How to Win at Squash: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 13:41

To follow the advice in this guide, it is assumed that you already know the basics of squash: the rules, the simplest techniques and the movements to be done on the court are taken for granted. This article will teach you how to win, not squash. When you feel ready to win, start signing up for tournaments, where you can show off your competitive spirit. Remember that every single point counts and it doesn't matter how you got it. Note: This is not a guide on how to cheat - there will always be a referee in official tournaments.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Before the Tournament

Step 1. Eat

Study sports nutrition to learn the best foods to eat and when to eat them, so as to maximize energy levels at the time of the game. Without energy you will not be able to play at 100% and you will need all your strength to beat opponents of your level. Drink water (to hydrate yourself) before the game. If you wait to drink at the time of the game, it will be too late.

Step 2. Check your equipment

Make sure your racquet and strings are in good condition. Carry a spare racquet of the same model as the one you are using and with the same strings.

• Changing your racket during a tournament will put you in trouble.

• Make a list of the things you will need so you don't forget anything.

• Get the right equipment. When participating in a tournament, do not be caught without the right shoes, comfortable socks, shirts and suitable shorts.

  

  Step 3. Bring extra shirts

  Squash is a very sweaty game and you should always have a dry shirt when you need it. Also bring a towel to wipe away sweat. Use a sweat-resistant grip on the racquet so it doesn't slip out of your hand.

  

  Step 4. Consider the time it will take to reach the tournament

  Arriving late will only build up stress. Arrive well in advance to change, get familiar with the place, go to the bathroom, etc.

  

  Step 5. Fill out your scouting report

  Find out who your opponents will be. You may have met them in previous games before. If not, you could watch them play. Ask other people what style of play they have and what their weaknesses are.

  Part 2 of 2: Tournaments

  

  Step 1. Warm up

  Before the game, five minutes are devoted to warming up. Hit 2 or 3 times, then pass the ball. Don't hold the ball too long - it's considered rude. If you've never played with your opponent, now is a good time to observe him. Each time you pass the ball to him, use a different stroke and notice his reaction. You can judge his best and weakest shot before the game even begins.

  

  Step 2. Start slowly

  Remember that energy is key in squash - the player who finishes them first loses. The goal is to exhaust your opponent before you run out of energy. If your first round opponent is much stronger than you, don't waste energy on a game you can't win. You will likely have an opponent within your reach on the next turn. If you have a much weaker opponent, don't overdo it. Do not rush. Use the easy game as a prolonged warm-up.

  

  Step 3. Play your game

  To win a close match you need preparation, strategy, tactics and strong nerves. Don't get nervous and don't let your opponent impose his style of play on you. It will be enough to win by two points.

  

  Step 4. Always pay attention to the score

  This will help you save energy. If you have a five-point lead, you won't have to rush to reach a well-placed shot. Let your opponent score a point and prepare for the next. You will lead four more points. If, on the other hand, your opponent has the advantage, you will have to fight for every single point to get even. Don't let it build up a good lead. With the new rulebook, where every point counts, it's very difficult to catch up to a five-point disadvantage if the opponent is of the same level as you and doesn't make many mistakes.

  

  Step 5. Never give up, even if your opponent leads by many points

  Many games are overturned, because the leading player, thinking he has already won, relaxes and consequently releases the pressure on the opponent, waits for the other's mistakes without looking for winning shots, hits without thinking and stops paying attention. On the other hand, the opponent who has nothing to lose gives everything and when he has tied, the nerves come into play. Remember: there is always hope until the game is over. It is in the decisive moments that it is important to have a calm mind. Focus on every single move, on every single shot, always keeping your body taut in the right way and your feet moving, even if you think it's an easy shot. Because…

  

  Step 6. There are no easy shots

  You can miss even the simplest of shots if you are not focused and any unforced error is a point given to your opponent, as well as a potential point that you have not scored to your advantage. If you feel nervous and shaky, don't take any chances. Play it safe. Avoid the blows that allow the opponent to attack you, play using the style and blows that you do best to regain confidence.

  

  Step 7. Keep the ball in play

  Don't try to score a point with every shot. Be patient and wait for an opportunity to attack an easy ball. Send the ball back into the corners, hold it close to the wall, to force your opponent away from the "T", and hit the "T" at a pace that suits you.

  

  Step 8. Don't be greedy

  The urge to play a winner, to drop the ball, to try high-risk shots and to put yourself in a bad position usually comes from fatigue and a desperate desire to end a trade. Observe the status of your opponent. If he gets greedy and starts attacking at every opportunity, plays a lot of short balls or tries to close the rallies early, he is getting tired - unless that is his style of play from the start. If you have an energy advantage, take advantage of your opponent's fatigue and try to wear him out. Speed up the game - let him run, but don't give him a chance to hit the fly. Don't take chances to attack or drop the ball, but aim to lengthen the rallies and make your opponent run even more. He will end up out of breath and will have to stop running. If you don't give him a chance to recover, you should win.

  

  Step 9. If you run out of energy before your opponent, you will be in trouble

  You will need to buy time to catch your breath and slow your heart rate. Slow down your pace. Play long lobs in the back corners. If your opponent starts hitting low and hard, slow down the rally with lobs with each hit. Be careful though, don't give him a chance to strike in flight. Practice these strokes - they are safe and very effective, but few players use them. They also have the effect of disrupting the rhythm of aggressive players, who hit with force and speed.

  Tactics

  Know your strengths and weaknesses, and make mental notes about your opponents. What kind of shots do you prefer? What blows are making him difficult? In which situations does he make more mistakes?

  1. Play by exploiting its weaknesses and avoiding its strengths. If he moves slowly, for example, he takes advantage of that weakness and plays a lot of short balls. If he runs fast and willingly, don't risk short balls when out of position. If running is his only strength, let him run and sooner or later he will run out of breath. Look for any weak spots, such as a weak backhand or poor flying skills. If he's not skilled at flying, he exploits his weakness with high lobs. When he responds to your lob, he will offer you a weak ball that you can attack. If, on the other hand, you notice that your opponent is particularly good at a certain stroke, avoid it. If he is very good at volleyball for example, keep the ball low.
  2. You can't hit a winner with every hit. Most of the shots are safe shots along the walls, classic along the line. Only attack when you have a good chance of success. An attack at the wrong time can give your opponent control of the trade.
  3. Vary your game. Don't let your opponent get used to your shots. Vary speed and positioning. Combine high and low, long and short, right and left, crisscross and longline bangs. Try to fake when you have time, hit at the last second and don't let your opponent anticipate the direction of the ball.
  4. Maximize your options with training. The more options you have during a trade, the less predictable you will be. If you have only two options, your opponent will have a 50% chance of predicting your strike and preparing. So practice different strokes from the same position, using the exact same arm movement. At best, you will see or hear your opponent move to the corner where he thinks you will be shooting. The longer you delay the shot, the better the chances it will move before you hit the ball. In this case, simply play the ball in the other direction. The same principle applies to you, which is why it is essential to stay on the "T" before your opponent hits. If you are in control of the "T", you will be able to reach all of your opponent's shots.

  5. In many cases of long line exchanges, players have a tendency to "cheat" and not return to the T, falling behind as they anticipate the next long line. In this case, play a cross shot or a short ball in the other corner. This is an excellent opportunity for a winner.

     Focus on one Skill - Cross Shot

     This is the most common mistake for intermediate players. An incorrectly played cross that ends directly in the opponent's racket, stationary on the T. This strike gives your opponent an easy hit and a possible point, and at best will allow him to take control of the rally. Here are some tips that will help you use this fundamental correctly.

     • A cross should overtake your opponent, who can't hit him on the fly, or bounce off the side wall, or it should bounce with a ball high enough that it can't be played on the fly and land in the corner of the pitch. You will have to choose the type of strike that best suits the situation (your position and the opponent's).
     • Short balls crossed on the fly are not easy to make, but with practice you can get a reasonable success rate and get a lot of easy points, without running.
     • A cross can surprise an opponent who is expecting a long line.
     • If your opponent is moving to reach the "T", playing a cross strike on the break is always a good choice.

     Reading of the opponent

     • You shouldn't always look at the ball, but also look at your opponent. He might reveal his shots early with body movements. Look at their feet. He might position them differently to play a longline than he holds them to play a cross. Observe his racket and his strokes. He may move differently to hit hard or execute a short ball.
     • Instead, try not to make your shots legible. Try to work to use the same movements for each stroke. Trick your opponent by assuming the position of the feet you use for the long line, but playing a cross. It is not difficult to do this and there is no risk if the ball is close to the front wall and away from the side wall. If you catch your opponent unprepared, it will be easier to make a winner. Hold the racket high and wait for the last moment to prepare for the shot. Learn to place the ball in different corners with the same type of preparation and movement.
     • If your opponent uses a lot of feints, you will need to wait for him to hit the ball before moving. If you move early, it could catch you off guard. Against opponents you can't read and who vary the game a lot, the only answer is to position yourself in the T before they hit the ball, ignore their position and movement, only moving when you are certain of the ball's trajectory.

     Warnings

     • Know your limits.
     • Listen to your body. In some cases the mind says "yes", but the body says "no".
     • The most important advice is to not get hurt! If you feel too tired, it's best to slow down or even stop before risking an injury.
     • No match or tournament is worth an injury.