Squash straight drive tip: Build pressure down the wall
SQUASH TIP OF THE WEEK · SQUASH STRAIGHT DRIVE TIP
Squash Straight Drive Tip: Build pressure with a tight straight drive
A straight drive becomes dangerous when it travels close to the side wall and reaches the back of the court. It limits your opponent’s swing and protects the centre from an easy counterattack.
The simple cue
Create space from the ball, strike with a stable racket face and send the ball down a narrow channel towards the back corner.
Three steps to practise
- Place a target near the back of one side wall and rally cooperatively.
- Count only shots that reach the target channel without touching the middle.
- Add movement from the T and recover after every drive.
The common mistake
Do not chase power at the expense of width and length. A hard ball through the centre often gives the opponent more options.
Take it into match play
Use repeated straight length to make the court feel smaller for your opponent. Attack short only when the pressure has produced a loose reply.
Squash Straight Drive Tip: what good practice looks like
Keep the first repetitions calm enough to notice balance, contact and recovery. Increase the pressure only while the movement remains repeatable. Quality practice gives you useful feedback: you should be able to explain what changed, why the ball behaved differently and which cue you will use again. Finish with a short conditioned game so the skill has to survive a real decision rather than a predictable feed.
One focused session can reveal the adjustment that matters most. Explore Coach Calli’s personal squash coaching, or compare your technique with the official Squash player resources.
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