Squash Serve Pointers

[Updated on 1 July 2022]

POINTERS to remember when making your Serve in SQUASH

Choosing your serve in squash sometimes defines an entire rally of a game. This is a starting point where a player strategizes for the point. In a competitive game, you cannot always expect an immediate point on the serve. But, a good serve can dictate a weak or a strong return from your opponent.

How to do an effective serve

The point of an effective serve is to make the return as difficult as possible for your opponent. Before deciding on the serve note if your opponent is left or right handed. Since a forehand is usually stronger than a backhand, it would be a good strategy to force your opponent to make a return with a backhand. This also gives you an idea from which box to serve from.

Note the position of your opponent relative to the wall.

The positioning of your opponent tells you how he intends to make the return. A position too close to the side wall would give your opponent lesser mobility to return a backhand but can deliver a stronger forehand and having a position close to the ‘T’ would force your opponent to return a volley if the serve is delivered too high.

Identify your ball trajectory

There are areas on the side wall that makes it hard for your opponent to make a return depending on his initial position and the angle of your serve. Bouncing the ball from the side wall closer to the back wall gives your opponent less room to maneuver for the return but it also gives the chance for a volley.

Visualise your serve

The speed and angle of ball travel also plays an important role on your serve. Your forehand serve can be faster than your backhand but will likely to generate a larger angle from the side wall.

Projecting the ball from the front wall

When aiming the serve on the front wall, keep in mind where you want the ball to go and the angle it will take when it hit the walls. If you are going for a lob you need to hit the front wall high and strong enough that it doesn’t lose as much height as it travels above your opponent’s head.

It is also important to note which kind of serve delivers whatever results from both service boxes.