How Gevolution Squash came into being

Gevolution Squash has been developed by Tony Griffin (pictures above), in collaboration with Xavi Blasco and Ignasi Herms.

In 2018, after writing "The G Spot, a Book About Squash", Tony was itnroduced to a sports science research group (Complex Systems in Sport) at the INEF in Barcelona. Through them he learnt about the concept of differential learning and began trying out these technques in squash.

To his surprise, he discovered that players, regardless of age or ability, improved faster using these methods than they do with traditional training.

What is differential learning?

Differential learning is a sports training system developed by Wolfgang Schöllhorn, professor at the University of Mainz, Germany, that uses variety instead of repetition for sports training. Perhaps most famously used by former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, it is recognized as one of the most effective sports training and improvement methods in the world. 

Changing shots and movements frequently (as opposed to repeating the same shot and movement umpteen times) makes training more effective as our bodies are more awake and efficient. It provides the mind and body with new ways of coping with changing situations, which is hugely beneficial as it closely replicates the variety we face when playing squash. This is in stark contrast to the traditional way we train for squash and indeed for many other sports.

The effectiveness of this method is supported by extensive studies in a variety of sports, all of which conclusively demonstrate that frequent changes are more effective than repetition as a way of improving.

Curiosity led us to look at sports science systems other than differential learning, including the constraint-based approach. This led us to develop a unique combination of techniques and concepts that are effective tools for playing better squash. These include:

  • playing calmly, without chaos
  • understanding body memory
  • improving skill retention.
  • understanding how our eyes condition the way we learn.
  • using the constraint-led approach training system
  • improving  our bodies' inbuilt  themselves organisational process
  • learning through sensation.

Gevolution Squash: keep improving

We now have an experienced team of coaches who are passionate about working with Gevolution and who are constantly contributing to our collective learning process, creating new practices and exercises based on the core concepts of Gevolution. Our coaches help players of all ages and abilities, coaches and trainers understand our techniques and use them effectively.

TOny Griffin explains: “For me, this has been and continues to be a personal journey of discovery, one that has implications far beyond the world of squash. Having learnt how our eyes impact and condition our learning process and our ability to create and retain new habits, I began working on these concepts on the court with my son Liam, who has mild cerebral palsy. He started to improve faster than with any of the various other therapies he had tried previously. In addition to Gevolution Squash, I am now, working with neuro-rehabilataion professionals, applying similar techniques to help people with various types of functional diversity and disabilities with results that surprise professionals and families."

We hope that more people passionate about squash will join us and enrich our ever-growing community of Gevolutionarios.

Gevolution squash has been adopted by the following players, coaches and governing bodies as their preferred way of coaching squash:

Clubs and governing bodies

  • The Luxembourg Squash Federation

  • The Catalan Squash Federation

  • Squash Project, Girona, Spain

  • Real Club Nautico, Tenerife, The Canary Islands

  • Lur Alai Squash Klub, Irun, Spain

  • Club de Squash Marconi, Spain

  • Etelbruck Squash Club, Luxemburg

  • CK Sportcenter, Luxembourg

  • Henley-on-Thames Squash Club, UK

Elite players:

  • Ona Blasco Puig, European U19 n4, Spanish n3

  • Bernat Jaume, PSA No 48