Elite Squash

Solo practice is one of the best ways to build your game but it's not just about structured drills. Making time for unstructured, creative sessions is just as important, and the benefits really start to show when you need to problem solve in the moment during rallies.

1. Balance Structure with Freedom
Structured solo practice targets, straight drives, drops, volleys is important. But don't let that be all you do. Leave room for sessions with no set plan, where you're just exploring angles and finding different ways to take the ball short.

2. Let It Be Instinctual
Unstructured practice isn't about thinking, it's about feeling. You're not working through a drill you're discovering angles and spaces naturally, letting your body be creative. That creative process builds a sense of the court that structured sessions alone can't give you.

3. Start It Young, Reap It Later
Once the basics and technical pieces are in place, this kind of practice adds a level of unpredictability to your game that's really hard to defend against. The players who put this work in early are the ones who stand out at the older age groups.

When the ball lands around the mid-court service area, you have a real opportunity to apply pressure — but only if you execute it properly. Most players rush this shot and get it wrong. Here's what to focus on.

1. Create Space Before You Hit
Before anything else, move away from the ball first. That space lets you step in with control and also pulls your opponent away from the area you're hitting into giving them less room to recover.
2. Get Underneath the Ball
Play the shot underneath the ball. This gives you control and margin to keep it tight and short on the front wall.
3. Let the Ball Drop
Wait for the ball to just pass the top of its bounce before you hit. This is where most people go wrong they come in too early, rush the shot, and lose control. Be patient, let it drop slightly, and let the ball come naturally under your strings.

The moment pattern to the back backhand corner is the most important patterns on the court.

This pattern is a great template for moving in and out of this area. Saying the words as you movement like I am doing on the video helps to remember it and also get the rhythm.

Practice this movement before drilling rotating drives with a partner to help it integrate into the BH drive. Start with drives above the service line to keep the tempo down and allow for the movement pattern to become smooth and more familiar.

🎾 BRISTOL SUMMER SQUASH CAMP 2026
Level up your game this summer.
📅 3rd – 7th August
📍 Workout Harbourside, Bristol
🕙 10am – 4:30pm daily

5 hours of world-class coaching every day, led by Elite Squash founder Hadrian Stiff, Bristol head pro John Welton and ES team coaches — plus strength & conditioning with Origin Athletic Fitness.

For junior players aged 9–18, county to national level.

✅ Lunch included.
✅ Camp T-shirt included.
✅ Evening activities.

Spaces are limited — don’t miss out.

👉 Link in bio to book your spot.

elitesquash

More info coming soon

In the back court every ball you receive falls into one of three main scenarios.
Read it clearly. Then commit to the right solution.

1️⃣ Low & tight – high pressure
→ Buy time. Use the lob.

2️⃣ Medium pressure (6–8 boards off the side wall)
→ Medium pace, tight along the wall.

3️⃣ High, loose, and sitting up
→ Attack lower and faster into the corner.

Which scenario is this… and which shot does it require?

When learning touch shots like the drop, it helps to build the skill layer by layer 🧩

✅Start with racket preparation
Focus on getting the shape and setup right.

⏱ Then work on timing
Meet the ball cleanly and at the right moment - when your foot meets the floor.

🔥 Finally, add the detail
More bite, feel, and control on the shot.

This layered approach helps move you closer to
your ultimate vision for the shot step by step 🎯

↩️ Always be willing to a step back,
⏸️ or stay longer at one stage,
until it’s working comfortably and consistently.

Learn to hit drives that parallel to the side- wall without touching.

This habit creates the ability to drag the opponent all the way to the back with your straight drive.

The 5 in a row target is a great start. If you can do more even better!

Let us know how you get on.

The quality of the lunge decides the potential of balance, stability and power on the movement on the court.

Practice the lunge using a line on the floor to map the technique and foot placement control.

Next use simple ghosting and feed patterns to practice the lunge under low pressure scenarios keeping the attention on the foot and alignment of the legs.

Once this is working consistently, add more pressure, variation and speed to the session while keeping a general focus on the foot.

For the forehand drop, one of the hardest parts of the technique is the direction of follow through.

Use this throwing motion to map the pattern of the arm then switch over to the racket and follow the same line with the swing.