What is Coll doing differently?
The Canary Wharf Classic (November 2021) and the Black Ball Open (December 2021) provide a fascinating case study. In both tournaments, World #1 Ali Farag looked utterly dominant… until he came up against Paul Coll.
What is Coll doing to stop Farag that others aren’t?
Firstly, he’s neutralising Farag’s attacking options. Farag wins so many points with volley drops (and volley boasts) from mid-court. He gets in front of his opponent, traps them at the back, and uses his wingspan to exploit the space in the front corners
Footage from SquashTV
In his 6 CWC and BBO matches not vs Paul Coll, Farag hit 1 in 7 of his Winners with straight volley drops, while his opponents hit 1 in 14 of their Winners this way.
Farag hits 1 in 7 of his Winners with straight volley drops, while his opponents hit 1 in 14 of their Winners this way.
However, Coll’s tightness to the walls when hitting straight…
Footage from SquashTV
…width when hitting cross court…
Footage from SquashTV
…in combination with prolific use of height: Coll lifts 1 in 7 shots vs Farag, while others only lift 1 in 20 vs Farag…
Footage from SquashTV
…means Farag can’t get in front of Coll, and this attacking option for Farag evaporates.
Unlike his usual rate of 1 in 7, Farag hit just 2 of his 36 Winners with straight volley drops vs Coll at CWC and BBO.
Coll almost eliminated the Farag straight volley drop Winner
Worse still for Farag, Coll’s positioning and speed mean that he’s onto any attacking volley with enough time and stability to launch an accurate lob.
Footage from SquashTV
In their CWC and BO finals, Coll hit 83 cross court lobs from the front corners. Farag hit 16.
As Joey Barrington and fellow commentators so often observe, get the ball above Farag’s shoulders and you’re onto a winning formula: the effort Farag expends volleying these lobs is often audible.
Footage from SquashTV
eally hitting his marks on the tight straight recycling, wide cross court angles, and lifting from the front and back mean Coll has turned one of Farag’s strengths into a weakness.
But you need to find a way to win points as well as limiting the way you concede them. Coll has done this against Farag.
The Kiwi has always played well to deep, but his accuracy has gone through the roof recently. Coll’s shots are nestling so close to the back wall that Farag has been forced to boast defensively out of trouble time and time again.
In their CWC and BO finals, Farag has hit 1 in 10 shots as boasts (Coll: 1 in 50)
Footage from SquashTV
Coll’s accuracy means he knows the Farag boast is coming. He’s in position early, with early racket prep, and has all options available.
Footage from SquashTV
Coll’s improved short drop, in combination with the length to back, mean the court is longer than ever for his opponents.
Footage from SquashTV
Additionally, that early racket prep also allows Coll to hold the ball more effectively, opening up winning angles which he previously didn’t have.
Footage from SquashTV
Well played Paul Coll. If you’re making the court look big against Ali Farag - perhaps the best ever mover on a squash court - something’s gone very right indeed.
Coll has won the final 2 tournaments of 2021 and laid down a challenge to the tour.