Not converting easy chances.

The biggest instance of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in squash is when players dominate a rally and do all of the work to get in a great position, or are gifted a great opportunity, and then become casual and make a mess of what should’ve been the winning shot.

Loose, awkward balls down the middle 

It happens a fair amount when a player is on the T-Position and forces a wild, loose shot towards the middle. Instead of giving this shot the treatment it deserves, lots of players will flail at the ball and throw away the opportunity to attack a loose ball. While these shots are often awkward to deal with, we have to be prepared for them as they often present a fantastic opportunity to attack. If you are struggling with shots that are coming at your body or close to you, try to practice improvising. You can do this simply by working on your racket head speed, which can be as simple as hitting volleys to yourself as fast as you can from very close to the front wall  (see video below). Exercises like this help you develop dexterity with your racket, which is important when the ball is in an awkward position.

Alternatively, you can have a partner play loose cross-courts at you which you aim to drop volley tight to the side wall. Figure of 8’s (see video below) are also a great way of developing speed of racket, feet and thought when done in challenging circumstances.

Always play as if the ball will be returned

Often though, defeat is snatched when the ball isn’t even coming awkwardly at the hitter. Players frequently act as if they have won the rally after their opponent hits a weak shot. This is a terrible attitude to have as you lose the positioning and quality on your shot, and then the movement out of the shot, all of which can cost you dearly. If your opponent has hit a weak shot, it is time to up your game, not relax and put your feet up. Receiving a weak shot should be like the moment a shark smells blood – it should be the moment you go gung-ho. There’s nothing worse than playing a drop shot too high because of casualness, or worse, managing to still play an accurate drop shot but not moving back to the T-Position properly and so being caught out when your opponent scrapes an awful shot back. Always play as if your opponent will return every shot you play, that way you can stay focused.

When you are playing, notice if you are converting and capitalising on the chances you create and the chances you are given. Or does your profligacy hold you back and possibly even cost you a match in which you dominated the majority of the rallies?