I have improved my squash skills since I started playing squash with John. A few nights ago, I threw my back and hurt my shoulders while playing squash at the z-center. I think I over stretched my back while trying to get the ball at the far corner of the court. I am no longer a young stallion anymore and my back just couldn't take that kind of (mild) abuse anymore. Another reason why turning 35 sucks. I was flexible enough not to stretch before any major exercise or run in the first 35 years; do remind me to stretch the next time.

Also, the way I am hitting in squash the last 2 weeks is bad. How bad? Bad enough to hurt my shoulder. For some reason, I have developing a tendency to hit the squash ball like I would with a tennis ball. I think I am explaining the physics wrong (please comment if this is incorrect) but the reason why a squash stroke is not the same as a tennis stroke is because tennis ball is heavier and requires more power than squash ball. Furthermore, because of the presence of a tennis net, you do need give the tennis ball a good spin by rubbing the ball with the racquet upon contact. Thus, a tennis stroke draws power from the shoulder and elbow, and requires a slightly different follow through than that of squash to give it a good spin. In squash, the ball is smaller, lighter, and more elastic, you just need to hit it hard enough to get a good bounce off the wall. So you can imagine hitting a squash ball with tennis stroke is not good because it is fundamentally wrong. I am over exerting my shoulder and spinning the ball for no good reason. In squash it is all about the wrist...

2/16/2006 9:57:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

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