Cross court nicks can be an effective way to take the ball into an opponent’s volley zone and force their return, but hitting this shot requires skill. They aren’t easy for your opponents to return either!
This shot can also be used to apply pressure by not giving the opponent enough time to return to the T area.
Front wall
Unless your opponent sees your crosscourt shot coming, they may be able to return it with ease, but if you can hit it just high enough and wide of them they may not be able to volley back – this technique can help wear down an opponent.
This shot can be quite difficult to pull off without practice, but once mastered it can be an extremely effective part of your squash strategy. To properly execute this shot from the front it requires mastery over power and timing as well as keeping in mind where impact occurs on the floor, as this will affect its trajectory and thus affect shot trajectory.
Front wall crosscourt shots are often played from positions directly in front of either T line, usually just above head height. Accuracy becomes extremely challenging any lower than this point – an aspect which top players take full advantage of by posting videos online of their greatest front court crosscourt nicks.
Research to ascertain the optimal way of playing this type of shot included an examination of how time available affected shot selection; more back corner shots were targeted when less time was available compared with when there was more. Additionally, we looked at whether shot location within the middle area affected shot choice: with less than 1 second available an increased tendency towards attacking shots such as lobs was seen; while when more time became available this decreased.
Back wall
Backwall cross-court shots can be tricky. To be successful at these shots, it’s essential to recognize that backwall shots differ from frontwall shots in terms of impact angle – for instance, shots that hit upwards will hit much further down than shots that hit downward. Therefore, it is crucial that players practice this shot from various positions around the court.
When playing back wall shots, players need to ensure they are both in an ideal defensive position (otherwise they risk playing a lob) as well as being in an advantageous volleying position. A great way of accomplishing this is with wide angle passes – which involves shooting towards the front wall just above knee height before traveling along its course through to sidewall and deep back court for easy volleying action. Doing this should prevent your opponent from cutting off the back corner as well as yield a weak return from their shots.
Your opponent will sometimes hit a ball past you that lands near the short line, creating a difficult situation because if you try hitting it low towards the front wall it will bounce twice and likely go out of bounds.
An effective tactic for this scenario is hitting a “ceiling” ball – this involves hitting it with an open racquet face towards the back wall with the aim of having it bounce off of it and rebound high towards the front wall, creating an unpredictable high lob that is difficult to return. Use only when all else has failed!
Side wall
The side wall shot can be an effective way to attack an opponent from many different angles. It can be used to break up a rally by taking them out of their comfort zone, or it can help prepare an opponent for a powerful drop shot. Furthermore, hitting cross court shots adds variety to your game by hitting shots at different parts of the court.
Success of side wall shots relies on hitting them at an appropriate height, meaning one or two feet higher than when playing back wall lobs. Doing this ensures that the ball lands near your opponent’s racket, forcing them to run forward and take a risky shot.
For an effective side wall boast, it is crucial that the shot be struck with sufficient power so that the ball bounces just once and then backs into the opposite corner of the court without needing to hit three wall boasts.
When playing defensive boast, the aim is to strike a shot that nicks the opposite wall floor and forces your opponent to play drop, giving you the chance to gain a better position and possibly win the rally. Therefore, regular practice of this shot should enable it to be used effectively during matches; one way of doing this would be playing several points per match using it and making sure that it is executed properly at its intended moment.
Backhand
Shot selection can be affected by several factors, including time. Murray and Hughes (2001) split the squash court floor into 16 areas and recorded how often players used different shot types from each in matches against five opponents, finding that most frequently played shot types related to those seen immediately prior – suggesting an invariant behaviour (McGarry & Franks 1996).
This research indicates that shot selection varies based on both shot type and amount of time available to play a shot, making it crucial for players to gain a clear understanding of these variables so they can adapt their shots according to opponent strategies more efficiently.
The backhand clear is a difficult shot to master as it requires significant wrist power. While its primary use may be defensively against an opponent’s shot, its offensive potential allows players to score points.
Hitting your backhand clear with lots of spin is another effective strategy when used for clears, as it helps make the ball float higher, giving more time for you to move into position for a volley. It is particularly useful if your opponent hits straight at your opponent’s front wall and you need to get away quickly; accuracy in cross court play must be paramount here in order to thwart any attempts from them to return it with another volley back at you.
Forehand
Forehand shots that create opportunities and disrupt an opponent’s rhythm can often be the most successful. Integrating both cross court and down the line forehand plays into your game can add an element of surprise into each rally, giving you a higher chance at winning each point.
Consistent shot placement can have more of an effect in winning points than pure power alone. By strategically targeting corners and sidelines where your opponent may have trouble retrieving from, you will increase pressure on them, increase chances of errors, and ultimately, more points will be won.
Cross court plays are a cornerstone of every squash player’s playbook, as their precision can shave points off any scoreline.
To master a forehand cross-court shot consistently and accurately, it is key to mastering its timing and controlling its speed. Newcomers may be too eager to hit forehand cross-court shots with power; however, this approach often results in rushed strokes compromising accuracy and top spin.
An ideal approach to cross-court forehand is striking it at an angle similar to that of the back wall, as shown in the photo. This will guarantee a precise bounce on the front wall, increasing accuracy. To improve this skill further, practice should be repeated until it becomes second nature; check out Scott and Nate of Play Your Court’s video as an invaluable resource!