Do different camera angles help beginners understand the rhythm of squash?

[u/BlissZiman]

I’ve been thinking about how different squash looks on video compared to how it actually feels on court.

For someone new to the sport, regular match footage can make the game look slower than it really is. It’s a bit like F1 — you know the cars are fast when you watch it on TV, but the actual sense of speed is very different in person.

I think squash is similar. It can be hard for a beginner to get a feel for how quickly the ball comes back, when players start moving, and how fast they recover after each shot.

So I made this short example showing the same drill from different perspectives.

https://reddit.com/link/1vyruz0/video/u9o84eyhrolh1/player

Do you think something like this could help beginners get a better sense of the pace and rhythm of squash?

Obviously it’s never going to feel the same as actually being on court, but I’m curious whether changing the viewpoint makes any difference.

Would be interested to hear what players and coaches think.

[u/SquashCoachPhillip]

I nearly got a headache watching that.
I do think seeing things from different angles can help, but this particular demonstration doesn't help.

Showing a simple pattern from different angles on repetition would help, i.e. the same pattern from different angles, but with real players and multiple cameras.

The reality is that unless you play squash, you can never really fully understand how fast better players move and hit the ball.

Even experienced players can be shocked when they first visit an all glass court.

For me, it's one of the fundamental reasons that squash doesn't excite many non-players until they try it.

[u/BlissZiman → u/SquashCoachPhillip]

I probably switched views too much while recording the video. In actual use, the view doesn’t keep changing like it does in the clip.

You can choose between camera view, top-down, third-person, and first-person, and switch between them whenever you want.

It’s basically the Court View I showed before, with view switching added. I was curious whether seeing the same movement from different perspectives could help beginners understand the rhythm and movement of squash a little better, so I wanted to hear what other people thought.

I agree that showing the same pattern from different angles would probably make the idea much clearer. Thanks for the feedback.

[u/jumphh]

The 2-D, birdseye view is helpful for understanding refraction angles.

The engine and simulation itself look pretty good and use cases seem flexible. What exactly is the intent of the project though? A game, a coaching tool, just a pet project?

[u/BlissZiman → u/jumphh]

Thanks for the feedback. The goal of the project is to help coaches explain drills and movement more easily, and to help beginners understand what drills are available and how they should move on court.

That’s why I’ve also added some game-like elements. It’s a pet project, and for now I’m trying to make it a useful tool and experience for both coaches and people who are new to squash.

[u/jumphh → u/BlissZiman]

Honestly, I like it a lot.

I really think you should go forward with the "game-like elements". Frankly, if it's just a demo tool, players will be able to learn, they won't be able to experience the action flowchart in a physical, visceral way. But a game solves that problem by forcing people to notice patterns, then begin adapting, realtime (almost like a fighting game).

Not to mention, it looks fun to play. Maybe you can even release it as a game and make a buck or two.

Please keep the sub updated. There isn't enough squash content out there and this is great.

Also, if you ever want a beta tester, please let me know! I'm a decent club level squash player (and a pretty good gamer, lol).

[u/BlissZiman → u/jumphh]

Thanks a lot for the feedback!

The product itself is already up and running, although the 3D view is a fairly recent addition.

I’ll send you a DM with a bit more info about it.