The basics

Squash (technically called Singles Squash to distinguish it from the game of Doubles) is played between two players, each using a racket, with a ball and in a court. The official spins a racquet to decide who will serve first (the equivalent of tossing a coin) and the player who is to serve first then chooses which service box he or she will serve from. Provided the server delivers a good service (see below for explanation), the players continue to return the ball alternately until one fails to make a good return. Only the server can score points. The server is awarded one point for winning a rally. After winning a rally, the server continues to serve, using alternate service boxes. Should the receiver win a rally, he or she becomes the server, chooses which service box to serve from and play continues. A game consists of a series of rallies, the first player to score 9 points wins the game. If the score reaches 8-8, the receiver chooses whether to continue the game to nine points or to ten points. These are referred to respectively as set one and set two. A call of game ball is used to indicate that the server needs just one point to win the game. Match ball is called when the server requires a single point to win the match. Basic Squash Backhand and Squash Forehand Swing

The basic squash swing below applies in at least some way to all strokes. Getting basic squash technique right will improve all the strokes. The squash swing is part of a fluent movement sequence The Squash forehand is similar to a side arm throw like the one used to skim a stone across a pond The Squash backhand could be likened to throwing a flying disc or frisbee except that the wrist is kept firm Forehand Resembles a sidearm throw or a skimming the stone action where the forearm rotates . Backhand Resembles the throwing of a frisbee, where the forearm rotates, except control the wrist movement which when swinging will control the racket head ackswing

Prepare early for the hit whilst moving to the ball.

The Backswing Take the racket back slightly. Weight on the back foot. Keep racket face open Note - the racket head is behind the hand/wrist in the early stages of racket preparation, hence the open racket face

The Service and Return

The server must make a good service to begin the rally. The service is good if: The server has at least part of one foot in contact with the floor within the service box. The foot must not touch the service box line when the ball is struck. The server strikes the ball correctly before it has fallen to the floor, touched a wall or any part of the server's clothing. The ball directly hits the front wall between the service and out lines. The first bounce of the ball falls inside the opposing quarter court. The ball must not touch the short line or half court line. The ball is not served out - i.e. does not strike the front wall below the board or above the out of court line.

To make a good return, the receiver must: Hit the ball before it has bounced twice on the floor. Strike the ball so that it hits the front wall above the board directly, or indirectly via the side walls and/or the back wall. The ball must not touch the floor or any part of the racquet, body or clothing of either player before it hits the front wall. If it hits the front wall first, the ball may hit any number of walls before landing in the opponents quarter. Make sure the ball is not out or down (ie. if the ball falls on/below the board or on the floor

Change of service may be referred to as the hand-out. Interference Obstructing your opponent is a major issue in the game of squash. A player has a tight to the following:

Unobstructed direct access to the ball after completion of a reasonable followthrough. A fair view of the ball on its rebound from the front wall. Freedom to hit the ball with a reasonable swing. Freedom to play the ball directly to the front wall.

The rules therefore stipulate that, in order to avoid interference, a player must make every effort to: Avoid obstructing direct access to the ball after completing a reasonable followthrough. Allow a fair view of the ball on its rebound from the front wall. Give the opponent freedom to hit the ball with a reasonable swing. Allow the ball to be played directly to any part of the front wall.

The Let
The let is a concept peculiar to squash. A let is basically an undecided rally, following which the server serves again from the same box. No points are awarded for the undecided rally. Players must make every effort not to interfere with the opponent's shot and movement around the court. If the opponent is denied the opportunity to play the ball, a let is called for. So when exactly would a let be played? If the striker hits the opponent with the ball before it reaches the front wall, and the ball would have struck any other wall and the return would have been good. If the striker attempts to play the ball and misses, he or she may make a further attempt. If this attempt would have resulted in a good return but the ball hits the opponent, a let is played. If the ball makes contact with an article lying on the floor. If the striker refrains from hitting the ball because there is a reasonable chance of injuring the opponent. If the receiver is not ready and does not attempt to return the service. If the ball breaks during play. If the referee decides that an incident outside the court has caused a player to be distracted

The Stroke (or penalty point)

If a player obstructs his opponent or interferes with his movement close to the ball (within 1 metre) then the referee may award a stroke, also known as a penalty point. A stroke differs from a let because a point is awarded to the penalised player rather than the rally being replayed. A stroke is awarded when: The obstructing player did not make sufficient effort to avoid interference. Interference by the player prevents the opponent's reasonable swing. The obstructed player could have played a winning return. The obstructed player would have struck the opponent with the ball going directly to the front wall. The obstructed player would have struck the opponent with the ball going to a side wall, and it would it have been a winning return

Types of stroke
The way a player connects with the ball when making a stroke is, of course, very important. The two fundamental strokes in squash are the straight drives - the forehand drive and the backhand drive. The ball is struck when it is in line with the player's leading leg and knee. This is a simple but effective stroke, which requires good balance and positioning of the feet and body if it is to be executed to best effect. There are further ways of returning the serve in squash. The main strokes are: The cross-court drive - Almost identical to the straight drive, except that the ball is hit a little earlier. This stroke can be easily intercepted by the opponent if it is hit through the middle of the court. A good cross-court drive will strike the front wall too high for the opponent to reach it and then hit the side wall near the back corner of the court, forcing the opponent to retrieve the ball and leave the mid-court. The drop shot - This takes the pace out of the ball, and sends it low across the front court, forcing the opponent to rush to the front of the court to return the ball. Used to great effect if the opponent is hanging back, expecting a deep return. The lob - Lifts the ball high in the court, making it difficult for the opponent to reach the ball mid-court. It also slows the ball down, so that, when it falls in the back corners of the court, it can be very difficult for the opponent to retrieve and return. The volley - Involves the ball being played while it is still in mid-air, before it has hit the floor. One advantage of this stroke is that it gives the opponent less time to react, as the ball is struck while still in mid-flight.

Each of these basic strokes has variations, depending on whether it is played forehand or

backhand, cross-court or straight, from the front, middle or back of the court. Any stroke which hits a sidewall or the back wall before hitting the front wall is called a boast.

Angles
Much of the skill of a good squash player lies in their understanding and use of angles, whether for an attacking or defensive shot. With the ball travelling at high speeds, bouncing off up to four different walls, a player must understand how the trajectory of the ball will be affected by the angle at which it has been hit. The Short Angle (aka the Trickle Boast) - This stroke is played in the front of the court, and the ball is kept low over the tin, making it difficult for the opponent to retrieve. The High Angle (aka the Skid Boast) - A stroke where the ball is hit high up, and thrown onto the middle of the front wall. The idea is for the ball to land deep in the back corners of the court, where it will be difficult to retrieve.

How to improve your game - squash skills and techniques

Successful squash players combine fitness, co-ordination, balance as well as skills specific to squash like ball control and deception. Here's an acrostic of six tips to help you improve your game, which together spell out s-q-u-a-s-h to help you remember them! Solo sessions - The good thing about squash is that you can play against yourself! Solo practice sessions are especially useful for improving your service. Quickness - Speed, of both body and mind, will be necessary if you want to cope with the frenetic nature of the squash court. Understand the opposition - By studying your opponent's game, you will be in a position to modify your own to exploit his or her weaknesses. Also, look for clues during the pre-match warm-up period and decide how you will avoid playing to your opponent's strengths! Alternate between high-impact and low-impact training - Try organising your training in cycles, so that you build up and then wind down. This applies both to daily sessions and over longer time periods. Trying to do too much will result in burnout and possible injuries. Skipping - Even when you can't get to the squash court, you can boost your fitness by jumping rope. As for boxers, skipping helps improve co-ordination and speed for squash players. Harder opposition - Try playing against opponents who are better than you. Squash

clubs will organise their own events in addition to the internal league, like knockout competitions and handicap matches. These are all good opportunities for you to compete at a higher level than usual.

Squash Skills
It is important to master the following basic skills if you are new to the sport: Gripping the racquet It may sound simple, but a good racquet grip can be the key to success. Poor grip will mean you cannot direct the ball accurately or with any great degree of subtlety. To achieve the correct position, imagine someone is passing you a racquet, handle first, and you are grasping the handle. This is the shake hands position, in which the thumb and forefinger create a V shape on the grip. The swing The swing can be broken down into the back swing, down swing and follow-through. The swing should start and finish with the racquet above your head, or you may be in danger of obstructing, or injuring, your opponent. To perfect the three elements, remember to: Prepare well in advance for the back swing. Leaving it too late with reduce your options in terms of the stroke you use. It also helps disguise your intentions, as your opponent won't know what shot you are going to play. Keep your knees bent and your elbows in, raising your shoulders so that your head is tucked in as you make contact with the ball. The racquet face should remain open, so that make you contact cleanly with the ball. The back swing should not be excessive. As soon as you have made contact with the ball, bring the racket upwards above your head, keeping your elbow bent so that racquet does not swing wide of your body. Again, failure to control your followthrough could obstruct or injure the other player.

Court movement Mobility is important but don't overlook economy - don't waste energy sprinting forwards and shuffling backwards. Striding, lunging and sidestepping are much more effective than using lots of small steps. You will find it difficult at first to judge strides, often arriving beyond the ball or losing your balance after over-striding. By striding, your body position is lower and your knees are already bent, a much better position from which to stroke the ball than an upright, running posture. Some experts believe martial arts training to be useful for squash players. Karate, for example, focuses on balance and suppleness which can really improve a player's movement on the squash court. Positioning Your position on the court is key. The centre point of the court, from which all movement should start, is located about 0.5 metres behind the T, where the short line and half court lines meet. After playing the ball, you should try and return to this central area, or you risk being stranded in the wrong area of the court.

You may need to move quickly to another area of the court before your opponent plays his or her shot, however, for example to play a winner when you know your opponent is only able to make a poor return. In these circumstances, returning to the centre point would waste valuable time and energy. As you learn to read the game and anticipate your opponent's shots, you will be able to track the likely trajectory of the ball and time your movement to coincide exactly with the arrival of the ball.