1. Keep your eyes on the ball –
The number one squash tip is to keep your eyes on the ball, the game just plays too fast. Watch him as you play your shot, as your opponent is going to play his shot, and keep watching the ball behind you. Keep your eyes on the squash ball!
2. Take a good length –
Don’t let your shots bounce around the half-court mark and feel good for a comeback. Send it to the back of the court and put pressure on your opponent. Forcing your opponent to the back of the court also limits their return options. Take note of where your opponent is hitting, and if you’re not pushing them to the back of the court most of the time, apply a little more pace or slightly increase the angle.
3. Stick to the walls –
As a general rule, play your shots along the line, staying as close to the side wall as possible. Crossovers have their place in the game, but they open up all sorts of angles for your opponent, increasing the risk. Playing along the line and close to the wall will really limit your opponents’ return options, making their next move more predictable.
4. Keep moving –
Standing flat-footed waiting for your opponents to return the shot is inexcusable, and you will almost certainly be punished. Squash is all about anticipation and positioning, so you should always move to the best position to return your opponents shot. When you’re already on the move, you can also accelerate faster to move around the squash court. Try some practice drills on the course to work on your movement and agility.
5. Play short after long –
If you’re looking to play a short shot to the front of the court, take a long shot to the back of the court first. This sends your opponent to the back of the court, giving them the maximum distance to cover to reach your return. Think of it as taking control of the play and putting your opponent where you want, before playing the killer drop shot.
6. Use the corners –
There are four corners of a squash court that you must always aim for on every shot. If you can get your shot busy at any corner, your opponent will have a hard time playing an aggressive return, allowing you to control the point. For short shots off the front wall, also try to play off the side wall first, as this can greatly reduce the angle at which the ball returns to the court.
7. Stay positive –
Squash can quickly become a very frustrating game when things don’t go your way, but staying positive is crucial to turning things around. Forget every bad shot and play the next point with confidence and positivity, difficult as it sounds when you’re up against it!
8. Master the ‘T’ –
To dominate a point, you have to outplay your opponent as much as you need to outplay him. The key to this is the ‘T’ in the center of the squash court, the commanding position to reach all corners of the court. Return to this area after each point and play shots that allow you to return to that area without blocking your opponent.
9. Volley-
Although technically riskier, a volley shot is much more aggressive and is likely to earn you a point if played correctly. This catches your opponent off guard and reduces their time to reposition, putting you in the driver’s seat immediately. However, only use it when the opportunity presents itself, don’t try to abuse the volley shot and make unforced errors.
10. Mix it up –
Being unpredictable in your shot selection is crucial to gaining an advantage in a rally situation. Experienced players will predict the most obvious shots, so look for opportunities to mix them up and send them in the wrong direction, even surprise yourself from time to time!