1. Keep your eyes on the ball –

Squash tip number one is not to take your eyes off the ball, the game is simply played too fast. Watch him while you play your shot, while your opponent goes to play his shot, and keep looking at the ball as it passes behind you, keep your eyes on the squash ball!

2. Hit a good length –

Don’t let your shots bounce around the midfield mark and feel good for a return. Send it to the back of the court and put pressure on your opponent. Forcing your opponent to the back of the court also limits your return options. Take note of where your opponent is hitting their shots, and if you’re not pushing them towards the back of the court most of the time, apply a little more pace or slightly increase the angle.

3. Stick to the walls –

As a general rule of thumb, play your shots on the line, sticking as close to the side wall as possible. Cross shots have their place in the game, but they open up all kinds of angles for your opponent, which carries a higher risk. Playing on the line and close to the wall will really limit your opponents’ return options, making your next move more predictable.

4. Keep moving –

Standing flat-footed waiting for your opponent’s return shot is unforgivable, and you will almost certainly be punished. Squash is all about anticipation and positioning, so you should always move to the best position to return your opponent’s shot. When you’re already in motion, you can also accelerate faster to move around the squash court. Try some practice exercises in the course to work on your movement and agility.

5. Play shortly after the duration –

If you are looking to take a short shot to the front of the court, first take a long shot to the back of the court. This sends your opponent to the back of the court, giving you the maximum distance to cover to reach your return. Think of it as taking control of the play and putting your opponent where they want him, before playing the killer shot.

6. Use the corners –

There are four corners of a squash court that you should always aim for on every shot. If you can get your shot too busy in any corner, your opponent will have a hard time playing an aggressive return, putting you in control of the point. For short shots from the front wall, also try to play from the side wall first, as this can greatly reduce the angle at which the ball returns to the court.

7. Stay positive –

Squash can quickly become a very frustrating game when things don’t go your way, but staying positive is crucial to turning things around. Forget about every bad shot and play the next point with confidence and positivity, as difficult as it sounds when you face it!

8. Master the ‘T’ –

To dominate a point, you must beat your opponent as much as it takes to beat him in play. The key to this is the ‘T’ in the center of the squash court, the dominant position to reach every corner of the court. Return to this area after each point and play shots that allow you to return to that area without blocking your opponent.

9. Volley –

Although technically riskier, a volley shot is much more aggressive and is likely to score a point if played correctly. This catches your opponent off guard and reduces their time to reposition, putting you in the driver’s seat immediately. Use it only when the opportunity presents itself, however, do not try to abuse the volley shot and make unforced errors.

10. Mix it up –

Being unpredictable in your shooting choice is crucial to gaining an advantage in a rally situation. Experienced players will predict the most obvious shots, so look for opportunities to mix them up and send them the wrong way – even surprise yourself once in a while!