Laurent Kretz

Squash is my preferred sport. It’s a complete burst of energy, it needs agility, strength, endurance, perseverance, and A LOT OF FUEL to burn. The average rally is of 7 to 12 seconds for a normal / pro player, and the average distance is around 1,000 meters/yards per game. I usually play 8 to 12 games in a 90 minutes period. On average, the active part of the game is around 55%. So bottom line, I sprint like crazy for 50mn and cover a distance of 8km to 12km (5 to 7.5 miles) in that period.

Monitoring and dispense your effort

It requires a lot of juice to play (survive?) for an hour and a half of game. When playing, you really need to monitor your effort to make sure that you will sustain the full course. And that is all about your ability to put your opponent in check and limiting your effort. As shown in the image above, the basic strategy at squash is to reach the center of the “T”, which is more or less the center of the court. From there, you’re a (long) step away from any strategic positions on the court and you can lead the game.

Pro players don’t sweat: they serve, get to the “T”, reign over the court and take the lead, risk a few attacks and score.

You could say that they create momentum arriving on the “T”: they are in the safe spot, found their place, cover the court, protect their area. Like Hillary after she “found her voice” or Barack after the Super Tuesday: they found their key arguments (change, health-care system) and stay strong on it while attacking the other candidate.

Know your ennemy - to strike where it hurts

As in any other game/sport where one competes against another, the better you know your opponent, the more chances you have to win.

When I play against a power player (usually someone who played/plays tennis), I try to play with delicacy. There is no need to respond to muscle by muscle in squash (also because I don’t have any). It kills your juice in a few games and then you become weak.

When playing with someone who runs easily, the game tends to last much longer. Positioning on the court becomes very important to make sure that 1) you save your energy and 2) you suck the juice out of your opponent. Adding a little muscle to it can help too to surprise and strike.

So understanding your opponent strengths and weaknesses, his style and his technique, allows you to adapt and play effectively against him.

Politics … 

The now almost weekly democratic debates(it started in spring last year). Debates and issues continue to pile up for every new debate and attacks have been going on and on for months. But the basis remains strong (change, health-care).

Obviously, both players have the same style and found their “T” spot. They both created momentum at some point, and from there launched attacks on opponents. It’s not a game of muscle, it’s a game that must be (and have been) played with finesse - and will last long.

Nobody will squash the other over night.

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