Nanaimo Squash Club

Strategies

Tactics

Source: www.guide-to-squash.org

When you have served, your main objective is to get to the 'T' and look to cut off the return on the first shot - if not the first shot, then the second or the third.

When you're receiving the serve, your main objective is to return the ball to a defensive position so that you take control of the 'T' and look to cut off the next ball.

One of the basic tactics of squash is to send the ball as far away as possible from your opponent.

Off a loose drop your opponent should be moving in a slight 'arc' back to the 'T'. So get in early and either put a straight drop in, or put a hard straight drive to the back of the court, driving it past your opponent.

Creating Space

by Jonathon Power - for more visit www.jonathonpower.com

I was introduced to this game quite some time ago and when I was given the choice between playing squash full time or committing to another sport, I chose squash. The thing that attracted me most to the game was the high intellectual component to it. The sport often thought of as a version of physical chess, is very demanding from both a physical and mental standpoint. Knowing that from a young age encouraged me to learn about controlling the ball and placing it in certain area’s of the court in order to “create space” and finish off a rally.

First and foremost, creating space is largely to do with one’s tactics. As the level of play increases, the harder it is to finish off a rally. This is mostly due in part to a player’s ability to place the ball tighter against the wall with deeper length and thereby making it more difficult for the opposing player to play an attacking shot. In order to create space and finish off a rally you need to be in an advantageous position, preferably the middle of the court. A couple of basic tactics to create your space is to first to get the ball behind your opponent with good length thereby forcing him to hit the ball into the side wall. This will usually result in a loose ball coming into the middle of the court and enabling one to be able to play a final kill shot.

Another tactic would be if you are faster than the other player, you can play a boast or a drop shot early in the rally to create space around the middle of the court in anticipation of counter attacking his reply. However, this tactic can be dangerous if the other player has a great ability to hit winning shots. If so, it would be best to stick to the previous tactic to create your space.

As the level of your play increases and your opponents get better as well, it becomes increasingly more difficult to hit one shot winners. Therefore, tactically you will need to start thinking almost two shots ahead. ie. setting up a certain shot that forces your opponent to play the ball into the area of the court where you feel comfortable hitting a winner. This I feel relates directly to a chess match where you are playing one move in order to set up the next. It might take two or three moves to set up the position you really feel comfortable hitting your winners from but be patient and wait for your space to be created.

Drill: Both players play a length only game where the ball must bounce behind the T line, and each player is allowed one drop shot per rally. Focus on hitting good length that drives your opponent behind you to create space. When your opponent hits a poor shot down the middle, go for your winning drop shot, if that drop shot is retrieved you lose the point instantly because you didn’t create enough space.