One of the most common and most contentious episodes
of the game of squash is this: From about half-court you attempt to hit a tight
rail shot, but the ball does not behave itself and comes back off the front
wall three or four feet away from the side-wall. As you complete your
followthrough, you see that the stupid ball will soon be heading straight for
you instead of tight down the rail.
So immediately you leap away (towards the center of the
court), while your opponent leaps the other way (towards the ball) – and he or
she calls “let”, fully expecting to win the rally, because you are in the way
of a direct shot to the front wall.
If Stewart Boswell (R) asks for a let as this photo is
taken, the ref has to decide if Thierry Lincou (L) as in the direct path to the
frontwall, if Boswell had chosen to hit the wall. If yes, it could be a stroke
to Boswell. If no, it could not be any more than a let. Photo by Steve Line/Squashpics.com
Archives.
This is the moment when the “discussion” begins: You
claim that you were just clear at the moment “let” was called and the ball
could be hit. Your opponent, however, firmly believes that you were still in
the way of a shot to the front wall – that you “crossed the flight” of the ball
on its return from the front wall, thereby placing yourself in the way.
Who is right?
This is one of the most difficult situations to judge,
because one player is going one way, and the other player is going the other
way, and the ball is coming right between them. In other words, the situation
is very fluid, and the correct outcome is determined by where the two players
and the ball are at a particular instant in time.
At one instant the outgoing striker (who just hit that
fabulous rail shot) is in the way of a shot to the front wall), and the next
instant he or she is clear. The key issues are these:
1. Was the incoming striker able to hit the opponent with
the ball going directly to the front wall? In order to win the rally, you must
be able to hit the ball (i.e. the ball must be within the range of your swing),
your racket must be in the ready position, and you must be able to hit your
opponent (but you don’t, of course).
2. At the precise moment when the incoming striker could
have played the ball to the front wall, where was the outgoing striker? Was he
or she still in the way of a direct shot to the front wall, or had he or she
got out of the way just in time?
These questions won’t solve all the arguments – there is
no magic formula for that. But if applied honestly by both players, they will
allow you to come to better and fairer decisions.
Of course, if you hit the sort of rail shot described
above and simply stand there, admiring it, nothing can help you. Unless your
opponent is lying on the floor, you will lose the rally by virtue of being in
the way of a direct shot to the front wall. Take your medicine, walk across the
court to receive the next serve – and resolve to hit better rail shots in
future. |
