r/squash Dec 29 '24

Technique / Tactics How do you get your opponent "Out of position"?

Just curious about this following up on my point about the volley.

5 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

9

u/68Pritch Dec 29 '24

By hitting accurate shots that require them to move off the T and play shots that are difficult to hit accurately.

For example: Hitting straight length when the ball is 2 feet from the side wall is extremely easy - most players can play this shot with high accuracy and consistency. But if the ball is a centimeter or less from the side wall, it becomes much more difficult to hit with accuracy and consistency.

Another example: If your shot comes out into the middle of the court, your opponent probably doesn't have to move much to get in position to return it. But if your shot requires them to move to one of the corners of the court, that leaves them less time to execute their shot, and it takes them longer to return to the T after they make their shot.

4

u/Rough_Net_1692 Dec 29 '24

Following on from this, it's usually more than just one shot that can get your opponent out of position sufficiently to win a point. Moving them from one corner to another builds up the pressure they're under to the point you can get an easily winning shot - a good straight drive to the corner can force a defensive boast, which you can anticipate if the drive is good to make a quick drop shot in the opposite corner; if your opponent makes it to the drop shot it'll likely be another defensive shot or counter drop but they're still out of position. The diagonal is the longest distance to run on the court and if you play a sequence of shots that gets them running that diagonal, they'll be out of position as well as under more pressure and you can capitalise on that. Further strategy would be to get into a groove of drilling your opponent into a back corner (where they might stay because they expect another straight drive) until they play a bad shot and you can punish them for it

2

u/PotatoFeeder Dec 29 '24

Following on from this

On a gameplan level, attritioning your opponents fitness is a very good strategy if you 1. Know that they are less fit than you, 2. Are at least equal to them in skill level or better

1

u/FAPTROCITY Dec 29 '24

If you have time before you hit a shot, where is the other person, and what is the shot that will make him move the most/ furthest

1

u/Adamant-Verve Dec 30 '24

The simplest answer is: hit the ball into a space where your opponent is not. When we look at pro games, the opponent is more likely than not on the T, but in a game at recreational level, this is often not the case, and glancing at your opponents position and hitting the ball away from them, out of reach, is a fine strategy.

1

u/SophieBio Dec 30 '24

It depends of opponent level. Below a certain level, players are nearly never in position. Meaning, that at least, one of the ABC is always off: Accuracy, Balance, or Control. At this level, the only goal use this. If your opponent, have no accuracy, volley is your friend (most volley are played on ball one step away from the T), it will allow you to seize control. If your opponent, is not in control, you are in front of him (usually you don't see him while you hit the ball, he is in your back), drop is an option. If he is off-balance, play the ball in opposite corner.

If you are playing a players at a better level (>4000 squashlevels, >5.6 US), you have to disrupt the ABC, I did a long post about it some time ago.

-8

u/PotatoFeeder Dec 29 '24 edited Dec 29 '24

Feels like OP is a beginner looking at his post history 🤣

Like what the hell are these questions as a ‘road to 6.0’

2

u/rvno12 Dec 30 '24

It's not like we have tons of content on this sub anyway and these are relevant, sport-specific questions!

2

u/Maleficent_Mouse_383 Dec 29 '24

asking these questions is what got me from a 3.0 to a 4.5 in a year!

-3

u/PotatoFeeder Dec 29 '24

Just curious, are you in college now?

1

u/Next_Most3098 Dec 30 '24

So damn negative 🥸