Margins Between Winning & Losing

By Peter Nicol

Watch any junior squash match and it doesn’t take long to notice that most of the junior players put very little thought into their serves; just grab the ball, bounce it a couple times and hit it. However, if you consider that the importance of a good serve is increased when points are very short, you will understand the value in taking care to hit high quality serves, including mixing up the type of serve you hit. Keep a number of options in mind. A good serve can be the difference between winning and losing a point.
Watch any junior squash match and it doesn’t take long to notice that most of the junior players put very little thought into their serves; just grab the ball, bounce it a couple times and hit it. However, if you consider that the importance of a good serve is increased when points are very short, you will understand the value in taking care to hit high quality serves, including mixing up the type of serve you hit. Keep a number of options in mind. A good serve can be the difference between winning and losing a point.

The differences between player standards are so fine that even having a forehand that is 5% worse than your opponent can mean an almost certain outcome every time—losing the match.

We often spend time working on improving technically and physically. However, tactical and mental practice is often left behind. This is an area that WILL make a difference to the game score—even when your forehand is 5% worse than your opponent. For me, these practices are mostly mental and require looking outward at my opponent and the game in general rather than internally at my own failings.

An area that is completely dismissed (and I have been as guilty as anyone) is the serve and return of serve. If rallies only last a few shots the significance of the serve and return increase dramatically. Take care when hitting these shots and the way the rallies start, which will often result in the point dramatically changing in comparison to a rushed, poorly executed serve and return. Have a few plans in your pocket with regards to patterns of play—if you serve high to the backhand, your opponent is likely to not be able to hit deep, and will hit down on the ball. Be ready for it. Seems so simple but terribly effective.

One area that I see causing perpetual issues is rally length. Some players get twenty shots into a rally, become tired, and try desperately to finish the rally. Your opponent is feeling the pace too, and if you are willing to keep the ball in play for another 3-5 shots, for 3-5 rallies, you will almost certainly see issues manifesting in your opponent. If you relinquish physical superiority (in your head), then your opponent knows this and can play as long as they need to. However, if you show a willingness to stay the course, it is always amazing to see the transformation between a confident opponent who was winning to one who is bent double and wishing the game to be over!

Shot selection is another area that can make huge differences in the course of a match. I don’t mean playing deceptively or with more flair, just simple solid shot selection. If the ball goes into one of the front corners and you are under pressure, lift the ball rather than hit hard onto your opponent’s racquet. If the ball goes into one of the front corners and you are not under pressure, counter drop simply and effectively. As previously mentioned, try to have patterns of play memorized and execute them in match play—this will really help your shot selection.

These suggestions may seem simple but, unfortunately, we can all forget to do the simple things well under pressure and our standard of play falls as a consequence. This is no substitute for practice and training but rather another tool to help you improve where you already are as a squash player.