Beginners play squash by whacking the ball as hard as they can — but the players who actually win are the ones with a repertoire of controlled shots and a strategy. The guide: why shots make the game, the essential shots every player needs and the strategy-and-practice to put them together.

The Shots-Make-the-Game Case

Why control beats power: the the-whacking-isnt-the-game (the beginners just-hitting-hard from the squash-beginner chapter — the the-whacking; the the-just-hard; the the-common-mistake), the the-control-and-shots-win (the controlled-shots-and-strategy winning — the the-control; the the-strategy; the the-wins), the the-repertoire-of-shots (the a-repertoire-of-shots — the the-shots; the the-repertoire; the the-tools), the the-placement-over-power (the placement-over-power — the the-placement; the the-not-just-power), the the-fitness-and-shots (the fitness-plus-shots from the squash-fitness-training chapter — the the-fitness; the the-and-shots), and the reframe (the squash as a control-shots-and-strategy game, not-just-power — the build-a-game; the the-shots-win).

The Essential-Shots Breakdown

The shots every player needs: the the-straight-drive (the straight-drive (the-bread-and-butter, deep-and-tight) — the the-straight-drive; the the-bread-and-butter; the the-deep-and-tight), the the-crosscourt (the crosscourt-drive — the the-crosscourt; the the-across), the the-the-boast (the boast (off-the-side-wall) — the the-boast; the the-side-wall), the the-the-drop-shot (the drop-shot (short-and-soft) — the the-drop-shot; the the-short; the the-soft), the the-the-lob (the lob (high-and-deep) — the the-lob; the the-high-and-deep), the the-the-serve (the serve — the the-serve; the the-start), the the-good-length (the good-length (deep-shots) — the the-length; the the-deep; the the-the-key-skill), and the the-control-and-tightness (the control-and-tight-to-the-wall — the the-control; the the-tight; the the-tight-to-the-wall).

The Strategy-and-Practice Notes

Strategy and practicing shots: the the-control-the-t (the control-the-T (center-court) — the the-t; the the-center; the the-dominant-position), the the-move-your-opponent (the move-opponent with-shot-placement — the the-move-them; the the-placement; the the-tire-them), the the-length-and-tight (the play length-and-tight (basic-strategy) — the the-length-and-tight; the the-basic-strategy), the the-vary-your-shots (the vary-shots (unpredictable) — the the-vary; the the-mix-it-up), the the-practice-the-shots (the practice-shots (solo-and-drills) — the the-practice; the the-solo; the the-drills), the the-fitness-base (the a-fitness-base from the squash-fitness-training chapter — the the-fitness; the the-base; the the-conditioning), the the-why-squash-is-great-cardio (the squash-as-great-cardio from the why-squash-best-cardio chapter — the the-cardio; the the-great-workout), and the frame (squash basic shots through the shots-make-the-game-case, the essential-shots and strategy-and-practice — the straight-drives, boasts, drops and lobs with control-the-T strategy that build-a-game; the squash, played-with-shots). Beginners play squash by whacking the ball as hard as they can, but the players who win have a repertoire of controlled shots and a strategy. Learn the essential shots: the straight drive (your bread-and-butter — deep and tight to the wall), the crosscourt, the boast, the drop shot, the lob and the serve — with good length being the key skill. Then play the strategy: control the T (center court), move your opponent with placement, play length-and-tight, and vary your shots. Practice them solo and in drills, with a fitness base: a game beyond just hitting hard.

Beginners play squash by whacking the ball as hard as they can, but the players who actually win have a repertoire of controlled shots and a strategy. Learn the essential shots: the straight drive (your bread-and-butter — deep and tight to the wall), the crosscourt, the boast (off the side wall), the drop shot (short and soft), the lob (high and deep) and the serve — with good length being the key skill. Then play the strategy: control the T (center court), move your opponent with shot placement, play length-and-tight, and vary your shots. Practice them solo and in drills, with a fitness base. A game beyond hitting hard.