How to play squash – a beginners guide

Introduction • Squash is a fast game and it is not an easy game as it amalgamates skill, speed, and you require to be extremely fit.

• The speed of the ball can reach up to the speed levels of 170mph and the players can burn off a neat 1000 calories per hour of squash, it is more than most games.

• The game originated in the 19th century and was originally named as squash racquets.

• It is often confused with other racquet games like Badminton.

• But except for the racquet, nothing else is the same.

• When you begin to play squash and pick up a squash racquet, there is the tremendous application of brute force but it is actually quite effortless.

• But then you do not have to really think and hit hard, once you get the drift, the hitting comes easy.

• Though it is a quick game you still have time to consider the position of the opponent on the court and counter his/her move with your move.

Play the Ball Safely • A squash point begins with a serve.

• First things first if you want to go past a certain level in squash the first skill to pick up is learning to serve. Serve well and then return the serve.

• Practice makes perfect so keep practicing with your partner or coach. It’s best to practice serves and returns with a partner, or with a coach.

• Learn to hit your serve “in” consistently.

• Serve the ball in a way that it makes contact with the opposite side-wall.

• Preferably you should be able to hit the wall across from the position of your opponent who is returning to serve, this will increase the difficulty level for him/her to return the serve.

• Stand in the centre of your quarter of the court, if you trying to return the serve.

Your whole focus should be on the ball and you should try to anticipate its flight path.

• Generally, you should hit your return fairly high, make that above the line on the front wall, so that ideally you are able to send your opponent into the back of the court.

Keep it to the Centre of Court • You have to learn to to hit the balls to a good depth.

• To acquire good depth you would have to drive your opponent right into the back corners of the court.

• This will make things difficult for your opponent as they will find it hard to return the ball.

• So, it means you have to stand in the middle of the court, quite ready to hit whatever shot your opponent throws at you.

• Try to aim your shots in a way that the first bounce lands in either of the service boxes and the second with the second bounce you hit the back wall two inches above the floor.

• But keep in mind your shot needs a bit of pacing and accuracy.

Keep the Ball Close to the Wall • Remember you have to keep the ball close to the wall.

• This will create difficulties for your opponent.

• When you are in doubt, hit down the wall.

• You can hit cross-court to keep him honest.

Control the T • Once you hit your shot try to recover quickly and move to the centre of the court.

• This is known as the “T”, because the service lines which are painted on the floor resembles the letter T. • You are in control of the game if you are spending more time than your opponent in this general area.

Work on your Short Game • Now even if you drive your opponent into the back of the court and force him to give couple of loose shots in the centre of the court, you can keep driving him towards the back of the court, but eventually you’ll have to move him to the front of the court.

• You need to work on these shots by yourself or with a partner.

• Keep working on hitting the ball about a foot above the front-wall tin, and have them on the floor, pretty close to the wall.

• A game of squash can exercise both your mental and physical skills, no wonder it is known as one of the healthiest sport ever! Practice hard and you will soon be able to master the moves like a pro!

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