Court Movements in Squash

According to England Squash & Racquetball, squash has been voted as the healthiest sport in the world. Although the court itself is not large, the players' constant movement as the ball ricochets off the walls means that squash can provide a thorough workout. For a player who is trying to improve his game, a little work on his court movement can give him an extra competitive edge, as long as he keeps within the rules of play.

  1. The T Zone

    • After each shot, it is recommended that a player return to the center of the court, or "T zone," from where it will be easier to make the next shot. According to squash coach David Heath, the best way to do this is to ensure that your movement toward the ball, your stroke and the move back toward the center court are as fluid as possible. Controlling the T zone is key to winning each point, as with a strong, central position, you can dominate the court.

    Strokes and Lets

    • If the opponent is trying to reach the ball and you are in the way, you must attempt to move, to allow her a chance to play a shot. Impeding your opponent's path to the ball without making an attempt to get out of her way is known as a "stroke" and concedes the point to your opponent. If you make a genuine effort to move, but can't avoid blocking your opponent's path, this is known as a "let" and the point is replayed.

    Patterns of Movement

    • Squash coach Chris Walker says that it's the ball that should be put in the corners of the court, not you. He recommends practicing by "ghosting" around the court. This means warming up by running through the motions you would expect to make within a game beforehand, without the ball. It's important to remember that your racket gives you extra reach, so there's no reason for a player to find himself in the corners. From there, he has further to travel back to the T zone for the next shot and is in danger of being outmaneuvered. The idea of ghosting is to work on moving toward the ball and readying the racket to play your shot in one movement, before returning to the T zone.

    Take Off

    • A key attribute for a good squash player is anticipation, which helps her to be in position to play the next shot faster and so stay one step ahead. The player should be moving as soon as she can judge where the ball is going. She can get to the ball faster if she is poised in readiness to "take off." The player should also be moving back to the T zone as fast as possible once the shot has been played. Off the court, exercises focused on leg strength will help to promote an explosive spring.