A Selection of Squash Drills
INTRODUCTION
- Better to practice hard for 40-60 minutes than 'dither about'
for two hours.
- Target areas should get smaller as accuracy improves.
- Accuracy and consistency in feeding is important for partner
to practice effectively.
- In feeding and shot sequences the players hit alternate shots
unless otherwise stated.
- If there is an even number of strokes in a set rally, then
each player will play the same shot each time- if there is an
odd number of strokes each player will play a different stroke.
- Practices should be played at the appropriate pace for the
standard of the players. Practices can be made more demanding
with an increase in speed.
- Both players should feed for a specified time or number of
shots: and rotate in three's practices.
- All practices should be performed on forehand and backhand
side.
- Where appropriate, practices should be scored, using the
American system, where every rally is scored, as this gives more
incentive to the player.
- Where appropriate, practices should be timed.
- Pairs practices can be used for more than two people by
scoring a small number of points and then dropping one person
out, or dropping one person out when they make a mistake; each
player keeps their own personal score for each rally that they
win, up to a target number.
- The practices and shots are described, but no points of
technique are included.
- Many of the sequences can be progressed by adding the next
shot or a choice of two or more shots that would be likely to
occur in the game.
- In some practices, one player is feeding while partner plays
the shot, and in other practices both have an equal function.
- These practices assume a right handed player.
Service
General Notes:
- Lob serve should be hit high on the front wall, aiming to hit
the side wall near the back of the court and drop to the floor
near the back wall.
- Hard serve is hit just above the cut line on the front wall, aiming to hit the side wall, low down, just behind the service box. It can also be aimed to a length straight at the opponent or close to the half-court line.
Service-Solo
- Ten lob serves to target area at back of court from each
service box.
- Ten hard serves, aiming for target areas near the side wall, half-court line and centre of back quarter.
Service-Pairs
- Service can be used to start many of the practices for other
shots.
- Service competing with partner for points. Serve into back quarter for one point. Serve into back quarter behind back of service box for two points. Serve into back quarter behind back of service box off side wall for three points.
Service-Threes
- Third player in front of short line attempting to catch the ball. When scoring: Should a catch be made, no points for the server. Should the ball be stopped but not caught, one point. Should catcher step behind short line, three points.
Forehand & Backhand Drives
General Notes
- Ball should be aimed to go close to the side wall.
- First bounce should be around the back of the service box.
- Second bounce near the back wall
- Ball should slide into the side wall near the back of the
service box
- Ball should not be aimed too near the corner on the front
wall, as it will hit the side wall too early.
Straight Drives-Solo
- Consecutive drives, aimed for a decreasing target area,
progressing from the whole back quarter to the width of the
service box, then a narrow channel along the side wall, or the
service box.
- Consecutive drives to land behind service box.
- Drive alternately above and below the cut line.
- Drive alternately short and long to move backwards and
forwards.
- Overhit drives-play ball continuously off back wall.
- Three good length drives, one short, continuously.
- One hard low shot, one higher recovery shot, continuously.
- Set number of good length shots, set up easy short shot, play next shot to perfect length into marked area in back corner of the court.
Straight Drives-Pairs
- A feeds from behind, straight short ball for B on T to hit to
good length.
- A feeds from behind, X-court short, for B on T to hit
alternate forehand and backhand drives to good length.
- A feeds alternate forehand and backhand boast from behind for
B on T to hit alternate forehand and backhand straight drives to
a good length.
- A feeds any length X-court, for B to hit alternate
forehand and backhand drives.
- A feeds any short shot from behind, i.e. boast, straight
or X-court drop, or reverse angle. B plays straight drive.
- A plays boast from behind, B plays either straight or X-
court drive, trying to wrong foot A and win the rally.
- Starting with a service or straight shot, both play good
length straight drives into a target area the width of half-
court, service box, or less, from short line to back wall. Move
to T after each shot. Aim for up to 50 shot rally.
As above, but score to 15, winning point if play winner, force boast, or opponent's shot goes out of court or misses target area. Stay in same half court for whole game.
- Starting with a service or straight shot, play rally down
side wall making partner move forward and back by playing both
short and long shots.
- As above, but score to 15, using target area width of half
court, decreasing to service box or less.
- Starting with a service or first straight shot, play two
or more straight drives, then boast, then same number of
straight drives, on the other side, then boast, etc.
- Starting with a service or straight drive, rally down
side wall. One or both players play random boast.
- Starting with a service or first straight drive, play two or
more straight drives, then X-court, then same number of straight
drives, X-court, etc.
- Starting with a service or straight drive, rally down side
wall. One or both players play random X-court.
- A plays any short shot or straight length drive. B plays
straight drive.
- A plays boast, B hits straight drive; score and lose point if
straight drive hits side wall before back line of service box.
- A plays X-court or serves, B plays straight, A plays
straight, B plays boast, A plays X-court, etc.
- As above, but with option to boast instead of first
straight shot.
- A plays X-court or serves, B plays straight, A plays
boast, B plays X-court, etc.
- As above, but with option to boast after X-court.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A drops, B
plays straight drive, A plays straight drive, B boasts, etc.
- As above, but with option to boast first straight shot.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A drops, B
plays straight drive, A boasts, etc.
- As above, but option to play straight or X-court drive.
- A plays straight or X-court drive, B plays boast or straight.
- A plays any short shot from back corner of the court, B
returns ball to A's side of court with straight or X-court
drive.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A drops, B
drops, A plays straight drive, B boasts, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A drops, B
drops A plays straight or X-court, B boasts etc.
- A boasts, B drops and then straight drives own shot. A boasts
etc.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive and boasts own shot, A plays X-court drive, etc.
Straight Drives-Threes
- A on T plays straight drives, B and C with a ball each
feed alternate short straight shots from behind, so that A has
to move as fast as possible from side to side. Either count the
number of shots that land behind the short line in two or three
minutes or check time taken to hit 100 shots into the target
area. Alternatively, the players can do a forfeit of shuttle
runs or an exercise when they have made three mistakes.
- Circling-for three or more. Players take turns to straight
drive the ball to land in the service box, then move to T and
join back of queue. Aim for longest rally or drop out after
losing three lives.
- A on T plays a number of straight drives; B and C with a
ball each feed alternately. B feeds a short straight shot from
behind and C feeds a straight length from in front. B and C then
change roles so that B feeds length and C feeds short.
- A on T plays straight length shots. B and C feed any
straight or X-court short shot from behind.
- B feeds high straight shot for A to volley. C feeds straight shot for A to drive. B and C then change roles.
Straight Drives-Conditioned games
- One player can play only straight shots-short or long, hard
or soft, may only boast if necessary from back corners.
- One player may only play straight length shots, i.e. loses
point if ball bounces in front of short line, or wrong side of
court. With increasing accuracy, may use only width of service
box.
- One player may only win rally with straight length.
- One player only plays length, straight or X-court.
- Both players only play lengths, initially using half court, progressing to width of service box only.
Cross Court Drives-Solo
- Set up easy shot, hit X-court for ball to die in back corner.
- Two straight shots then X-court drive for ball to die in back
corner.
- One straight drive, one boast, then X-court for ball to die
in back corner.
- Overhit straight drive, play X-court for ball to die in back corner.
Cross Court Drives-Pairs
- A feeds short X-court from behind, B plays X-court to length
as a continuous rally.
- A feeds any length X-court, B plays X-court length.
- A feeds short straight shot, B plays X-court length.
- A plays boast, B plays X-court length.
- A plays boast, B plays straight or X-court length.
- Starting with a serve, play two or more straight drives, then
X-court, then same number of straight drives, then X-court. etc.
- Starting with a serve, play either X-court or straight
length Try to volley any weak X-courts.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive,
A plays boast, B plays X-court etc.
- As above, but have option to boast after X-court shot.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive,
A plays straight drive, B plays boast, A plays X-court.
- As above, but have option to boast after X-court.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive,
- A feeds any short shot from behind, B plays straight or X-
Court drives.
- A feeds any short shot from back corner of court. B
returns ball to A's side of court with straight or X-court
drive.
- A plays straight or X-court drive, B plays boast or straight drive.
Cross Court Drives-Conditioned Games
- A can only play length shots either straight or X-court,
loses point if ball bounces in front of short line, boast only
from back corner.
- A can only play X-court shots, B plays normal game.
- One player can only win rally with X-court length.
Short Kills
General Notes:
- Hit ball fast on top of bounce.
- Aim low on front wall to die in the nick near the front wall.
- Easier to play from front of court.
Short Kills-Solo
- Set up high bouncing straight shot and try to hit fast into
nick. Try straight and then X-court shot. Straight Short
Kill-Pairs
- A feeds from behind, short straight, B tries to kill into
nick.
- A serves, B plays short X-court, A kills short straight shot
into nick.
- A serves, B plays boast, A kills short straight shot into
nick.
- As above, rally should continue if possible after kill shot, with A playing short straight kill off every short ball.
Cross Court Short Kill-Pairs
- A plays boast, B plays short X-court kill, A tries to pick up
shot and boast to keep rally going.
- A serves, B plays short bad X-court, A kills short X-court.
- A serves, B plays boast, A kills short X-court.
- As above; rally should continue if possible after kill with A trying to hit short X-court kill off every short ball.
Forehand & Backhand Boast
- Ball should be aimed on nearest side wall, so that it lands in
nick on opposite side wall near the front.
- Alternative two wall boast is aimed to die after hitting front
wall low.
- Defensive boast is played from behind opponent and attacking boast usually from in front.
Boast-Solo
- Set up easy straight shot for boast.
- Two or more straight drives then boast, run to pick up
for two or more straight drives on the other side then boast,
etc., boast, drop, etc., so moving side to side.
- From short line, straight drive, boast, drop, weak X-court,
boast, etc
- Throw ball to practice back corner boast: (a) throw onto backwall, play boast; (b) throw so that ball hits back wall then side wall, play boast; (c) throw so that ball hits side wall then back wall, play boast. Repeat in other back corner.
Boast-Pairs
- A plays boast from back of court, B plays X-court drive.
Increase speed as accuracy improves. Also vary length of X-
court.
- A plays boast from back of court, B plays alternate forehand
and backhand straight drives to a length.
- A plays boast from back of court, B plays either straight
or X-court drives to wrong-foot A and win the rally.
- Starting with a serve, play two or more straight drives,
then boast; then same number of straight drives down other side
wall.
- Starting with a serve, rally down side wall, one or both
players play random boast, then rally down other side wall.
- A plays boast, B plays drop, A plays boast, B plays
drive, A plays boast, etc. When B has hit 10-20 drives, switch
sides for the drop, and drive and repeat with same number of
drives.
- A plays alternate forehand and backhand boast, B may
straight drop or drive.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive,
A boasts, B plays X-court, etc.
- As above, but option to play boast instead of straight
drive.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive,
A boasts or plays straight drive, B plays X-court from boast or
boast after straight drive, etc.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive,
A plays straight drive, B boasts, A plays X-court, etc.
- As above, but option to play boast instead of
first straight drive.
- A plays X-court from front of court, B plays straight drive,
then boasts own shot.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B plays
boast, A plays drop, B plays straight drive, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B plays
boast, A plays drop, B plays straight drive, A plays straight
drive, B plays boast. etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B plays
boast, A plays drop, B plays drop, A plays straight drive, B
plays boast, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B plays
boast, A plays drop B plays straight or X-court drive, A plays
boast, etc.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays
boast, A plays drop, B plays X-court drive, A plays boast, etc.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays
boast, A plays drop, B plays X-court drive, A plays straight
drive, B plays boast, etc.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays
boast, A plays straight or X-court drive, B plays straight
drive, A plays boast, etc.
- A serves or plays X-court length, B plays
boast A plays X-court short, B plays boast, A plays X-court
length etc.
- A feeds any short shot from behind, i.e.
boast, drop or reverse angle. B returns ball to A's back quarter
of the court, using straight or X-court drive.
- A feeds any short shot from behind, B plays straight drive.
Boast-Threes
- A plays X-court, B and C take it in turns to boast, moving to
T after playing shot.
- A plays alternate forehand and backhand straight shots from
T. B plays backhand boast, C plays forehand boast.
- A plays backhand straight drives from front, B plays forehand straight drives from front, C plays alternate backhand and forehand boast from behind.
Boast-Conditioned Games
- A plays only straight drives and boasts, B plays normal game.
- Play normal game but only two areas of court into which players can hit the ball: (a) width of service box in front of short line to front wall or (b) width of service box on other side, behind short line to back wall. This area can be further restricted to behind service box.
Forehand & Backhand Dropshots
General Notes:
- At lower standard of play dropshots are best played off a
short ball or boast because of accuracy needed.
- More experienced players play them from anywhere on the
court.
- Ideally ball should hit front wall first, then side wall near
floor, or into nick.
- Straight drop effective as does not have so far to travel and dies quickly.
Straight Drop-Solo
- Set up easy short straight shot. Drop into front then side
wall.
- Feed shot onto front wall, side wall, then drop.
- Play two or more length drives, drop from behind short line.
Straight Drop-Pairs
- Both players at front of court, A feeds ball onto front wall,
B standing just in front, plays drop. To progress, A tries to
return ball for continuous feeding.
- A feeds 100 straight shots continuously from front of court.
B plays straight drop or drop volley. Count mistakes. Should be
less than ten.
- A serves, B boasts, A plays drop, end of rally.
- A serves, B boasts, A plays drop, B plays drop, A plays drop,
etc., both moving to middle of court after playing shot.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops, B drives straight, A drops, B straight drive, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops, B drops, A drives straight, B boasts, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops, B drives straight. A drives straight, B boasts, A drops,
etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops, B drops, A drives straight, B drives straight, A boasts,
B drops, A drops, etc.
- A boasts from back of court, B drops. then straight drives
own shot, A boasts, etc.
- A plays straight drives from front, B plays straight drops
from back.
- A plays straight or X-court from front, B plays straight
drops from back.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B plays
boast, A drops, B plays straight or X-court drive, A boasts,
etc.
- A plays any short shot, i.e. boast, drop or
reverse angle, from back quarter of the court, B returns ball to
A's back quarter of the court.
- A plays any short shot from back of court, B plays straight drive.
Straight Drop-threes
- Circling, each playing dropshot.
- A serves, B boasts, C waiting on T drops-static practice.
- A on T plays straight drive, B from back or
forehand side, plays any short shot, C from backhand side does
the same.
- Using two balls, A on T plays straight drive;
B and C from back (one on each side of court) play straight drop
alternately.
- A on T plays straight or X-court drive, B and C from back play straight drop.
Straight Drop-Conditioned games
- Both players can only win a point if they win the rally on a
dropshot.
- One or both players must always play drop after boast, lose
point if do not attempt to do so.
- Apart from serve, game to be only played in front of short
line.
- Player scores a bonus point if they can win the rally with a straight drop.
Cross Court Drop, Reverse Angle and Short Angle
General Notes:
- Cross court drop should hit front wall, then side wall near
the floor. The shot is effective if played accurately, but will
bounce out into middle of court because of the angle if played
badly.
- Reverse angle hits the opposite side wall first, then front
wall.
- Short angle is a boast played close to the front wall.
Cross Court Drop, Reverse Angle and Short Angle-Solo.
- Feed easy straight shot, X-court drop or reverse angle, or
short angle.
- Feed shot onto front wall, side wall, play X-court drop,
reverse angle or short angle.
- Three long drives, X-court drop from back of court, or
reverse angle.
- Stand in front of short line, hit alternately front wall, side wall and side wall, front wall, aiming very close to the corner.
Cross Court Drop, Reverse Angle and Short Angle-Pairs
- A feeds easy straight shot from behind, B on T plays X-court
drop, short or reverse angle.
- A plays straight drive, B plays X-court drop, continuous
rally.
- A plays X-court drive, B plays X-court drop or reverse angle.
- A serves, B plays boast, A plays X-court drop,
B plays drive, A plays boast, etc.
- A feeds short straight shot from front of court, B plays
short angle.
- A serves, B boasts, A plays short angle, B
drives, A boasts, etc.
- A serves, B boasts, A plays short angle, B plays short angle,
A plays short angle, etc.
- A plays long X-court, B boasts, A plays short X-court, B
plays short angle.
- A plays boast, B plays drop, A plays short
angle, B plays drive, A plays boast, etc.
- A plays straight length or short, B plays boast.
Cross Court Drop, Reverse Angle and Short Angle - Conditioned Games
- Both players can only win a point if they win the rally with
one of these shots.
- One or both players must always play a short shot after the
boast.
- Apart from the serve, game to be played only in front of
short line.
- Players score a bonus point if they can win the rally with a short shot.
Forehand & Backhand Lobs
General Notes:
- Ball should be aimed high on front wall.
- The ball should land behind the service box, so that it dies
into the back wall.
- Cross court lob should be high enough over the T so that it
cannot be intercepted on the volley.
- Straight lob should be close to side wall.
Lobs-Solo
- Feed short shot, lob straight to drop in back of court.
- Feed short shot, lob X-court.
- Boast from in front of short line, lob straight or X-court.
- Boast from in front of short line, drop, lob straight or X-
court.
- Boast, lob X-court, straight drive, boast, lob
X-court, etc.
- Boast, lob straight. straight drive, boast, lob straight, etc.
Pairs
- A feeds short straight shot from behind, B on
T plays straight
- A feeds short X-court, B plays X-court lob.
- A plays boast from back, B plays X-court lob.
- A plays boast, B plays straight lob.
- A plays boast, B plays straight or X-court lob.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
lobs straight B drives straight, A boasts, B lobs straight, etc.
(Have option to play another boast after lob, if lob too good to
drive).
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
lobs X-court, B drives straight. A boasts, etc. (Have option to
play boast if lob too good to drive).
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops straight, B lobs straight, A boasts, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops straight B lobs X-court, A drives straight, B boasts, etc.
(Boast if lob too good to drive).
- A serves or plays drive, B boasts, A drops
straight, B lobs straight or X-court, A boasts, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive, B boasts, A
drops, B lobs straight or X-court, A drives straight-t, B
boasts, etc. (Boast if lob too good to drive).
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B boasts, A
drops, B drops, A plays X-court lob, B boasts, etc.
- A serves or plays straight drive. B boasts, A drops, B drops, A plays straight or X-court lob, B boasts, etc.
Lobs-Threes
- A plays straight lobs from T. B plays forehand boast from
back of court, C plays backhand boast from back of court.
- A plays X-court lob from front of court, B and C take it in
turns to play boast. Move to T after the boast.
- A stands on T and without moving, tries to volley the X-court lob played by B, which C boasts.
Lobs-Conditioned Games
- Both players can only win point if they win a rally on a lob
- One player must play only length shots, mainly lobs, i.e the
ball must land behind short line.
- One or both players must always play lob after boast, lose
the point if not attempting to do so.
- One or both players must always play lob after drop, lose the point if not attempting to do so.
Forehand & Backhand Volleys
Length Volleys
General Notes
- Volleying straight to a length the ball should run close to
side wall.
- Ball should slide into the side wall near the back of the
service box.
- Ball should bounce first around the back of the service box.
Second bounce near the back wall.
- Second bounce near the back wall.
- Cross court length volleys should die in opposite back corner.
Length Volleys - Solo
- Alternate drive and volley.
- Volley rally, start close to the front wall, move two paces
further back after hitting six or more consecutive volleys at
each distance.
- Start near the front wall, gradually moving back while
keeping ball going to behind service box, then forward again.
- Alternate forehand and backhand volleys.
- Round the clock volleys - hit one forehand, one backhand, two
forehand, two backhand etc up to twelve.
- Two or more straight volleys, one X-court to length.
- Stand close to front corner, volley alternately forehand and backhand, hitting side wall, front wall, then front wall, side wall, close to the corner
Length Volleys-Pairs
- A feeds alternate low and high shots from behind, B on T
plays alternate straight drive and volley.
- A feeds high straight ball from behind, B on T plays straight
volley. Continuous feeding.
- A feeds high X-court from behind, B on T plays straight r
volleys, therefore both play alternate forehand and backhand.
- A feeds high straight ball from behind, B plays X-court
volley; both players are hitting alternate forehand and
backhand.
- A plays straight ball to forehand, B volleys straight, A
plays X-court to backhand, B volleys X-court backhand to A in
back forehand corner.
- A plays either straight or X-court feed, B
must play only straight volleys.
- A plays either straight or X-court feed, B
must play only X-Court volleys.
- Both players must play every ball on the volley, lose point if ball bounces before reaching short line. Rallies will probably be short.
Volley Boast
General Notes
- Ball should be aimed down to hit front wall then side wall
near '
- Straight volley will get there quicker and not give opponent
- Cross-court short volley effective depending on position of
more than straight volley.
- Volley boast is played onto nearest side wall and aimed to hit wall low and nick on opposite side wall near front.
Short Volleys and Volley Boast-Solo
- Set up high shot, volley straight into front corner so that
ball
- Set up high shot, volley X-court in-o front corner.
- Set up high shot, volley boast.
- Alternate ;drive and short volley either straight, X-court or
- Two or more length volleys, one short volley either straight , X-court or boast.
Short Volleys and Volley Boast-Pairs
- A feeds high straight ball from behind, B on T hits short ,
straight volley or volley boast.
- A feeds high X-court ball from behind, B on T hits short
straight volley.
- A feeds high straight ball for B to play X-court volley.
- A feeds high X-court ball for B to play X-court short volley.
- A feeds high straight ball from behind for B to hit length
volleys; on the fourth shot, B hits either straight or X-court
short for winner.
- A feeds from behind either straight or X-court, B plays
length volleys, then chooses ball to hit short for winner. .
- A feeds straight from behind, B plays either short or long
straight volley, but loses life if ball bounces between short
and long target. Play first volley long.
- A serves, B plays bad X-court return, A intercepts to play
short volley into nearest corner.
- A serves, rally down side wall, both trying to intercept on
volley, playing length volleys and
choosing right shot to go for
short straight winner. (It is easier to play the shot when the
ball' is some distance from the side wall, i.e. nearer the
middle, to give a good angle).
- A plays short drive or short volley from behind, B on T must
pick-up shot and play high shot straight or X-court for A to
volley etc.
- Continuous rally-A hits any short shot, B hits
straight or X-court lengths. As soon as A hits winner, roles
change.
- A serves or plays X-court drive, B plays straight drive, A
plays trickle boast, B plays X-court. A tries to intercept and
hit short straight winning volley, if not rally continues.
Boast, X-court, straight, etc.
- A serves, rally down side wall, trying to intercept on
volley, choose appropriate shot to try to hit X-court short
volley or boast winner; if not winner, then rally continues on
other side of court.
- A plays a short volley or any other short
shot. B returns shot to A's side of court with straight or X-
court drive or lob.
- A plays a short volley or any other short shot, B hits straight , drive or lob.
Short Volleys-Threes
- A on T hits alternate forehand and backhand short straight
volley; B and C feed a high straight shot with a ball each from
behind. Make A play into target area and count number of times
does so out of certain number of shots given.
- A on T hits short straight volley one side, long volley the other. B and C feed with a ball each from behind. Hit 50-100 volleys, then change sides for short and long volley.
Short Volleys and Volley Boast-Conditioned games
- Both players can only win a point if they win the rally with
a short volley or volley boast.
- Players score a bonus point if they win the rally with a
short volley or volley boast.
- Play game in restricted area of court, either using only a channel either side the width of the service box, or a short channel from the service box to the back wall on one side and from the short line to the front wall on the other. These areas allow quite a wide variety of shots to be played, and can therefore be used as conditioned games for other shots.
- Feed short shot, lob straight to drop in back of court.
- Consecutive drives, aimed for a decreasing target area,
progressing from the whole back quarter to the width of the
service box, then a narrow channel along the side wall, or the
service box.