Most uninitiates, especially Squash Racquets players who are adroit at
and/or addicted to that game, believe Squash Tennis offers nothing but
prolonged "slam bang" rallies and a boring "sameness." Because of the
tremendous liveliness of the ball and the apparent absence of deftly
placed straight "drops" that die in a corner, these potential players
scorn and speak disparagingly of the wonderful game of Squash Tennis
which, like all racquet games, has its own shots and ways of putting the
ball away.
It is very true that overwhelming power is a key to hitting winning
shots, but this is also true of Lawn Tennis. Employing the so-called
"Big Game of Tennis" is an absolute must if a circuit player today is
going to be a winner. No longer do you see any classic baseline duels
where the premium is on guile and steadiness. The Big Service, the
powerful rapier-like follow-up volley or overhead smash are the standard
weapons that pay off in today's Tennis game.
Squash Tennis, although played in a regular Squash court, is indeed
"different" from Squash Racquets. It possesses its own distinctive
variety of shots, subtleties and ways of defeating your opponent.
One of the most difficult and frustrating tasks we in the National Squash
Tennis Association have in our attempts to expose the game to potential
players is to somehow get a prospect out on the court more than once.
Squash Tennis is a game calling for such speed of racquet and
comprehensive understanding of much longer or wider angles (than Squash
Racquets) that no one can really feel "comfortable" until he has been out
on the court playing at least a half dozen times. It is a rare player,
indeed, who does not quickly become discouraged the first few times and
decides the game just isn't for him after all. And what a pity it is!
For he is missing out on playing a sport that offers him many years of
wonderful, exhilarating exercise, good camaraderie, and a beautiful,
matchless rhythm displayed in harmonious coordination of racquet and
graceful footwork.
The following are some of the fundamental shots you should attempt to
include in your repertoire:
Rails: Your "bread and butter" shots, similar to Squash Racquets, are
the "rails" or shots hit straight up and down, parallel to the side wall.
These rails keep your opponents "scrambling" and allow you to hold that
important "T" position.
The rail shot is hit more effectually when you are fairly close, within
three feet, of the side wall. The closer your position to the side wall,
the easier it is to hit a shot that stays right next to the wall during
the entire flight of the shot (see fig. 9 [Straight up and down backhand
and forehand rail shots.]).
Many winners are made off of these rail shots in the following manner:
1. Frequently the ball hits straight into a rear corner and dies; or
2. It pops unexpectedly out of the corner and right into your opponent;
3. When hit with the proper pace, and low, the ball will die before it
comes off the back wall;
4. When hit with sheer power and relatively high, your opponent will be
unable to catch up with it;
5. If the ball is hit in such a manner as to make it cling to the side
wall all the way back, your opponent will err in attempting to pick it
off the side wall.
Crosscourts: To be mixed in with your straight up and down strokes are
the crosscourt forehand and backhand shots. Here again, these are
employed to keep the ball out of the middle and keep your opponent
defensive and on the move. They can be hit either straight toward the
opposite back wall corner (see fig. 10 [Cross court to opponent's
backhand.]) frequently for a winner, or more sharply cross court, so that
the ball either breaks into or behind your opponent's position (see fig.
11 [Cross court that breaks into or behind opponent.]).
Three-wall Fadeaway: This shot can only be executed when you are a few
feet in front of the service line and off to one side of the court or the
other, nearer to the side wall than the center. Otherwise it is
practically impossible to obtain the necessary angle to pull of the
three-wall fadeaway successfully.
The ball is hit as sharply as possible into the opposite corner, at a
position approximately midway between the floor and the ceiling, striking
the front wall first and then the side wall. This particular stroke is
hit higher than most of the other Squash Tennis shots since the ball has
so far to travel. It will shoot off the side wall at great velocity and
traverse cross court, bounce, and hit the other side wall deep--ideally
within two feet of the back wall. Then, instead of coming off at the
same angle as it hits, the ball rebounds practically parallel to the back
wall (see fig. 12 [3-wall fadeaway.]). A well hit three-way fadeaway,
which can be made either off the backhand or the forehand, is practically
irretrievable since your opponent, even when he comes to realize how the
ball is going to skid out straight at him, will still have great
difficulty in getting his racquet head behind the ball (and in front of
the back wall) to make a return.
Double Boast: This shot, while not as effective as in Squash Racquets,
can, nonetheless, result in many winning points or, if not producing a
winner, it will force your opponent to the front of the court in order to
make his retrieval. The double boast is hit almost straight into the
side wall and fairly low (three to four feet above the floor) and can be
hit either off the forehand or backhand side. The ball rebounds off the
side wall, goes cross court and hits the opposite side wall just inches
away from the front wall. It bounces out and practically parallel to the
front, barely touching or "kissing" the front wall for a winner, or at
least a very difficult "get" for your opponent (see figs. 13 [Forehand
boast.] & 14 [Forehand boast.]). The only prerequisite for hitting this
shot properly is that you should be fairly far back in the court and
close to one of the side walls prior to the execution of your shot.
Four-Wall Boast: This particular shot is much more difficult to master
than the double boast or three-wall fadeaway but, at the same time, far
more effective and unexpected. It has to be hit with a good deal of
power and quite high in order to carry to the front wall. Your chances
of success are, therefore, far greater if attempted off the forehand
side.
The ball travels off your racquet high into the backhand or left wall,
rebounds sharply to the opposite or forehand wall heading toward the
front of the court. There should still be enough momentum and height
remaining to permit the ball to again go cross court to the left wall
where it hits within a few inches of the front wall and drops straight
down barely, touching or "kissing" the front wall (see fig. 15 [Fourwall
boast.]). The four-wall boast is presently only hit by a handful of the
better Squash Tennis players and should be a shot you attempt only after
becoming skillful in the other more standard winning shots.
Straight Up and Down and Cross Court Drops: These soft or "touch" shots
are employed primarily to move your opponent up and back, although an
occasional winner will result when a low ball, hit with the right amount
of pace and spin, dies before your opponent can get to it. Too few
Squash Tennis players today, including many of the ranking competitors,
employ this change of pace shot. Of all the shots, this one must be hit
with a short, low follow-through in order to work successfully. Your
primary goal to accomplish these shots is to make certain you hit the
front wall first and, ideally, not allow the ball to angle into the side
walls (see figs. 16 [Straight backhand drop shot.] & 17 [Cross court
forehand drop shot.]).
Corner Shots: Again, unlike Squash Racquets, the Squash Tennis corner
shots rarely result in an outright winner. The ball is just too lively.
These shots are worth employing occasionally, however, to keep your
opponent cross-legged, off balance, and on the run.
The most effective corner shots are hit with fairly good pace. Your aim
should be low and into the side wall to a point much closer to the front
wall than the spot a Squash Racquets player employs. The reason for
hitting a corner shot in this "in and out" manner is to keep the livelier
ball out of the center of the court (see figs. 18 [How not to hit corner
shot.] & 19 [How to hit corner shot.]).
Miscellaneous: Generally it is best when hitting any Squash Tennis shot
to "hold" your shot as long as you can, thus reducing the chances that
your opponent can anticipate where you are going to put the ball and
start moving to position even prior to your actually hitting.
Whenever possible, shield the ball with your body so that your opponent
cannot see the direction you have hit until the very last possible
instant. There is nothing in the Playing Rules against blocking your
opponent's view, as long as you do not interfere with his swing or with
his getting into the proper position.
Remember that the key to your shot making is mixing up your strokes and
keeping the ball angled away from the middle of the court. A ball that
ends up in the center will probably result in your losing the point or,
at best, having to leave the "T" and go on the defensive. The exception,
of course, is the widely employed "gut ball" that you hit into the front
wall with great speed and at such a height that it rebounds right into
your opponent's body (see fig. 20 [Ball aimed to rebound off front wall
and into opponent.]).
Employ the side walls as much as possible to keep the ball ricocheting
and rocketing about the court so your opponent becomes frustrated and
almost dizzy from following the flight of your angled shots.
Turning: A word on "turning" or "coming around" is in order. Unlike
Squash Racquets where turning is quite rarely necessary, in Squash Tennis
it is both required and desirable to come around as frequently as
possible. The Squash Tennis ball is so lively and the angles so wide
that trying to back up usually results in the ball chasing you and at
best, a defensive, awkward shot will be all you can hit. Turning,
however, and moving constantly after or toward the ball will "open up the
court" as well as place you in a solid, firm position to stroke the ball
freely and comfortably. (See figures 21 [Don't back up and take ball on
backhand.] and 22 [Usually best to turn and take ball on forehand.]
showing a player backing up versus a player who is properly turning.)
Learning to "come around" is another one of those frustrations you will
not find easy to master at first. The ball, being so fast, will seem to
run away from you. Just remember two things: 1) hustle after the ball
with short, speedy steps, keeping in mind that the angle is much greater
than in Squash Racquets (see figs. 23 [Usual Squash Racquets angle and
final bounce position.] & 24 [Note wider, longer angle of Squash Tennis
ball's final bounce position.]) and 2) your racquet must be back and
cocked, ready to swing through when the ball arrives at the proper
hitting position, which is preferably out in front of you.
Finally, another aspect of the game of Squash Tennis that a beginner or a
converted Squash Racquets player will find "unnatural" is the necessity
of immediately moving forward when you see or sense your opponent going
for a sharply hit up-and-down shot, either cross court or "rail," that
does not hit any of the side walls. The Squash Racquets black ball is so
much "deader" that the player usually has to go back first and then
forward somewhat in order to be in the proper position to hit the ball as
it rebounds off the back wall.
The tremendous speed of the Squash Tennis ball, however, does not require
that you go toward the back wall first. To the contrary, you must charge
forward instantly (even when your opponent's shot is heading toward the
back wall) or else you will never be able to catch up to it as it comes
rebounding off the back wall. Many a shot off the back wall is played
from a position closer to the front wall than to the back.