As I talked about in a previous post, the traditional three-wall boast has been falling out of favour in modern squash, making way for a vicious two-wall boast, which bounces twice before the third side wall and is tricky to retrieve. However, the three-wall boast is now experiencing something of a renaissance in the professional game in a different guise.

Players are still trying to avoid hitting defensive three wall boasts but they are now using the three wall boast as a jarring, time-buying abomination of a shot. Rather than meekly hitting a defensive boast when in a bad position, players are now drilling the boast as hard and high as they can. 

They’re not trying to play a trick shot or attempt a skid-boast (a high fast boast where the ball is played from one back corner of the court with the aim of landing it in the opposite back corner) though but at the same angle they would use for a traditional defensive boast.

The effect it has is that it drives the opponent back. It’s such a headache to deal with coming in hard and high and straight to the middle of the court. Players are usually taken aback by the shot and unsure of how to deal with it, often leading to a weak shot or bad shot choice. Not only does it buy the perpetrator of the shot time but it commonly puts them on the offensive as the other person is shocked.

It’s important you are able to play different variations of common shots in squash. If you play the same boast every time during a squash match, you’ll find yourself becoming predictable. Alternating between aggressive two wall boasts, more subtle trickle boasts and these jarring, hard three wall boasts will give such variation to your game that an opponent will struggle to gain a foothold against you.

Make sure in your practices and matches that you work on different types of boasts and ways of hitting the shot – you’ll be rewarded for it. Who knows, you might even invent a new way of hitting the boast!

Want to know more about how to play a boast?