Service:  The proper position prior to serving is with the feet as close to the “T” as possible.  This location will help you to put your service in the desired place, which is parallel to the side wall.  In other words, you reduce the angle.  In addition, the “center” of the court is the ideal position from which to cover your opponent’s return (see fig. 5 [Forehand and backhand service positions.]).

Since the ball must land short of the service line, it is obviously not possible to overpower your opponent for a service ace—­as contrasted to the services in Squash Racquets or Lawn Tennis.

The most effective service, therefore, is hit as high as possible on the front wall to a “spot” that will place the ball after bouncing (and your opponent must wait for your service to bounce on the floor—­he cannot volley it) as high and also as close to the side wall as possible.  Your opponent will have a difficult time hitting the ball well because of its height and its closeness to the side wall.  A great deal of practice and experimentation will be required before you discover exactly where that “spot” is, and with what degree of effort you should hit the ball.

The service is hit with a slight cut, which will usually make the ball grab the wall and hug closer.  A semi-overhand, side-spin service is best employed from the right court, and a sliced underhand shot is used from the left side (see fig. 6 [Forehand and backhand lob services.]).

For an occasional “surprise” or change of pace, you can vary the service by hitting the ball somewhat harder right at your opponent.  This can be done either as a straight shot right down the middle (fig. 7 [Service straight down the middle.]) or at a sharp angle that breaks off the side wall and lands right at his feet (fig. 8 [In and out service angling into opponent.]).

In addition, reversed cuts can also throw your opponent off, since you can make the ball bounce off the floor in the opposite direction than expected.

Finally, the service is practically the only stroke in the game of Squash Tennis which permits you the luxury of time prior to hitting.  You should, therefore, take advantage of this time to get settled, anchor your feet comfortably, pause, even take a deep breath, and concentrate on how you are going to hit the ball toward your “spot” in order to make as good a service as possible.  Don’t aimlessly just put the ball in play.  A careless server loses many points by allowing his opponent to make an offensive return.  A deliberate, concentrating, purposeful player, on the other hand, will actually win many important points with well placed serves.

SHOT-MAKING

Most uninitiates, especially Squash Racquets players who are adroit at and/or addicted to that game, believe Squash Tennis offers nothing but prolonged “slam bang” rallies and a boring “sameness.”  Because of the tremendous liveliness of the ball and the apparent absence of deftly placed straight “drops” that die in a corner, these potential players scorn and speak disparagingly of the wonderful game of Squash Tennis which, like all racquet games, has its own shots and ways of putting the ball away.