Squash is an exciting, fast-paced game that demands players be prepared for anything. Mastering advanced shots can give you an edge against opponents and take your game to new heights.
Volley Reverse Boast is an effective shot to use off of a weak service, particularly if your opponent has a subpar backhand.
The Drop Shot
The drop shot is one of the most powerful shots in squash, yet can be challenging to master. It is best used when your opponent has been hitting with power or is out of position; it may catch them off guard and lead them to mishit the ball, giving an easy short ball opportunity.
To hit an effective drop shot, it’s essential to use the continental grip like when playing a volley or backhand slice – this allows for greater control of ball placement and spin. A good rule of thumb would be hitting slightly lower than you would when performing backhand slices; this allows your ball to arc upwards so it lands within your opponent’s NVZ line (near the net).
Drop shots that are more flat can also be effective; this style is often known as the drive drop shot and can help your opponent feel uncomfortable at the net or bring them forwards in order to settle a point at front court. A typical backswing is cut short for this drop shot to produce an extra flat and fast ball which travels into their NVZ and passes by it without much resistance from them.
The Power Shot is an expanded and heavier form of drop shot fishing that can be especially effective when targeting vegetation or during spring when bass are bedding, particularly if they have been short striking. For its effective usage, however, a baitcasting setup with heavy line is usually required for this method of drop shotting.
To hit a power shot, it is necessary to follow similar guidelines to when hitting a drop shot, with some added steps such as taking a fuller swing and hitting higher than when regular drop shooting – this will allow the ball to arc downwards below your opponent’s NVZ and land with greater ease.
The Cross Court Drive
Cross-court shots can be an effective way to keep opponents off balance and at their heels. Hitting cross-court shots can really mess with their rhythm and prevent them from finding their groove on court.
Deceptive shots are an integral component of every squash player’s arsenal, keeping opponents off balance and giving you an advantage during long rallies. Utilize deceptive shots as part of your game to give yourself an edge!
When hitting a cross-court drive, angle is of utmost importance. A good starting position for such shots would be facing the back wall with your body slightly tilted in towards it – this will ensure the ball hits at exactly the correct angle on its journey to landing in the backcourt area on the other side.
Your ball should be sent at an adequate distance so as to prevent your opponent from volleying it and derail their attacking efforts. Doing this also makes it more difficult for them to intercept it as they turn back towards the back corner for defensive shots.
An important aspect of this shot is the height at which you strike it. A shot hit too low won’t have enough power to penetrate through defence and will die on the back wall; while hitting it higher will require more skillful volleying and could win points!
When determining an ideal height, it’s essential to bear in mind that different parts of the court have distinct ball bounce characteristics. Corners will tend to experience less rebound while more rebound will occur at the back due to being further away from walls.
Therefore, it is crucial that you practice different drills to develop your ability to hit cross-court drives at precisely the appropriate height – this will help ensure you find an ideal balance between power and accuracy as a high-level player.
The Boast
The boast is an effective defensive shot used to gain time during a rally. It involves hitting the ball high up on one of the side walls before letting it bounce multiple times before heading back towards the front wall and back toward you. It may also be used offensively if your opponent becomes pinback-ed back or threatens to lose it altogether; practice is key here so you become comfortable playing it under different scenarios; one effective drill would be shooting all drives with both players taking turns shooting these long shots; this will get used to all that movement back towards you and can develop timing too!
One effective way to improve your boasting skills is through a pair drill. Together with your partner, play an exchanged drive/boast of drives/boasts that focuses on each shot separately while strengthening partnership bonds and honing defensive tactics.
There are various types of boasts you can employ, with three wall boasts being among the most commonly employed ones. While typically seen as defensive shots, three wall boasts can also be made more aggressive by targeting it slightly higher or adding some slice in your shot, making it harder for opponents to retrieve.
Low skid boasts are an extremely effective shot for players with plenty of power, as they can surprise unwary opponents by dropping down to the front wall before exploding out from its center. Novice players should not attempt this shot as it requires significant strength to execute it successfully.
Trickle boasts are another useful form of boast. This two-wall boast is typically played as an attempt at winning and can be used as an effective form of disguise; you could show your opponent you were going to play a drop shot before suddenly switching gears and going with a trickle boast. This tactic can put pressure on them and force them into hitting an excellent return shot.
The Backcourt Drive
Squash players rely on various shots to generate power. One such technique is the backcourt drive shot, which takes advantage of your opponent’s weak backhand sidewall by exploiting weak spots on it and leading to long rallies with tiring out your adversary.
To hit this shot, aim the ball high and straight at the front wall, creating an awkward nick for your opponent to retrieve. You can add additional spin to this shot by slashing your racket head more under its body than usual when hitting a regular boast, giving it more backspin so it lands more quickly into its target nick.
Nick Matthew and James Willstrop, top professionals of squash, employ this highly effective attack shot with devastating effect. It takes place in frontcourt corners after your opponent has played an unsuccessful drop shot or volley drop; your torso should be angled toward one wall while racket head up as normal; at the last second you open racket face using wrist to send ball into sidewall – known as deceptive boasting. Your opponent won’t recognize its change of direction!
As soon as you’re ready to hit, it is critical that there is enough distance between yourself and the ball so that you can properly step and lean into your swing. Too close would make it impossible to generate sufficient power behind each shot; additionally, having your feet ready allows for quick transition into position.
Proper squash technique is key, and once mastered you will be able to play an array of shots. Just remember to keep the wrist firm and shoulders diamond shaped when initiating your swing as this will generate power for maximum effectiveness.