It has got my back up again to hear people talking about playing long shots and then more long shots in squash. Playing the ball to the back of the court is a fundamental part of the game and underpins the majority of rallies but on its own, playing only long, hard shots is not a style of squash for the longer term.

I’d go as far as to say drive and length shots are simply a conduit for the more attacking shots in squash. They’re played to create the opportunity to play more attacking shots, such as drops. If my opponent returned one of my drives with a weak shot, I’m sure as hell not going to play another straight drive and hit it straight back to them.

After I’ve played a good length, I’ll be hunting for an opportunity to go short or play an attacking shot, as I don’t want to prolong the rally with endless drives unnecessarily. As soon as the chance comes to go for a more attacking shot, I’ll take it, be it the second shot or the hundredth shot of the rally. You should play a drop or short shot in squash any time you get an opportunity too (although of course you should vary your shots). Otherwise, you’re wasting the advantage you’ve got by getting to the T-Position.

There are times when long length rallies are required; it’s not always easy to force a weak shot from an opponent or perhaps your opponent is simply hitting error after error and keeping the ball in play, and waiting for them to make a mistake is enough. These rallies and games shouldn’t be the norm though.

Yet some people speak about playing drive after drive as if you somehow might eventually bore your opponent to death or overwhelm them with death by drive. It irks me even more when it comes from renowned sources in the game. I’m sure they will disagree with me and they might be right, but as a person who was brought up on length and fitness, I can assure you I’d have been grateful to anyone who taught me how to hit winning shots or even discussed the idea with me! Hitting length after length and running might have been the way once but times have changed. Players need to be able to hit winners and apply pressure from all over the court. Since the introduction of Point-A-Rally, scoring the game has become more aggressive and you need to be able to finish the ball and the straight drive isn’t frequently an outright winner unless it is played with a good deal of deception or hold.

After I’ve played a good length, I’ll be hunting for an opportunity to go short or play an attacking shot, as I don’t want to prolong the rally with endless drives unnecessarily. Otherwise, you’re wasting the advantage you’ve got by getting to the T-Position.”

If you’re in any doubt, I’d ask you to consider what happens whenever a young or inexperienced player starts playing league squash. Quite often they are inexplicably beaten by wily old players with one leg. The younger player is better technically and physically than their opponent, but yet they are beaten. It happens with almost all junior players. Of course it’s because all these experienced players now accept they have no chance to compete physically, so they know they have to win the rallies quickly. So they go short at any opportunity and throw in lots of slower paced shots to keep the pace comfortable for them and to frustrate their opponent. The younger or inexperienced player toils away to get one point, only to watch their opponent rack up three or four in a matter of seconds.

What if as a sport we educated all young and new players in finishing the rally first? What if we taught all of our juniors the little boasts, the different spins, the wristy shots and actively encouraged them?

If we wait until they’re older, it’s a lot harder to integrate into their game. The day comes for everyone when they can no longer get away with fitness and speed and not necessarily because of age. For me, once I started taking on a certain calibre of players, I could no longer outlast them as they were also fit. I also didn’t have the shots to hurt them, so I was in trouble!

Playing only length might be a good game plan against certain players but it’s not a style of play for the long term. Make sure you practice finishing rallies!