When you are playing a long rally in squash, trading deep shots along the side walls, it can be disconcerting to have your opponent suddenly hit the ball into the side wall. That shot is called a boast, and if your opponent hits it well, it means that the ball will end up in the far front of the court, leaving you to scramble to even reach it.
Here's how to reach that ball with ease, and punish your opponent for his temerity.
- 1. When you are on the T, and your opponent is hitting from further back in the court, always turn and look over your shoulder to see whether he will be hitting a boast, or another deep shot (either straight or cross-court).
- 2. If you see that your opponent intends to hit the ball into the side wall, immediately take one quick step forward. Just get moving forward, and don't worry about how far to the left or right you may need to move later on. Get your weight moving forward.
- 3. Hit a straight drop shot off of his boast.
If you do these two simple things (always watch closely, and be sure to move forward right away), you will be amazed how you reach balls that you never used to reach. And you will have plenty of time to hit a good drop shot, and make your opponent run the full length of the diagonal on the court. It will be no fun for your opponent from now on!
