Professional Squash Coach

Personal Feedback and Testimonials

Ben Tran (, NY)
Sep 2016:

I would like to thank you very much for your generosity of time and patient while coaching my 11 year old son last week. The 5 days you spend with him working on his tactics and strategies in the squash court, has made him a more confident player. Above all, he had a great time and leaving Rochester with a greater appreciation for the game. Thanks again and we will see you during his winter break.

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Bob Shea (Rochester, NY)
Apr 2011:

Last fall I considered dropping my Midtown membership after almost 17 years. However, I told myself that one reason for me to remain at Midtown would be if I could get back into playing squash after almost 10 years away. So I joined the Box League but, frankly, became discouraged at how far I'd fallen in my level of play and didn't think I could make that up.

I decided to take some lessons. John Walsh is not the first coach I've had but he's proving to be the best.

As a coach, John Walsh gently but firmly challenges a student's thinking and current playing habits. His deep understanding of the game's physics and mental prepartaion empowers his students to improve their game from the very first lesson. He empowers a student with a framework to self-monitor techniques and progress.

John's thoughtful coaching method reflects not only a passionate commitment to the game but also how he adapts to each student's individual capabilities.

The ability to simplify a complex process and generate better performance is the mark of a truly great teacher. John Walsh fits that definition to a tee.

He is a great addition to the Midtown staff.

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Lee Knox (Tempe, AZ)
Nov 2010:

I have taken a couple of squash lessons from John Walsh, he is an excellent squash teacher. John uses visual aids along with a well thought out and unique coordinated strategy for teaching the basics through to the finer points. The visual aids are key to his style of teaching. During play the visualizations can be recalled even during intense rallies, this alone has dramatically improved my shot selection with a measurable improvement in my ratings. In a short period of time, not only did we cover minor points such as the reason you need a fresh (not shiny) ball but we practiced strokes, playing strategies, and ideal shots. I have taken numerous lessons in the past but the visual aids are clear in my mind during play - when I need it. I would recommend John to anyone starting the game and for anyone who wants to rapidly improve their game.

My game has improved dramatically since our lesson and I attribute it to the long rail targeted to the "red dot" that you taught Dee and me. I have actually held in division two for three league sessions now! I had no idea that this simple concept was such a key element of the game.

I'm looking to push up a few more tenths in my squash rating, perhaps you can help me with a couple of pointers…

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Randy Stuckless (Rochester, NY)
Aug 2010:

John is an excellent squash instructor. His lessons feature a deliberate, innovative focus on both the mental and physical aspects of squash. My game has improved significantly.

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The University of Rochester Ladies Team (Rochester, NY)
Feb 2010:

The majority of the girls on the team hadn't played squash before coming to Rochester, but we've made great progress over the past few months with the help of our coach, John Walsh, and member of the Rochester squash community, Tracy Ali. John has helped us immensely with swing technique, movement, and general knowledge of the game. We're really looking forward to meeting and competing with new teams at Nationals.

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The University of Reading Ladies Team (Reading, UK)
Nov 2009:

John is a great coach, with bags of patience and a very positive attitude. He founded our ladies team and improved everyone's games over the course of a couple of years. We are now one of the strongest teams in our league and we all enjoy playing competitively.