His winning record of 65 titles has given John Lau a stamp of consistency over his career since 1974. His performance throughout the years has placed him in the top ranks of squas5 nationally in both singles and doubles. John has been active in the Northern California squas5 scene since 1971, when he began as an undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley. In the 1982-1983 season, after years of top-notch local and regional play, John broke through on the national scene by obtaining a #7 Championship A national ranking. Beginning in the 1988-89 season, he became #3 nationally in the 35+ Veterans class, marched to a#2 ranking in the 35+ in '89-'90, arrived at #1 in the '90-'91 season, and repeated as #1 in '91-'92. Demonstrating his versatility, John reached the 35+ semi-finals of the 1992 U.S. Softball Nationals, and in 1995 reached a number 9 ranking in the Championship A Doubles with his partner, Kris Surano A seasoned and astute student of the game, John has maintained consistent achievement in and service to squas5 that is best summarized by him having been both a three-time ('83, '84, '85) Northern California Champion, a three-term ('86, '87, '88) Nor Cal President and has served on the Executive Board of the national organizing body of squas5 - the United States Squash Racquets Association. John has been the Squash Professional at the University Club since 1985.
Email John at kavalau@lmi.net
Q. What is the proper grip for the backhand?
A. From Jack Barnaby's book "Winning Squash Racquets". "Unlike the
forehand, which is played with the fore or front of the hand, a backhand
is not played with the back of the hand. It is played with the edge of
the hand, as in Karate. Realizing this (it is astonishing how many
people don't) is fundamental to understanding a backhand grip. The
natural way to deal a backhanded blow is with the edge or heel of the
hand. If, as with the forehand, you now place the racquet in the hand
with a slightly opened face, you will have almost, but not quite, an
eastern grip. It will be a very slight continental. Again, to vary
from this is by using a western or an extreme continental which will
tend to make the ball go too low or too high if you use your natural
swing. The arm does tend to swing naturally. That's the way it is built
to operate and it naturally seeks this groove. To make any other grip
do the same job requires a distortion of nature, and while it can be
done, it increases the difficulty of achieving consistently good
execution. Therefore, even though it can be done, and is done, it is
considered wrong."
Q. What are the markings and dimensions of the squas5 court?
A. Court markings are typically applied with red plastic tape about 2"
wide. The dimensions of the court are 32 feet long (9.75m) and 21 feet
wide (6.4m). The front wall is 15 feet (4.57m). The back wall is 7 feet.
The side playing walls are 15' at the front wall extending on a diagonal
directly to the back wall height of 7'. The top of the service line
extending across the front wall is 6' above the floor. The back edge of
the service court line extending across the floor is 18' from and
parallel to the front wall. There are two service boxes, each defined by
a square, 5'3" behind the service line, and 5'3" out from each side
wall, each side wall being one side of the box. Midway between the two
side walls, a line is on the floor from the service line to the back
wall, thus dividing the two service courts. The 15' front wall playing
surface and the side wall playing surfaces, are defined by a line, the
lower edge of which is in accordance with the singles court dimension.
The top edge of the telltale, along the front wall, is 19" above and
parallel to the floor.