In many ways squash is a game of deception – the aim is to outfox your opponent and move them around the court. As such, it is crucial to have a variety of shots to be able to return good shots and win points.
Here are the main types of squash shots:
Drive This is the most common shot in squash. A drive shot is when a player hits the ball as close along the side walls as possible, taking your opponent to either of the back corners of the court. This will test your opponent’s agility as it is difficult to stretch down and get a full racket to the ball. The drive can either be played with a forehand or a backhand at either side of the court.
Drop A well-played drop shot is very difficult to return in squash, but it is also risky as it is played close to the tin – the 48cm (19in) high strip across the bottom of the front wall. A gentle shot which can be played with spin, it kills the momentum of the ball, causing it to land very close to the front wall. This will require the retrieving player to sprint to the front of the court to return the shot before the ball bounces twice.
Lob This is when a player, usually in response to a drop shot, hits the ball high against the front wall in such a way that it arcs over their opponent’s head and lands deep inside the court, ideally as close to the back wall as possible. This is an important shot to have in your skillset as it can allow extra time to get back to the T (the centre of the court) if their opponent is moving them around the court.
Boast A boast shot is when a player hits the ball against the side wall with the correct angle so that it goes on to hit the front wall without bouncing. From there it lands near the front wall and bounces twice near the opposite wall to which the shot was initially played against. A boast shot forces the opponent to go close to the front wall to retrieve it and is often played as a defensive shot when a player is backed into a corner and needs time to recover and take back control of the T. However, the boast shot can also be played as an attacking shot since it is deceptive and has the capacity to confuse your opponent with its unusual trajectory.
Volley Any shot played before the ball hits the floor after bouncing against the front wall is called a volley. Anticipating the trajectory of the ball and playing an attacking volley is a key skill in squash as it can quickly leave your opponent out of position and scrambling, making it difficult to return a well-hit volley. It can be risky as you have less time to set yourself up for the shot, however, it is an important skill for any squash player to master.
Kill A kill shot requires a strong base and is played from high to low. It is a well-struck, hard shot aimed low, just above the tin. A more aggressive and attacking shot than the drive, it will bounce close to the front wall so that it doesn’t bounce too high while coming back and so is difficult to return.
