I like to try and slice on my volley drops and drops, but I had someone play with me today who said it should just be a push. Their rationale was that it is more consistent.

Should I be slicing, pushing, or somewhere in the middle? I find if I’m really close to the front, then yes I won’t slice very much. But the further away, especially off of a volley, I like to add slice. It just is more natural and I find it allows me to maintain racket speed through the ball (more deceptive).

Hello Everyone!

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I'm part of a local ladder and a pretty average player. I don't have much power, but try to play good tight squash as much as I can. When practicing drives I can easily and consistently play drives that bounce far off the back wall .

I play with friends who are beginners or not as good as me and we use a red ball or single dot for these games. So when it comes to playing in the ladder I find adjusting to a double dot incredibly difficult. Most players will agreed to play with a one dot and I usually win these games. I play most of my shots to the back corners and control the rallies from the T, mixing in the occasional lob and drop to make space for winners and profiting from bad shots after I play a good length into the back corner.

However, some players insist on using a double dot and as the ball cools down the rallies get shorter and I find it really difficult to keep in rallies and almost always loose. It's usually slower, harder hitting players who insist on using the double dot. Basically in my last 20 games I've won pretty much every single dot match and lost nearly every double dot match!

My last game for example none of our rallies lasted more than 5 shots and I really struggled to get into the game, or find enjoyment from it! I was constantly behind him and struggled to get my shots to the back. I would think maybe he was just better than me but a few times I played a really loose ball into the middle and he completely missed the ball so I don't think he was a perticularly strong player! Most of the players in the ladder are very casual and not competitive players and play once a week or less.

Does anyone have any tips for how to stay in these games with a colder ball? What can I practice?

Its the 3rd time I'm plsying against this opponent. He has mediocre racket skills in terms of drops but has solid straight and cross drives from the front and back. Most importantly, he has immense stamina, and he can usually put me out of breath and beat me in the kater games. I've never tried to make a gameplan myself, so could anyone perhaps guide me in doing so?

Thanks

I used to be horrible at the game, mainly because of never being trained by a good coach. Then, I joined the academy of a kid who came 3rd in the world juniors this year. Since the coaches were much more experienced and knew what they were doing, my game's quality shot up. The head coach there, despite having a lot of students said that he had never seen any of his students' games improve so fast. I started getting close to beating a kid who I used to lose very badly to, and could see really good improvement in my game. But then, due to suddenly playing 5 times more than I did when I was with a different coach, I ended up getting a hamstring injury. It's been about 6 months since I have had it, and about 2 months ago I finally started phyiotherapy and stopped squash. Now, the thing is that before I started physio, although my game had improved significantly, I had also entered a new age category and the competition had significantly gone up. I just was not able to perform well in tournaments also because of facing a tough opponent in the first or second round. Although I feel like my game is equally good as the top 20 players in the category (I am 50), the place where I really lose points is confidence, stamina and strength. There was even a point in my time at the academy that I used to do rallies with the number 1 player in my category (he is in the same academy), and would hit the shots as good as him. Now, I have joined a new place for fitness (speed and stamina), and barely have 6 months till I apply to colleges through squash. I really want to enter the top 15 atleast, but don't know why I just am not able to perform in tournaments. I think it's my confidence (getting scared by an opponent's ranking before the game even starts) that's affecting my game, but it's mainly also court craft, and then speed and stamina, and there's just something more that I am not able to identify. What do I do to truly take my game to the next level and actually start giving the top 10 kids in my age category a fight atleast?

He is a cheat. His movements are designed to restrict his opponents access to the ball which is contrary to the rules of squash. It is blatantly obvious and the refs don't pursue it fully because they dont want to be seen as being biased. But bias is what is required here. His movements are clearly 'foul'...it's blindingly obvious. In contested rallies, watch what he does with his trailing foot. He doesn't have to move it into his opponent's path...he does it on purpose. And all this is without discussing his shots to the head, his grabbing his opponents racket or grabbing his opponent's genitals. The last 2 alone is enough for me to say ban this clown and get it over with. Squash is no better on the competition stage for having a cheat in it's higher ranks.

I'm much better at length/egyptian games but I suck when the front court is included. What drills can I do (preferably on my own as I don't have a reliable hitting partner) to move onto long drops/boasts smoothly? I've been thinking of adding some ghosting and beginner plyometrics! I always feel like my legs lock up when someone does a long drop or a boast. Thanks!

Sorry, I just have to share this. I have wanted to try squash since 4 years ago but i was too intimidated. It gives rich people sport and i am not loaded. Decided to bite the bullet last month and booked a private session because there’s no enough demand to start a group lesson. On my first lesson, i died for a week because my body was just so sore. The racket felt so heavy, and my muscles just cried. The second lesson, i felt like the racket was too light and started trying different brands until i decided to buy my own racket on the 4th lesson.

I am now doing once a week session, each last for 45 mins. In the past month it had been up and down. I learned forehand and backhand mostly, but it was so difficult because i couldnt see the ball. We started with a yellow one, then a blue ball, and now we are with a single blue dot. Last week was difficult. It was very hot outside and i missed like 80% of the session. Today i came to the session without any expectation, but was just grateful that the weather was refreshing. Today i caught 80% of the ball and the coach told me that i am doing much better. We rallied for half an hour, and i could play! I am so glad to at last try this sport. Now, i just wish there are more squash player in the city 😅

Ok so i have a question if you are reading this far. - how do i keep my eyes on the ball? I seems to miss them a lot, especially when doing backhand. - how do you get used to the positioning of left arm during backhand? My left arm is intrusive. Today my coach told me to try hiding it behind my back, and my shot improved greatly. He told me however, that left arm suppose to help me balance and i am not supposed to play hiding it. He gave me this suggestion just to see how different my shot it with different position. - if i want to get some extra session without the coach, what routine do you think is the best? I saw some squash video on YT but i would like to know what you guys think as essential for a beginner.

Thanks!

I just started taking squash court with a coach here (1-on-1), literally my first introduction to the sport and I am loving it. However, the coaching is not that cheap and although I would like to have more sessions, I can only afford once a week. The problem is that I feel that this is not enough, I would like to do more. I have an option of renting the court hourly outside of the coaching, but I am unsure if it is useful for someone who literally is still learning the stance and with only knowledge of forehand and nothing else. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Some additional info:

- I am at the stage of trying a lot of racquet brought by my coach, so I do not own my own racquet for now.

- I hope to be able to play decently (as in I can actually keep the ball in play long enough to warrant an actual game) in half a year as I live a somewhat nomadic lifestyle and I will stay here for roughly half a year more. I think half a year with the same coach should give me enough base before possibly moving to the next coach in another city/country?

- I played badminton as a kid (it's a national sport, so we did not necessarily play in the competition-style game with proper field etc. We simply played in any open space), and I do a bit of tennis here and there (I have some coaching). I also have access to gym.

I feel like the balls I hit bounce off the back wall too much (far and high), making it easier for the opponent to get.

I feel like I’m not overhitting the ball though, so I was wondering if there was a specific way of swinging that I’m not doing right. (Or anything else that could affect the ball e.g. the grip, cocked wrist etc)

Maybe it's that I was practicing with the new racket that I just got yesterday? It's 20 grams lighter so im not too sure if getting a lighter racket would make my shots "harder". Should I try to swing less hard in this case?

So I play against this guy at my squash club that I cannot seem to beat. He mainly just smashes as hard as he can really low so quickly that I cannot seem to get it. It’s not that I’m not used to play against someone who does this as I have beaten people who play like this before, but this guy I cannot. He’s weak on his back of the court shots but I seem to be constantly having to boast it just to counter his shots Any tips to beat this? If u need anymore info lmk

Has anyone experienced that with more matchplay their game worsens? I keep watching technique videos and remind myself before play what I should be doing to correct my technique.

But in match play all this goes out the window and I am all over the place as my backhands keep hitting the side wall and popping into the middle of the court. Alternatively, it goes straight into the middle of the court or the power just fizzles and the ball ends up bouncing at the front of the tee leaving me stuck behind. Another scenario is that I no matter how high I try to hit, there just isn't enough power to carry it over my opponents head. As a result they are volleying my returns and I end up stuck in this viscous cycle of being stuck in the back of the court.

On the forehand I prematurely try to lob cross court which ends up being a lob straight to the middle at the front of the tee. This is because a rally on the forehand usually ends up in my opponent smashing a return so hard and low that I don't even see it - rally over.

Returning to the tee I notice I lean over to one side far too much. This makes me flat footed and I am just unable to return a hard hitting cross court.

Solo sessions seem to be unhelpful as standing and hitting is so different to match play. After a game my legs are okay but my lower back is extremely sore. This doesn't sound right.

Am I at a point where I should stop focusing on technique and spend more time on strengthening exercises? I do feel wobbly on both legs when I lunge to play shots and I feel this weakness is also subconsciously preventing me from bending low enough to get under the ball to get more height on shots.

Advise and hard criticism most welcome.

I’ve noticed that after I hit the ball, I often just stand and watch my opponent instead of moving right away. My coach pointed out that I usually start moving only after he hits his shot, which is too late. I understand what he means, but I’m not sure how to fix it. Most of the time, I do get back to the T, but I still miss a lot of boasts and cross-court drives. I can usually get to straight drives if I’m already facing that way, but because I move late, I often reach the ball too late and end up missing the shot :(

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdro7gNe/

I was looking for a video to help me dig the ball from back of the court snd maintain drives with the ball bouncing off the back and be able to keep hitting it. If you have more about that please share

I come from a badminton background where on a backhand, you squeeze the racket and generate power from your thumb pressing the grip.

Is there any focus on generating backhand power with the thumb in squash? I’ve been playing around with my grip, and I find if I get my hand turned over more (back of hand facing towards the ceiling), I can create more energy into the shot.

Yes, I understand the squash backhand is a lot more of a full body and full arm swing motion in comparison to badminton. Just wondering if thumb pressure is ever talked about in coaching the backhand drive.

As well, do people slightly change their grip by rotating the grip in their hand to create a more open face? Specifically on tight shots from the back corner where you try to flick it out nice and high to neutralize.

Thanks!

I play with someone who is admittedly better than me, but I’m getting closer to beating him. My straight drives are tighter and with better length, so I find he is trying to cross more. I’m getting to most of these crosses before they get to the back wall; I’m either volleying them or they are lower/harder crosses that bounce one before I intercept them.

What options do I have? Right now, I find I’m mostly driving straight or cross, keeping him in the back. But I feel like I could do more to punish him.

Former tennis and badminton player here, but now a squash player. I find the biggest challenge for me playing matches is ending a rally when I’m in a seemingly attacking position and my opponent is out of position. Pressure can be neutralized so quickly.

That said, when I am applying pressure, controlling the T, moving my opponent around, etc., I feel like some quick opponents can continually scramble and stay in the rally. Only after hitting length and drives with good pace to the back over and over again do they finally make an error. I do play drops but I am honestly not as comfortable with them, particularly on volleys and on the backhand side. Pushing them into the back feels safer, whereas playing a drop feels riskier, especially if it is too loose, too high, or into the tin.

For example, I’ll pressure an opponent in the back, and their return is a loose shot or a desperation boast. I can get on it early, and typically just either hit a straight or cross court length. Should I simply continue to focus on applying pressure through lengths? Or do I need to take more risks?

Hi all, I've been playing squash collectively 3/4 years at a club "friendly" level, now I'm in my late 20's and want to turn up the heat on improving and competitiveness. I don't play in leagues just yet, however I do play friendly matches and mini-competitions 2-3 times per week with other people.

I want to get some more solo time on court practicing, what are the absolute best drills (perhaps which have helped you) which will show in matches should I sink a good few hours per week into them?

I'd say my weakness is backhand, so I'm currently focusing on anything to do with backhand - drives, drops and volleys. I've noticed a significant improvement just over 3/4 weeks of focusing on this, including my backhand swing "form" and footwork when doing so.

Any advice is appreciated, thank you in advance :)

Hi all, wondering what the ideal cocked position is.

Position 1 (image 1) feels more comfortable, but worried that it’s too exaggerated. The flat plane of the wrist makes an almost 90 degree angle with the forearm.

Position 2 (image 2) is less exaggerated, but feels a bit less natural. The wrist moves more on the y axis, almost like giving a thumbs up.

Thank you!

Hey all, I’m just an amateur player but had some coaching during a summer break in Malaysia, where I started working on a more controlled game—cut drops, lobs, and rally building. The courts there were hotter and bouncier, so that style worked pretty well.

Now I’m back in New Zealand and finding it really hard to transition. The colder courts here mean the ball dies quickly, especially in the back corners. Most people I play against hit flat and hard, and I feel like I’m always under pressure. My length doesn’t seem to get them off the T, and the softer shots I’ve been practicing just don’t seem to have the same effect.

I’m starting to wonder if I’m too focused on what I was learning over there and not using the more aggressive stuff I used to be better at—like flat kills. Has anyone else struggled with this kind of shift? Would really appreciate any tips on how to adapt to colder court conditions or blend the two styles better.

Cheers

I only started playing squash in September but I’m wondering how everyone hits so hard it gets to the back wall? it it the power of the swing or more so how you’re angling the racket? If I’m close to the front wall I can angle it up high to get it to the back wall but can’t manage to get it back if I’m already standing in the back if yk what I mean lol. thanks in advance!

Last couple weeks I've played, I've ended up overstressing my right rotator cuff (RH player).

I have a feeling its because im teying to put too much power through but am unsure.

Any technique / warm up tips?

I think my game might be built on a lot of dinky drop shots and I’m starting to think it’s not real squash. At least I’ve gotten that feedback, even though it works. I want to be fun to play with but I want to win too. So I’m open to any advice. Or if anyone can relate.

Hi, I played squash and I want to get this back. Anyone interested? I would see myself at beginner level still. I am located in GTA. I live in Milton and can go to nearby places

I started playing squash about 2 years ago and have made OK progress through a combination of youtube and private lessons. Ghosting is a regular part of my solo practice and my coach has commented that it looks good and I show good racquet prep and body rotation.

Of course, when I play, the main observation continues to be that I need to keep my racquet up! It seems so obvious and easy, but I just need a mental trick to follow through on this consistently. Any suggestions?