top-downThe 3D Court View shows you how the ball flies. A top-down view shows you how the players move. The spacing between two players, who owns the T, where a recovery path goes wrong after a shot — things that slip past you from the side become obvious from above. It's the reason coaches reach for a whiteboard when they talk positional play, and it's the reason the Tactics Board looks down on the court.You can also switch on the same power donut and shot ring the game itself uses, so a conversation like "from this position, that ball is out of your reach" happens right on the diagram.You draw drills with your fingerBuilding one is simple. Drag a player into position, then tap the walls and floor in order — the ball's path draws itself, and the second floor bounce completes the shot. Save it and it stacks up as S1, S2, … in the sequence bar at the bottom; one press of play runs the whole rally back to back. Rally-ending shots (a miss, a fault) get a red chip so you never lose the thread.Trajectory styles (solid, dashed, neon), touch markers, player name tags — show what you need, hide the rest.It moves freely between here and Court ViewThe Tactics Board and the 3D Court View share the same data. Which makes this workflow possible: sketch a drill with your finger on the Tactics Board minutes before a lesson, then open it in Court View later and polish the trajectories in 3D. It works the other way too — take a drill you built in Court View and reopen it top-down to study the positioning. Where you made it doesn't matter.Replay it all from My PageTurn on Save replay during a match or training session and the day's rallies are stored as sequences. Drills you build and save in Court View or on the Tactics Board land in the same place: the My Tactic Board list on your My Page.From there you've got three moves. Training — the saved rally becomes a coach drill you play against yourself. Open in Court View — watch it back in 3D. Open in Tactics Board — look down and study it. Rewatching the final rally of yesterday's losing match from above teaches you more than you'd expect.Draw on it, save it, send itArrows and notes with Annotate, a finished board exported as an image, sequence playback recorded as a video — everything you need to drop a drill into the team chat is built in. Make lesson material, or share "this is what we're drilling tomorrow" as a single picture.The Tactics Board is live here. First time? Drag a player somewhere, then tap any wall — the moment your first shot draws itself, you'll get it.

07-05 03:21 SquashRT

A New Way to Swing, and a New Way to Train

SquashRT just shipped its biggest update yet. One question drove every decision: "What would real squash do?" We tore out the old pick-a-zone, press-a-button controls and rebuilt the whole shot — swing, reach, impact, and rebound — around how the real game works.

05-23 14:21 SquashRT

Squash Movement: Why Timing Matters More Than Speed

Many squash players ask the same question at some point:“Should I move as fast as possible to the ball?”“Or should I move with the rhythm of the ball?”At first, the answer seems simple. Squash is a fast sport, so moving faster should help. If you reach the ball earlier, you should have more time to play a better shot.But on court, movement is not always that simple.If you rush too quickly, you may arrive too early and lose your rhythm. If you move too late, you may feel pressured and hit the ball off balance. In many situations, the key is not simply how fast you arrive.The key is whether you arrive in the right condition to play the shot.At SquashRT, we see good squash movement as a combination of timing, balance, rhythm, shot preparation, and recovery. Speed matters, but speed alone does not create good movement.Good movement is not just about getting to the ball quickly.It is about getting there at the right time, in the right position, with your body ready to play the next shot.Moving Faster Is Not Always BetterFast movement is important in squash.When your opponent hits a fast crosscourt, a short drop, or a ball that may pass behind you, you need a quick reaction and a strong first step. If you react too late, the ball can easily get away from you.However, not every ball should be approached with the same speed.Think about the difference between a fast crosscourt and a high crosscourt lob.Both shots may send you toward a similar area of the court, but the timing is completely different. A fast crosscourt forces you to react quickly. A high lob gives you more time because the ball stays in the air longer.If you move to both balls with the same urgency, your timing can break down.For a fast crosscourt, late movement creates pressure.For a high lob, rushing too early can make you wait awkwardly for the ball.This is why squash movement is not only about speed. It is about matching your movement to the speed, height, and rhythm of the ball.Even when the destination is similar, the movement rhythm should change depending on the shot.What Does a Good Receiving Position Mean?A good receiving position is not simply standing where the ball will arrive.Arriving early can be helpful, but arriving too early and stopping completely is not always ideal. If your body becomes static while waiting for the ball, your shot timing may feel unnatural. You may also lose the smooth transfer of weight that helps create a controlled shot.On the other hand, arriving too late creates a different problem. You rush into the ball, your racket preparation becomes late, and the distance between your body and the ball becomes difficult to control.A good receiving position includes several connected elements:You read the direction of the ball.You start quickly enough.You adjust your speed as you approach the ball.You create enough space between your body and the ball.You prepare your racket early.You hit from a balanced position.In other words, good receiving is not just about being there first.It is about arriving in a position where you can actually play a good shot.A Fast First Step, But a Controlled Final StepThe first step is one of the most important parts of squash movement.If your first reaction is late, everything after that becomes rushed. You need to cover more distance in less time, stop more suddenly, and hit from a less stable position.But a fast first step does not mean you should sprint all the way into the ball.Good movement often begins with an explosive first step, followed by controlled adjustment. As you get closer to the ball, your movement should become more precise. Your final step or lunge should connect with your shot timing.The sequence looks something like this:Start quickly.Adjust to the ball.Slow down with control.Time the final step with the swing.Hit with balance.Recover naturally toward the T.When this sequence works well, movement looks smooth. Some advanced players may even appear as if they are not moving very fast. But in reality, they are reading early, adjusting well, and arriving in the right rhythm.They are not slow.They are efficient.When Fast Movement Creates a Bad ShotSpeed can be an advantage, but uncontrolled speed can create problems.If you rush too hard toward the ball, your body may fall toward the wall. You may get too close to the ball. You may lose the space needed to swing freely. Even if you reach the ball, you may not be able to play a clean shot.This happens often among beginners and intermediate players.They reach the ball, but they are too close.They reach the ball, but their balance is poor.They reach the ball, but their racket is late.They reach the ball, but they cannot recover after the shot.In this situation, the player has moved a lot, but the movement has not helped the rally.Squash movement is not complete when you arrive at the ball. You still need to play the shot. After the shot, you still need to recover and prepare for the next one.That is why good movement is not just fast movement.Good movement is usable movement.Rhythm Does Not Mean Moving SlowlyWhen we talk about rhythm, it can be easy to misunderstand the idea.Moving with rhythm does not mean moving slowly.In squash, rhythm means adjusting your speed to the situation.A fast ball may require a fast reaction.A high lob may require patience and better timing.An attacking opportunity may require a strong, direct movement forward.A defensive situation may require balance, control, and recovery.Rhythm is not one fixed speed.It is the ability to know when to move quickly, when to wait, when to slow down, when to prepare the racket, and when to recover toward the T.This is one of the core ideas behind SquashRT.We are not only interested in reaction speed. We are interested in the full movement pattern: reading, moving, hitting, recovering, and preparing again.Movement and Shot Are ConnectedIn squash, movement does not end when you reach the ball.A good movement pattern should connect directly into the shot.The final step, the lunge, the body balance, the racket swing, the follow-through, and the recovery are all part of one continuous flow.Beginners often move to the ball, stop, hit, watch, and then move again. This creates a broken rhythm.More experienced players connect the movement and the shot. They move into the ball in a way that helps the shot, and the shot action also helps them recover.For example, when moving into the front corner, the lunge is not only a way to reach the ball. It also supports the swing, the balance, and the movement back out of the corner.A good player does not simply hit the ball and then restart movement.The recovery is already built into the shot.That difference changes the entire rhythm of the rally.Good Movement Saves EnergySquash is physically demanding, but running more does not always mean moving better.Two players may reach the same ball, but one looks rushed and uncomfortable while the other looks calm and balanced. The difference is not always fitness. It is often timing, path, balance, and recovery.Efficient movement reduces wasted energy.You start at the right time.You move through a better path.You slow down under control.You create space for the swing.You recover without stopping completely.Over a long rally, these small differences become important.A player who is always chasing the ball will spend more energy and feel more pressure. A player who moves with better timing can often create more time, even without moving faster.This is one of the reasons movement rhythm matters so much in squash.Why SquashRT Focuses on Movement RhythmSquashRT was built around the idea that better squash movement is not only about speed.Reaction speed matters, but it is only one part of the rally.The bigger pattern is:Read the ball.Move to the right area.Prepare the shot.Recover toward the T.Get ready for the next situation.This sequence is simple to understand, but difficult to build as a habit during a real match. The ball moves quickly, the opponent creates pressure, and players often do not have time to think about their movement clearly.SquashRT helps players repeat this basic movement rhythm in a more focused way.The goal is to help players practice the connection between direction, timing, shot preparation, and recovery. By repeating these patterns, players can begin to understand not just where to move, but when and how to move.SquashRT does not replace real court training. Real squash includes ball speed, wall rebounds, pressure, balance, and opponent behavior that can only be experienced on court.But SquashRT can help players build the basic awareness behind good movement.Where should I move?When should I recover?Am I preparing for the next shot, or just chasing the current one?These are the questions SquashRT is designed to make players feel and repeat.Conclusion: Better Movement Is About TimingFast movement is useful in squash.But speed alone is not enough.If you arrive too early and lose rhythm, the shot may feel awkward. If you arrive too late, you may be rushed and off balance. If you reach the ball but cannot recover afterward, the rally becomes harder.Good squash movement is not a choice between moving fast and moving slowly.It is about moving at the right time.React quickly when the ball demands it.Adjust your speed when the ball gives you time.Create balance before the shot.Recover naturally after the shot.Prepare for what comes next.In the end, good movement is the ability to arrive in the best possible condition within the rhythm of the rally.Squash is not just a game of chasing the ball.It is a game of reading the flow, moving with timing, and connecting each shot to the next movement.That is the rhythm SquashRT was built to train.

05-14 19:01 SquashRT

Introducing Court View for SquashRT

When talking about squash, there are a lot of situations that are surprisingly difficult to explain clearly.For example:“Why is this cross court dangerous here?”“Why was the recovery late?”“Why did this space open up?”“Why was that boast such a good choice?”You can try to explain these things with text, but sometimes a single visual scene makes everything much easier to understand.That is one of the reasons I recently started building SquashRT Court View.Court View is a 3D squash court tool where you can:place players on the courtcreate shot pathsvisualize ball movementadd arrows, markers, and simple annotationsto organize and explain squash situations visually.At first, it started as a small experiment, but it quickly became surprisingly useful for explaining different rally situations.Squash is a sport where:wallsanglesheightspacemovement flowall interact together at the same time.Because of that, a simple 2D diagram often doesn’t fully capture what is happening.Even something as simple as a cross court can feel completely different depending on:how high the ball travelshow closely it follows the wallwhere the opponent is positionedwhere the ball finally diesCourt View is being built to make those situations easier to visualize.The current idea is simple:move players around the court, click walls to create shot paths, add a few annotations if needed, and export the result as an image.I’m also working on URL sharing support.So instead of sending screenshots back and forth, it becomes possible to share a link and let someone open the exact same court setup and shot sequence directly in their browser.That could be useful for things like:blog postsReddit discussionscoaching explanationsrally breakdownssharing ideas with club playersCourt View is not meant to be a perfect scientific physics simulator.The goal is more about creating something that feels natural and easy to understand visually.Right now it’s still very much a work in progress, but it has already been interesting to use while thinking about squash movement, spacing, recovery, and shot selection in a more visual way.

05-10 17:08 SquashRT

Why Beginners Chase the Ball in Squash - And How to Stop

When beginners start playing squash, one of the most common habits is chasing the ball.The opponent hits the ball, the beginner reacts late, runs toward it, barely returns the shot, and then waits to see where the next ball goes. Once the next shot comes, the same thing happens again.At first, this feels normal. Squash is fast, the ball moves quickly, and the court can feel difficult to read. Many new players feel as if they are always one step behind the rally.But squash is not only about reaching the ball.A big part of squash is learning how to move, recover, and prepare before the next shot happens. The difference between simply chasing the ball and playing with control often begins with one key idea: movement rhythm.Why Do Beginners Chase the Ball in Squash?Beginners usually chase the ball because they are reacting only after the ball has already moved.They see the ball go to the front corner, so they run forward. They see it go to the back, so they turn and chase it. If the ball moves from side to side, their whole body follows the ball without a clear movement pattern.This is natural in the early stage of learning squash.The problem is that this kind of movement is always late. By the time the player starts moving, the ball has already created pressure. The player arrives in a hurry, loses balance, and often hits the ball from an uncomfortable position.In squash, the shot itself is only one part of the rally. A player also needs to:read the ball,move at the right time,keep enough distance from the ball,hit with balance,recover toward the T position,and prepare for the next shot.Beginners often focus only on the first visible problem: reaching the ball. But better squash movement comes from understanding the whole sequence.Chasing the Ball Makes Squash More DifficultWhen beginners chase the ball, they usually use more energy than necessary.They run hard, stop late, stretch too far, and hit while off balance. After the shot, they often stay near the place where they hit the ball. Then, when the opponent plays the next shot, they have to start from a poor position again.This creates a tiring cycle:You chase the ball. You hit while off balance. You stay in the corner. Your opponent hits the next shot. You chase again.Many beginners think they need to become faster. But often, the real problem is not speed. The problem is starting from the wrong place and moving too late.This is why coaches often repeat one simple instruction:Get back to the T.The T Position Is the Center of Squash MovementThe T position in squash is the central area of the court where the service boxes and court lines meet.It is important because it helps a player cover the court more efficiently. From the T, a player has a better chance to move toward the front corners, back corners, and side areas without starting too far away.For beginners, the T position can feel like just another court location. But in real play, it is more than that.The T is a recovery point.After hitting the ball, a player should not simply watch the shot from the corner. The rally continues immediately. Recovering toward the T helps the player prepare earlier for the next ball.This is one of the biggest differences between chasing the ball and playing squash with better control.Squash Movement Is About Rhythm, Not Just SpeedMany new players believe that better squash means running faster.Speed helps, but speed alone does not solve the problem.A fast player who reacts late will still feel rushed. A fast player who does not recover to the T will still be out of position. A fast player who reaches the ball but stands too close to it may still hit a poor shot.Good squash movement is about rhythm.That rhythm includes:when to move,where to move,when to wait,how to keep space from the ball,and when to recover.In squash, rhythm does not mean music. It means the repeated timing of movement, shot preparation, and recovery.When beginners start to understand this rhythm, the game feels less chaotic. They stop simply following the ball and begin preparing for what comes next.What Beginners Should Practice FirstFor squash beginners, the first goal should not be hitting harder.Before power, there should be movement. Before advanced tactics, there should be recovery. Before winning rallies, there should be a basic understanding of court position.A simple beginner squash movement pattern looks like this:Move to the ball. Create space between your body and the ball. Hit with balance. Recover toward the T. Prepare for the next shot.This sounds simple, but it takes repetition to become natural.Beginners often know they should return to the T, but in a real rally they forget. The ball moves fast, pressure builds, and old habits return. That is why movement rhythm needs to be trained repeatedly, not just understood in theory.How SquashRT Helps Beginners Train Movement RhythmSquashRT was created to help players practice this basic movement flow outside of a real match.Many beginners do not struggle because they are lazy or slow. They struggle because they have not yet built the habit of reacting, moving, hitting, and recovering in the right rhythm.SquashRT focuses on the key parts of squash movement:reading the ball direction,choosing the correct movement area,reacting at the right time,recovering toward the T,and preparing for the next action.The goal is not simply to make players move faster.The goal is to help beginners stop chasing the ball blindly and start understanding the rhythm of squash movement.By repeating these patterns, players can begin to develop better timing, better court awareness, and a stronger habit of returning to the T after each shot.From Chasing the Ball to Reading the GameEvery squash player starts by chasing the ball.That is not a failure. It is part of learning.But improvement begins when a player realizes that squash is not only about reaching the ball. It is about creating time, controlling space, and preparing for the next shot.When beginners learn to recover toward the T, keep better distance from the ball, and move with better rhythm, the game starts to change.The court feels less confusing. The rally becomes easier to read. The player feels less rushed.Squash is still fast, but it becomes more organized.And that is one of the most important steps in becoming a better squash player.

05-09 00:23 SquashRT

New Training Record Metrics: Reaction Time, T Recovery, and Shot Accuracy

Improving at squash is not only about moving faster.In real rallies, players need to recognize where the ball is going, choose the right movement position, recover back to the T, and hit the ball at the right timing. These actions happen quickly, but they are not random. They are part of the rhythm of squash movement.SquashRT has been updated with new training record metrics to help players understand this process more clearly.The training record now includes reaction time for receive position movement, reaction time for T position recovery, and shot accuracy based on timing and body position.These metrics are designed to help squash players, especially beginners and intermediate players, build better habits through measurable feedback.Receive Position Reaction TimeThe first new metric is receive position reaction time.This measures how quickly a player selects the correct position to move to after the opponent’s shot.In squash, being late to the ball does not always mean your feet are slow. Sometimes the bigger problem is the delay before movement begins. If a player takes too long to recognize the direction of the ball, the next movement becomes rushed.By measuring receive position reaction time, SquashRT helps players see how quickly they respond to the ball and choose their movement direction.This can be useful for squash footwork training because it focuses not only on speed, but also on decision-making.A player who reacts earlier can often move more calmly, arrive in better balance, and prepare for the next shot more effectively.T Position Recovery Reaction TimeThe second new metric is T position recovery reaction time.The T position is one of the most important concepts in squash. After receiving or playing the ball, players need to recover toward the T to prepare for the next shot.However, good recovery is not only about returning to the T. Timing also matters.If the recovery decision is too late, the player may be out of position for the next ball. If the player rushes back without balance, the next movement can become unstable.SquashRT now records how quickly a player selects the T recovery position after receiving the ball.This helps players understand how smoothly they transition from receiving the ball to preparing for the next movement.In squash, this transition is very important. A rally is not made of separate movements. Receive, shot, recovery, and preparation are connected.The goal of this metric is to help players build a better recovery rhythm, not just faster movement.Shot Accuracy Based on Timing and PositionThe third new metric is shot accuracy.In SquashRT, shot accuracy is not simply about whether the ball was sent to the correct target. Instead, it measures whether the player hit the ball at a stable timing and position.This is especially important for beginners.Many new squash players hit the ball too early, before it reaches a good hitting position. Others hit the ball too late, after it has moved too far away from the body. In both cases, the shot can become unstable because the player is not hitting from a balanced position.SquashRT measures shot accuracy based on the ball’s position inside the player area.When the ball reaches the center of the player area and the player hits it at that timing, the shot accuracy is recorded as 100%. As the ball moves farther away from the center, the accuracy score becomes lower.This encourages players to wait for the ball, keep better distance from the ball, and hit from a more stable position.In other words, shot accuracy in SquashRT is a timing and positioning metric.It helps players train the habit of not rushing the shot. Instead of simply reacting as fast as possible, players can learn to wait, stay balanced, and hit the ball at a better moment.Why These Metrics MatterSquash is often described as a fast sport, but speed alone is not enough.A player also needs timing, balance, recovery, and decision-making.The new SquashRT training record metrics are designed to show more than simple scores or levels. They help players understand how their movement is connected.The updated records can now show:how quickly the player reacts to the opponent’s shothow quickly the player chooses to recover to the Thow accurately the player hits the ball at the right timinghow the player’s level and continuous success record improve over timeThese numbers are not meant to judge a player harshly. They are meant to make training easier to understand.When players can see their reaction time, recovery timing, and shot accuracy, they can better understand what part of their movement needs improvement.Training Rhythm, Not Just Movement SpeedMany beginners think they need to move faster to play better squash.Of course, movement speed is important. But in many situations, better timing is just as important as speed.If a player reacts earlier, moves with better balance, waits for the ball, hits at the right moment, and recovers to the T smoothly, the whole rally feels more controlled.That is the kind of rhythm SquashRT is designed to train.The purpose of these new metrics is not to turn squash into numbers only. The purpose is to help players notice things that are usually hard to see during training.How fast did I recognize the ball direction?How quickly did I recover after receiving?Did I wait for the ball before hitting?Was my shot made from a stable position?These are small details, but they can make a big difference in real squash movement.SquashRT will continue to improve as a squash training tool for players who want to build better rhythm, better timing, and better movement habits.