Squash (sport) - Types of Shots Played

Types of Shots Played

There are many types of shots played that lead to interesting games and strategy.

• Straight drive: The ball is hit parallel and close to a side wall to travel deep to the back of the court (the 'basic' squash shot). Often referred to as a 'good length' shot.
• Boast: The ball is played off a side wall at an angle, or the back wall, before hitting the front wall.
• Volley: The ball is hit 'on the full' (before it touches the floor), usually directly to the front wall
• Drop shot: The ball is hit gently against the front wall, to fall softly to the floor in the front corner.
• Lob: The ball is hit softly and high on the front wall and with a high arc, so that it falls in a back corner of the court.
• Cross Court: The ball is hit to the front wall from the right side to the left (or vice versa).
• Kill: The ball is hit hard and low on the front wall so that it travels no farther than half court.
• Trickle boast: A 'short' boast where the ball is hit to the side wall at the front of the court (often disguised as a drive or drop shot).
• Squeeze boast: A more difficult shot which is hit from the front of the court when the ball is very close to the side wall. Has the same effect as the trickle boast but is more deceptive because of its difficulty.
• Nick shot: the ball is 'volleyed' or hit off a bounce, cross court and with power to strike the front wall then the junction of the side wall and floor (the 'nick'). When hit well, the ball will have little or no bounce or roll along the floor (this is a more advanced shot that is a variation of the kill shot).
• Back wall boast: the ball is hit moderately hard and high off the back wall, so that it goes the length of the room and hits (usually low) off the front wall.
• Philadelphia (or corkscrew): A shot played diagonally upwards into the front corner hitting the front wall first and then the side wall. The ball then lobs over the court with significant spin. Ideally it hits the opposite side wall at the back and travels parallel to the rear wall making a return very difficult. This shot is a favourite in exhibition squash but is susceptible to being volleyed.
• Skid boast: A shot played from the back corners of the court where the ball is hit high along the sidewall with a small angle so that it hits the sidewall first, then hits high in the middle of the front wall continuing to cross the court while high in the air ideally hitting the opposite sidewall and landing close to the backwall to go past the opponent. As with the Philadelphia it is suceptible to being volleyed.
• Mizuki: This shot is hit on the backhand side of the court, as a volley. Unlike a normal backhand volley, the Mizuki is hit with the back side of the racquet. This shot is extremely hard to hit and only very few people can use it effectively in a match.