THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SQUASH

1. HIT THE BALL TO A GOOD LENGTH

• HIT BALL FIRMLY AT SERVICE LINE TO HIT FLOOR NEAR BACK OF SERVICE BOX

2. AIM TO THE BACK CORNER

• THAT’S THE ONLY WAY TO MAINTAIN THE T AREA.

3. KEEP THE BALL CLOSE TO THE SIDE WALL

• THE BETTER SHOT IS A STRAIGHT SHOT.
• IF YOUR SHOT CLINGS TO THE SIDE WALL, YOUR OPPONENT HAS TO PLAY STRAIGHT SO YOU CAN ANTICIPATE MORE EASILY.

4. RECOVER TO THE T

• FROM THE T YOU CAN REACH 60% OF YOUR OPPONENTS SHOTS IN ONE STRIDE.
• IF YOU ARE ON THE T YOU ARE CONTROLLING THE RALLY.

5. WATCH THE BALL AT ALL TIMES

• WATCH BALL UNTO YOUR RACKET.
• WATCH BALL UNTO OPPONENT’S RACKET.
• WATCH BALL WHEN IT GOES BEHIND YOU.

6 MAKE YOUR OPPONENT RUN.

• BE AWARE OF YOUR OPPONENT’S POSITION ON COURT
• PLAY THE BALL AWAY FROM IT.
• MOVE OPPONENT UP AND DOWN THE WALLS.

7. VOLLEY WHENEVER POSSIBLE

• GIVE OPPONENT LESS TIME TO RECOVER
• KEEP OPPONENT AT FULL STRETCH
• VOLLEY TO A GOOD LENGTH UNTIL THE OPORTUNITY TO VOLLEY SHORT
• DO NOT GO FOR A WINNING SHOT EVERY TIME THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLLEY.

8. KNOW WHEN TO DELAY SHOTS

• THAT WILL WRONG FOOT OPPONENT
• MAKE HIM WAIT FOR YOU TO PLAY AND THEN MAKE HIM RUN THE LONGEST DISTANCE
• STOPS AND STARTS CAUSES FATIGUE

9. GO FOR THE SHORT SHOTS

• GOOD LENGTH GAME AND GOOD SHORT GAME WINS MATCHES
• DON’T PLAY SHORT UNTIL YOU FIRST PLAY LENGTH

10. CHANGE THE PACE OF THE BALL

• KEEPS THE OPPONENT GUESSING
• BREAKS UP OPPONENT’S GAME
• HELPS YOU RECOVER WHEN TIRED

ASPECTS OF MATCH PLAY:-

• AIM FOR GOOD LENGTH
• PLAY SOME DROP SHOTS
• VARY THE PACE OF THE BALL
• STUDY OPPONENT’S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Next article -> More on court strategy