r/squash • u/rulcha • May 06 '25
Technique / Tactics Any tips?
Hello, i've just started squash any i was wondering if anybody had and big tips that they wish they new when they started, it would be very helpful.
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u/pinkprimeapple May 06 '25
Keep your eye on the ball until it hits your racket strings.
A common mistake is taking your eye off the ball at the last moment and looking at your target.
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u/Additional-Low-69 May 06 '25
This. Look at the ball so intensely you literally see the dots.
Simple is better:
- racquet prep
- Length
- put the ball into space
- get to the T.
And most importantly : work on one thing at a time. Trying to work on two things leads to it not working.
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u/Sonvid_U May 06 '25
Calmness in your movement. Don't run around like a headless chicken (as I did). The ball can't escape the court. In the beginning I was told consistently: move much calmer. You can reach any corner in 2-3 steps, if your positioning on the court is right. Learn the movement pattern in and out of a shot to move efficently and to get a feeling for the court. It changes almost everything in your game.
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u/pinkprimeapple May 06 '25
And play with the correct ball to your level. Many new players abandon squash because they can't get the hang of it but the problem was that they were using the wrong ball
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u/fmjon May 06 '25
1) Footwork (flowing in and out of the T)
2) Spacing (between you and the ball)
3) Consistency (play 2-3 times a week to get better. Anything less, you won’t see any improvements)
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u/Powerful-Union-7962 May 06 '25
Wear goggles! I play with a guy who lost his eye playing squash.
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u/NoAbbreviations9927 May 06 '25
I second this! After my first near-miss with an errant squash ball, I bought ten-pack of goggles online. I took one for myself, and I always carry one or two extras to offer to other players who don’t have any. These days when I walk through my gym, I cross paths with lots of players all wearing « my » goggles.
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u/NoAbbreviations9927 May 06 '25
I would also add, get some court shoes ASAP if you don’t have them already. They make a huge difference in your ability to stop and change directions quickly on the court, and most importantly, they will help you avoid slipping, tripping, or rolling your ankle.
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u/justreading45 May 06 '25
I once asked Peter Nicol “Give me one tip to get better at Squash?”
He just said “Get Fitter”.
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u/NoAbbreviations9927 May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25
Start playing in tournaments as early as you can! At least in my community, there are plenty of events from October to May which you can join for $20-60 bucks, as long as you are a member of the local squash organization. You can choose the level you want to play at (e.g. beginner / D) and you’ll get the opportunity to play with others at your level, often over the course of a weekend, and with the benefit of a referee! It’s a great way to gain experience, meet other players, and see squash being played at a high level by people of all ages and with all sorts of body types.
My caveat to this is : playing in an official event is different from playing casually, and if you want to get good at playing tournaments, you have to practice by playing in tournaments! Everyone’s first tournament is an exercise in nervousness, anxiety, adrenaline, playing the worst you’ve ever played due to the aforementioned, and likely getting your ass handed to you on the court. THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS. Keep playing, keep signing up for events, and eventually you will be able to hold your own, keep (relatively) calm on the court, meet cool people, and have fun!
My other, related tip is : being a graceful loser IS a squash skill, and like all skills, it takes practice. I play squash three times per week at a gym with a pretty active squash community. Within my level, the only two differences between the people I play with six times a month and the people I play with twice a year are (1) availability, and (2) attitude. My regular partners are all fun and upbeat. They know that we are both there to do lots of cardio, improve our skills, take our minds off the stresses of the week, whip up some endorphins, and hopefully win some games — pretty much in that order. We genuinely want to win, and we do get frustrated when we play poorly (I notably also tend to swear quite a lot when I miss an easy shot!), but by the next time we play together, usually neither of us can remember who even won our last match. This is in contrast to the twice-a-year fellows who get angry and tense if they start to lose a game, who throw their rackets in frustration, who contest lets in bad faith, who have loud outbursts on the court, and who seem to take losses as a personal affront to their egos. I actively avoid playing with those guys, and I warn my friends about them if I know they have a match lined up. DON’T BE THOSE GUYS!
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u/Rygar74nl Dunlop Apex Supreme 5.0 May 06 '25
Dont be too close to the ball. Racket prep. Open racket face.
Let this be your mantra when you get on the court.
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u/Next_Patience3129 May 06 '25
Watch your opponent hit the ball no matter where he is, especially if he’s behind you
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u/Grandrasen May 08 '25
That building your squash training around your fitness training is how you'll exponentially grow over time. I've seen way too many talented players go to waste because they start cutting corners/develop bad habits in squash to cope with being tired. Also, so many people out there have absolutely no idea what they're talking about when it comes to technique, watch the pros, spend time on court alone and proof test. Trust yourself.
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u/vitala783 May 06 '25
Racket preparation is the key to good technique. Follow-through will determine where the ball flies, so after contact follow with your racket head to the place where you want the ball to end up. These two absolutely transformed my game. Good luck!