How to Improve Drive Stroke Result in Squash Game?
Finaldhi Palgunadhi, Muhammad Zakiy Muflih, Habibi Abdillah and Iman Imanudin
Faculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia,
Jln. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229 Bandung, Indonesia
Keywords: Reaction Time, Coordination, Drive, Squash.
Abstract: The aim of this research is to test the relationship between time reaction and coordination with results of
blow drive in squash game. This is a quantitative research using the correlational method of
studies. Samples used in in research were 11 members of SME Squash UPI Bandung who were selected by
using the purposive sampling technique. Instruments used was a whole body reaction time type II visual, ball-
throwing test, and squash playing skills test (forehand drive and drive backhand). It shows that
that there a significant relationship between time reaction and coordination with the blow drive results. In
order to improve the results of blow drive in squash game, we should be more attentive and trained for it could
improve the component of physical condition physical during time reaction and coordination as a
support for results of drive blows mainly on blow drive forehand so results obtained more maximum.
1 INTRODUCTION
Skill is the ability to bring some end results with
minimum of course and minimum outlay of energy,
or of time and energy (Schmidt and Lee 2014). Skills
in Sports should have some important components
that can support them. The example is on Taekwondo,
where some physical condition components are very
important as the supporting skill. It has been observed
that agility, balance, coordination, power, speed, and
reaction time are very important and can be
determinant in this sport (Ana et al., 2016). However
this cannot always be equal to other sports. Every
type of sports have different characteristics which
means that the needs to support this skills will be a
little or much different. One of the examples is the
racket-type of sport, which needs some combination
to improve quality skills. Racket sports require a
combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness, speed,
power, agility, flexibility and strength, perception and
action, technical skill, and awareness and control.
Scientists have been able to comment on these
qualities (Lees and Lees 2008). Speed motion in
respond a stimulation or so-called as time reaction is
very important on some branch of sport games
especially racket-sport. Time reaction is one of
important component of physical condition on sports.
Previous research demonstrated for players, the
Go reaction time of higher-skill players was
significantly shorter than that of lower-skill players
(Kida et al. 2005). In racket sports, reaction time was
considered to improve the performance of players.
Reaction time may provide input for training
programs aiming to improve badminton players’
performance (Huijgen et al. 2017). Tennis athletes are
required to have fast reaction times and explosive
‘‘first step’’ speed (Kovacs 2006). Previous research
demonstrated that the vital importance of visual-
motor coordination and reaction time in badminton
(Wang et al. 2008, Yuan et al. 1995). Based on
research that has been conducted about reaction
times, this research wants to test time reaction on
racket sport, especially in squash. Racket sports have
also provided a vehicle for investigating fast
interceptive actions, hand-eye coordination and
perception-action coupling in the field of motor
control (Lees and Lees 2008). The key to success in
tennis is eye–hand coordination (Alparslan and
Asuman 2013). The main results revealed motor
coordination performance levels of the elite group
were significantly higher than those of the club group
(Sports 2017).
Research on badminton also shows that the ability
to determine the coordination performance decides
the performance of players. The level of sports
Palgunadhi, F., Muflih, M., Abdillah, H. and Imanudin, I.
How to Improve Drive Stroke Result in Squash Game?.
In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Sports Science, Health and Physical Education (ICSSHPE 2017) - Volume 1, pages 503-506
ISBN: 978-989-758-317-9
Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved
503

performance of the studied badminton players was
largely determined by the levels of somatic features,
fitness and coordination abilities (Jaworski 2015).
Based on what is already explained, the aim of this
research is to text the relationship between time
reaction and coordination with results of blow drive
in squash game. Hypothesis on this research is that
there is a relationship between time reaction and
coordination with results of blow drive in squash
game.
2 METHODS
The population in this study were 20 students of the
Squash Student Activity Unit (UKM) University Of
Education Indonesia (UPI), West Java Province,
Indonesia. Using the purposive sampling, the sample
set comprising a total of 11 people: 9 men and 2
women, aged 18-23 year-old, on 2014.
The research method used in this study is
correlational research method. This research took
place on May 13th, 2014. The research was
conducted in two places, which were, the sports
science laboratory of Faculty of Sport and Health
Education (FPOK) UPI, as a place for test reaction
time, and UPI squash sport hall for coordination test
and drive squash blow skill test.
The instrument used was a whole body reaction
time type II visual, as a tool for measuring reaction
time, the tool aimed to measure the rate of body
reaction in response to a visual stimulus, ball-
throwing test that aimed to measure eye-hand
coordination, and squash playing skill test drive as a
tool for forehand and backhand drive. Processing was
done by using statistic correlation and regression.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Relationship between Time
Reaction and Coordination with the
Drive Blow Results
Table 1 shows time reaction with results of blow drive
that has coefficient correlation 0.658 with sig value
0.028<0.05. Coordination of blow drive has
coefficient 0.658 with sig value 0.028 < 0.05.
Coordination with results of blow drive has
coefficient correlation has 0.779 with value
0.028<0.05. Time reaction and coordination on
together, with results of blow drive has coefficient
correlation 0.784 with sig value 0.022 < 0.05. Time
reaction with results of forehand blow drive has
coefficient correlation 0.658 with sig value 0.028 <
0.05. Time reaction with results of backhand blow
drive has coefficient correlation 0.626 with sig value
0.039 <0.05. Coordination with results of forehand
blow drive has coefficient correlation 0.807 with sig
value 0.003 <0.05. Coordination with results of
backhand blow drive has coefficient correlation 0.719
with sig value 0.013 <0.05.
Squash rackets is a game played at a fast pace, …
It is played between two, or occasionally four, players
in an enclosed court of specified dimensions, using
rackets similar to but smaller than a tennis racket, and
with a hollow black rubber ball 15/8 in. in diameter
and 3/4 oz. in weight (Hospital et al. n.d). Squash is a
sport where speed and precision in putting the ball is
something to be noticed well. Fast squash game
requires players with fast responds the ball taken from
opponent. The blow drive is one of the blows in
squash game that needs reacting speed and accuracy
in shot. The drive a hard-hit shot, either down the
nearest wall or across court, with the aim of forcing
your opponent to play his next shot, formed an
awkward position in one of the rear corners of the
court (Hawkey 1994). Speed in react owned by a
player will give support to results of blow drive in
squash game. It has been proven in this research that
time reaction showed a significant relationship with
results of blow-drive, so that the good the reaction is
the better the results of blow drive in squash game is.
On the other hand, precision is also an important
factor in blow drive. Accuracy in blow is a
characteristic from a high skill techniques. Accuracy
in blow is related to coordination. Good coordination
of someone, could improve the results of accuracy in
blow. It means that it could give support to the results
of blow drive in squash game. It has been proven in
this research where coordination shows a significant
relationship with the results of blow drive. So that the
higher a coordination level is, the better results of
drive blow in squash game is.
Table 1: Coefficient correlation and significance.
No
Variable
Coefficient
Correlation
Sig.
1
Reaction time
with drive
-0.658
0.028 < 0.05
2
Coordination
with drive
0.779
0.005 < 0.05
3
Reaction time and
coordination
together with
drive
0.784
0.022 < 0.05
ICSSHPE 2017 - 2nd International Conference on Sports Science, Health and Physical Education
504

4
Reaction time
with drive
forehand
-0.658
0.028 < 0.05
5
Reaction time
with drive
backhand
-0.626
0.039 < 0.05
6
Coordination
with drive
forehand
0.807
0.003 < 0.05
7
Coordination
with drive
backhand
0.719
0.013 < 0.05
3.2 Differences in Reaction Time
Support and Coordination
Together against the Results of
Drive Blow
Figure 1 shows the scale of physical condition
component support (time reaction, coordination, and
time reaction-coordination on the same time) towards
the results of drive blow in squash game.
If seen from the scale of physical confition
component support (time reaction, coordination, and
reaction-coordination time on simultaneous time)
towards the results of drive blow (fig. 1). The amount
of support precentage on reaction-coordination time
at the same time is bigger than the percentage of
coordination, as well as, the percentage amount of
coordination is more than the percentage of reaction
time.
It means that the support of physical condition
component of coordinated reaction time, and the
reaction-coordination time at the same time is
important to support the results of blow drive in
squash game. Such condition also means that the
higher the support of reaction and coordination time
is, will affect the quality of drive blow in squash
game.
Figure 1: Differences in supporting between reaction time,
coordination, reaction-coordination time at the same time
towards the result of drive blow.
3.3 Difference of Reaction Time
Support, Coordination, towards the
Forehand dan Drive Backhand
Drive
Figure 2 shows the supporting scale of physical
condition component (reaction time and
coordination) towards the results of the results of
forehand and backhand drive blow in squash game.
Data on figure 2 shows the tendency of percentage
amount of reaction support towards forehand drive is
better than backhand drive. Likewise, the tendency of
percentage amount of support towards forehand drive
is better than backhand drive.
This results can be interpreted that support of
physical condition component of reaction-
coordination time is highly required, especially to
results of forehand drive blow versus the backhand
drive in squash game. This result is alongside with the
results stated in picture 1b, about the different support
of reaction-coordination support towards the
forehand and backhand drive, where the amount scale
of support reaction-coordination time towards the
backhand drive is smaller compared to forehand
drive. This condition means that there are other
components of physical condition supporting drives
especially the backhand drive.
Figure 2: Difference of support on reaction and
coordination time towards the forehand and backhand
drives.
4 CONCLUSIONS
The component of reaction and coordination physical
condition is proven important to support the results of
drive blows, especially on forehand drive blow results
in squash game. From the results of this research, it
could be acknowledged that a player who wants to
increase the result of drive blow in squash game
should be more attentive and train in order to improve
How to Improve Drive Stroke Result in Squash Game?
505

the component of reaction and coordination time of
physical condition, as a support towards the results of
drive blows, especially in forehand drive blows so
that the results obtained could be maximum. There is
still some deficiency in this research, for example the
amount and characteristics of samples. For that, it will
be better if we continue to investigate and develop
further, using larger number of samples and in-depth
study. The research on other components of physical
condition that could improve the blow drive, such as
the wrist power, stabilization, and flexibility can also
be done. Besides, volley, boast, lob, drop, and service
can also be done in order to research other skills in
squash.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research is supported by the department of sport
science, faculty of education and health, University
Education of Indonesia. Author is thankful towards
Iman Imanudin, S.Pd., M.Pd., Drs. Sumardiyanto,
M.Pd., Drs. H. Aming Supriyatna, M.Pd., Agus
Rusdiana, M.Sc., Ph.D., and Dr. Yunyun Yudiana,
M.Pd. who has made it easier in the process of
research.
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