By Richard Millman, Director of Squash, Kiawah Island Club
As a competitive squash player, you should be able to hit any shot you want to hit, in any given situation—within reason!
Many of my students get flummoxed when they are confronted with a relatively tight ball that is almost, but not quite, on the wall at the time they want to play it. A great solution in this case is the ‘Squeeze boast.’
“What’s that?” I hear you cry. Well, with the ball anywhere between a half inch and three inches from the wall, a Squeeze boast is played, literally squeezing the ball between the racquet and the wall. The key is to strike the ball with an upward trajectory and to allow the racquet head to ‘clatter’ into the wall after contact with the ball, having maintained control of the racquet face angle, but without allowing your body weight to continue into the wall, through your follow-through (or you will be looking to buy a new racquet!). It is important to release the wrist just before contact so that it is the momentum in your racquet head that is carrying through the ball into the wall and not your body weight. Remember release that wrist just before contact!
If the shot is played from the back half of the court, try and give the ball enough lift so that it has an imaginary cushion of air to ride on to the front wall.
This shot is useful anywhere on the court. Played at the front (like my friend Diniar Alikhan does) it can be a devastatingly wrong footing, trickle boast, played when it seems that only a straight ball is possible.
It can also be a deceptive change of direction when played with a little wristy delay on the volley—making an apparent drop volley totally change sides of the court.
I don’t recommend playing it as a defensive shot as the timing and time required to play it make it essential to have had time to set up properly. Also if you are playing it as a volley, it is particularly important that you don’t drop your wrist at contact. The Squeeze boast needs crisp, sharp, contact and a spongy, dropped wrist will only end in disaster. Don’t forget, however, that any new technique takes 10-12 weeks of regular practice before it becomes automated in your game—so don’t get despondent if you try it and it doesn’t work right away. Be persistent and you will get there in the end.
By the way, don’t try the Squeeze boast if it is actually hugging the wall—you need a little bit of daylight between ball and wall to rebound it.
So the next time you find yourself in a jam on the side wall—Squeeze it!
Skill Level Tips: Simple practice tips for 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 players
3.0 During a regular boast and drive practice—look for opportunities to try the Squeeze boast. Remember to emphasize the upward trajectory of the swing and release that wrist before contact. Let it ride on a gentle cushion of air!
4.0 Try the Drive Drive Boast routine and look for opportunities to hone your Squeeze boast. If you start getting some success—start trying the same shot on the volley in the same routine. Score up to 15 PAR scoring.
5.0 Try playing the Channel or Alley game (down the side wall, within the width of the service box, any length—i.e., short or long) but play the whole court with the only way to change sides being with a boast (i.e., no cross-courts). Look for chances to improve your Squeeze boast.