Main > Sport > Squash
The key thing in squash is to work your opponent while conserving your own energy. Learn to hit the ball with a minimum of effort. When your opponent is tired, they will make mistakes. You can also make your opponent burn more energy than yourself by sending them the wrong way as often as possible.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport
Practise, practise, practise: Keep your eyes on your main purpose. Don't be tempted by how others conduct their lives. You are alone, alone like an island surrounded by empty seas. Commit to your task and forget 'the others'!
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport
A coach might say, 'stop thinking'. He or she really means, 'relax the body and be mentally supple'. Many people tense-up if they start thinking!
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Chipping
Chipping:
1. Keep your weight on your front foot. (You definitely don't want to hit the ground behind the ball)
2. Open stance. Ball in line with your back foot.
3. Don't bend your wrists. Rotate your shoulders to provide the power. This provides more control, as for a put.
4. Hit cleanly down on the ball, and let the clubface provide the loft.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport
Preparations: It takes time to get strong in physique, mind, and techniques. So, to keep up your interest, you can focus on improving your skills in a wide variety of areas. E.g. fitness, endurance, speed, end-game techniques, patience, different locations and routes, weather, noise, and the like.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Squash
The swing: Get in the habit of holding the racquet up. Use gravity and the weight of the racquet to drive the ball. A good powerful swing should feel almost effortless.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Chipping
Chipping - like putting:
Keep it simple, and keep your chipping as much like putting as possible. Hold the club further down the handle so that the club will be closer to the length of your putter. You may even use your putting grip.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Putting
Don't bend your wrists, but rotate your shoulders instead. Your putting stroke should be like a pendulum, for a steady, repeatable swing.
[guest]
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Equipment > Clothes & accessories
Replace your helmet regularly. Even if you've never crashed, your helmet won't continue to protect forever. Most manufacturers recommend replacement after seven years.
[guest]
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Main > Sport > Golf > Putting
Always accelerate the club through the ball - don't be tentative. If the putt is very short, then take a short backswing, which will allow you to accelerate the clubhead.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Most of the power in a good golf swing is applied just before the club hits the ball, and comes from vigorous hip and shoulder turn - and not from the arms. The very speed of the clubhead will force a long follow-through. But if you apply force too early, or mainly with your arms, the club will not reach maximimum speed and you will notice reduced distance, short follow-through, and imbalance. Ironically your muscles will be working to slow the club down!
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Equipment > Clothes & accessories
Clean your helmet. To make a stinky helmet fresh again wear it in the shower! Get a good shampoo lather going on your head, put your helmet on and massage your scalp with the helmet for a few minutes. Then, give it a good rinse.
[guest]
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Main > Sport > Cycling
Traveling by air: When taking your bike on an airplane reduce the tire pressure to about half. That way, if the remaining air in your tires expands during the flight you won't get a blowout. Also, leave any CO2 cartridges at home or pack them in your carry-on. They should not be stowed in the non-pressurized cargo areas.
[guest]
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Keep your left arm straight, but not tense. Your arms must be relaxed to have spring. If your arms are too tense, energy will be absorbed by your arms and won't be transferred into clubhead speed.
[guest]
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
On the downswing, the clubhead should feel extremely heavy, especially just inches before you contact with the ball. If it doesn't feel very heavy on the downswing then you are losing clubhead speed. Make sure you feel like you are pausing momentarily at the top of the swing so you can reposition your hips ready for a powerful downswing.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Shooting
Always keep your gun pointed away from people — even when it isn't loaded. At a shooting range, always keep the gun pointed down the range.
sdw (11)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Maximum extension: On the backswing, keep the club extended as far away from you as possible, so that you feel "taught" and extended. This will take-up any "slack" or looseness that will drain power from your shot. The club will naturally want to come springing back down. At the very top of the backswing you should feel the club quite strongly tugging your arms towards the hole, which stretches you. If you don't feel this "tug" then you are losing a significant amount of power.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Open your shoulders fully before impact to whip the club through the hitting area. Your right shoulder should end up underneath your left shoulder (if you are right-handed).
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Most of the power in a golf swing should not come from the arms, but from shoulder and hip turn, and the legs. So much power should be coming from these alone that your arms will be strained just to hold on to the club! Full arm extension is required for this to work, otherwise there will be slack in the system.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > The golf swing
Don't start your downswing too soon: At the top of the backswing, allow time for your backswing to extend fully and "stretch out", allowing for good transfer of power when you start the downswing. The club should feel very heavy at the top of the backswing, for maximum power.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Putting
Surveying the putt: It pays to look at the line of a putt from several different angles. It's no good seeing a slope after you've already played the putt.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Chipping
Chips should always be hit by hitting down on the ball, producing backspin. However, don't get overly caught up thinking about the swing when you are chipping. Focus on the fact that you are simply using the clubface to put the ball next to the hole.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Golf > Chipping
Clubs: Some people have a favorite club, such as a pitching wedge, which they prefer to use for most chips. Others aim to get the ball down, out of the air, and rolling on the green as fast as possible. So if you are on the edge of the green, with a long distance of green to the hole, you might like to use a six or seven iron, to run the ball low to the hole. The advantage of hitting the ball low is that you get a more reliable bounce, and firmer contact with the clubface. It's also the shortest way to the hole. The disadvantage is that you may not be as familiar with how hard to hit chips with these other irons.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Equipment > Clothes & accessories
Use a breathable wet-weather jacket. Otherwise, body sweat condenses inside the jacket. If the weather is cold, and the body is wet, fatigue can set in quickly.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring
Some transport services carry bikes for free. Not all travel insurance covers bikes. Some ask for bikes to be packaged in boxes; others just ask for the handlebars to be turned sideways and pedals removed. Check fine print.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling
If travelling often by bicycle, purchase a durable bike bag that folds into a small package. In summer, it can double as a sleeping bag.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring
Waterproof stuff-sacks keep dry your sleeping bag, clothes, small electronics.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring
A tent is not necessary in most touring conditions. Even in strong wind, rain, and heavy frost, a 4x2m fly in a sheltered position is sufficient for one.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring
If touring alone, and one encounters rough weather, dress appropriately and keep well-fuelled. This goes a long way towards keeping one's spirits up. Don't forget extra covering for toes, fingers, ear-tips.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics
Save money by fixing bike issues yourself.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Powertrain
Replacing chain: replace at the same time as rear cluster/cassette. The chain-length is correct when it fits over largest front and rear chainrings, plus one inch. Use an SRAM power-link (simpler).
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Crankset
Bottom bracket: choose sealed type for longer life and less fuss. The LHS locknut of a sealed bottom bracket unscrews first, c-cl; then RHS unscrews cl the entire bracket. Keep threads clean and greased well.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Brakes
Squeaky brakes: rims are greasy. Don't use degreaser to clean. Use spit.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Powertrain
Chain care: dry lube normally, wet lube (oil) in wet conditions. Try to keep clean to prolong its lifespan.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Powertrain
Gear adjustment: First degrease, clean, and re-lube all moving parts of power-train. The key is first to set cable length per derailleur, then chain-guide position of front derailleur, then high and low maximum positions of each derailleur. Other important tips: keep the bike upright, not upside-down; watch that the chain runs square on each ring; put fine adjustment screws at the end of each cable end into lowest tension (screwed in cl all the way).
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Brakes
V-Brake adjustment: First remove brake pads, keeping washers in their original positions, and whittle off detritus and hardened grease from the pads. The key to brake adjustment is spring tension. Each brake has a hardened wire acting as a spring, that slots into one of three positions. Get that position right for best tension. Also make sure
fine adjustment screws at handlebar end of cable are screwed in cl all the way first.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics
Cables: always crimp the ends to stop fraying.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics
Don't wash bike using high water-pressure, as a jet of water into bearings (wheel hubs, headset, bottom bracket, pedals) can dislodge grease and force grit in.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics
Keep metal parts slightly oily. WD-40 (water dispersant) works well.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Tools
Complete repair kit: rear cluster removal tool, chainwhip, crank removal tool, 14mm socket tool (crank bolt), bottom bracket removal tool, 25-30mm shifting spanner, hub spanners, small pair of very sharp diagonal cutters (cables and crimps), 4-6mm hex keys, fine Phillips-head screwdrivers (handebar part-covers), floor pump, tyre levers, spokes (long, short), tyres, degreaser, water dispersant, lithium grease, oil, wax, toothbrushes, rags, socket set, headset spanner.
Handy travel repair kit: hand pump, tyre levers, patches, sandpaper, rubber cement, spare tube, rag, multitool, and a waterproof container with spare chain links, crimps, hex-bolts, spoke key, spoke nipples, a few spare spokes, boot, gaffer tape, pocketknife.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Crankset
Pedal removing: a way to remember the threads, is, when using a shifting spanner, turn the spanner towards the back of the bike, over the axle, like throwing over-arm.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics
Rear wheel removing: Shift chain onto the smallest cog (highest gear), so the chain can then slip off that little cog as the wheel is removed. It may help also to lift the chain off the cog with your finger and over towards the axle nut, as the wheel is slipped out of the drop-outs.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mechanics > Powertrain
Straightening a bent derailleur hanger: one suggestion is to carefully thread the hanger onto a wheel axle nut, then carefully press the hanger against a hard surface (like concrete) using the wheel as a brace. It might work. I had no success with this technique. Hangers are also harder to replace than most bike parts.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mountain-biking
Carry a basic first-aid kit, and spare electrolyte mixes like GU20.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mountain-biking
Downhill speed: Imagine coming upon a ditch suddenly. Keep your speed at a speed that can either brake or jump the ditch. Or learn to roll.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mountain-biking
Bio-oil (Vitamin E) helps healing skin to stay elastic around a forming scab, and thus prevent extra tearing.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mountain-biking
Use tyres with good tread.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Mountain-biking
Wider handlebars give more leverage control in steering.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Touring > Food
Fresh or dehydrated: dried foods weigh less. Where fresh water is not plentiful, it'll have to be carried. Aim for 1L per hour riding, and extra for cleaning hands and cookware.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Sport > Cycling > Health
Preventing fatigue: keep your temperature normal and muscle glycogen high. It helps to sip water regularly, and not to rely on high-calorie foods like chocolate.
kellyjones00 (593)
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