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If your opponent is serving, you might think you are at a disadvantage. Indeed, many people regard the service as a dominant position and an important part of the rally. However if you strategically position yourself and return the ball with sufficient difficulty, you can put the pressure on your opponent. But where do you stand to return a squash serve?
The non-serving player stands in the opposing quarter court behind the T line in order to return the serve. Based upon the opponent’s type of serve, the player needs to adjust their stance and position on the court towards where they will hit the ball.
Different types of services require a different positioning to return the serve. Therefore I will cover the different scenarios and how you can position yourself and start getting back to the dominant position on the court. But before we will get into the movement patterns, let’s start where to initially position yourself. Else, jump directly to the overview of scenarios.
Initial positioning (to return the serve)
As a general rule, you stand around half a meter or a racket size away from the corner of the service box. This is demonstrated in the below visual diagrams as a green circle. In order to set yourself up for success, your feet placement on the court is important. First of all, if you face the front wall with your feet towards the wall, you can see your opponent. This may not seem so valuable since the ball will be returning via the wall. However, if you can see your opponent, you can see what kind of service he or she will be hitting. To anticipate the type of service, look at the trajectory of the ball based upon point where he or she will be hitting the ball. For each of the scenarios, I will discuss in more detail where you need to stand in order to optimally return the squash serve.
Scenarios overview
| Scenario | Part of court | Right-handed player | Left-handed player | Type of serve | Jump directly to |
| 1. | Right side | Forehand | Backhand | Hard serve | Scenario 1 |
| 2. | Right side | Forehand | Backhand | Lob serve | Scenario 2 |
| 3. | Right side | Forehand | Backhand | Lob serve (take early) | Scenario 3 |
| 4. | Right side | Backhand | Forehand | Hard serve | Scenario 4 |
| 5. | Right side | Backhand | Forehand | Hard serve (alternative) | Scenario 5 |
| 6. | Right side | Backhand | Forehand | Lob serve | Scenario 6 |
| 7. | Left side | Forehand | Backhand | Hard serve | Scenario 7 |
| 8. | Left side | Forehand | Backhand | Hard serve (alternative) | Scenario 8 |
| 9. | Left side | Forehand | Backhand | Lob serve | Scenario 9 |
| 10. | Left side | Backhand | Forehand | Hard serve | Scenario 10 |
| 11. | Left side | Backhand | Forehand | Hard serve (take early) | Scenario 11 |
| 12. | Left side | Backhand | Forehand | Lob serve | Scenario 12 |
Note that the blue dotted lines represent the trajectory of the ball based on the type of serve. The green circles and arrows represent the movement pattern of the player that is returning the serve. The black dot reflects when the ball is hit by a player or where the rally will probably end (in case the player can’t hit the ball in time).
Scenario 1
If your opponent serves from the right side of the court and will be hitting a forehand hard service, the ball will hit the center of the front wall. In this case, the forehand service assumes that the player is right-handed, else if the player is left-handed he or she will be playing a backhand. After hitting the front wall, the ball will reach the side wall behind the service box and subsequently bounce into the court towards the back wall. In order to return the service, you need to move from the earlier mentioned ‘initial positioning’ towards where the ball will end up. Since the ball will deflect from the sidewall you need to move back and step to the left when you hit the ball. This allows you to have sufficient space to return the ball properly.
Scenario 2
In another scenario, your opponent plays a forehand lob serve. Again, assuming a right-handed player serving from the right side of the court. In this case, the ball will be hitting the side wall farther behind the service box. The ball will also be played with a curve, meaning it will hit the side wall higher and the ball comes off from a steeper angle. As a result, the ball won’t be coming as much into the court. You will therefore need to move back farther (from the initial position) and hit the ball closer to the side wall, while considering the limited space between yourself and the side wall. Again, stepping into the ball at the moment of hitting is essential.
Scenario 3
If your (right-handed) opponent plays a forehand lob serve from the right side of the court, you have another option. Rather than waiting on the ball coming off the side wall, take it before it even hits the side wall. In order to be able to take the ball early, you need to be watching the ball and anticipating at what point you are going to hit the ball. From the initial position move a bit backward and step in towards the left and towards the ball. Make sure you are holding the racket high and the racket blade facing towards the front wall.
Scenario 4
If your opponent is right-handed and will be hitting a backhand service he or she will hit the ball close to the T (on the right side of the court). In case it is a hard backhand serve, the ball will be hitting the left-center of the front wall. As a result, the ball will hit the side wall just behind your service box and bounces towards the back wall. The ball will land closer to the side wall if you compare it to the forehand serve, thus making it more difficult to return the serve. In order to return the ball, it is important to follow the same pattern of moving back and stepping into the ball.
Scenario 5
Many players may not consider this option as a service, a hard backhand serve (for right-handed players on the right side of the court) that comes back (from the front wall) close to the T-line towards the back wall. Although it is technically easier to return this serve, the surprising aspect of it may catch you (as the non-serving player) off guard. Once you notice the ball will come towards you, you need to move left and back, while stepping towards your right when you hit the ball.
Scenario 6
However, if your (right-handed) opponent is serving a backhand lob from the right side of the court, the ball hits the side wall closer to the back wall. In order to return the ball, you need to move farther back towards the left back corner. Make sure you time properly and leave sufficient space to step towards the side wall in order to return the ball with a proper swing.
Scenario 7
Now moving towards a serve from the left side of the court. If a right-handed player plays a forehand hard serve, the ball hits the side wall slightly behind the service box. From there it will come off the side wall towards the back wall. Therefore you, as the player that returns the serve, need to move backward and step towards the right into the ball.
Scenario 8
Just like on the right side of the court, this service may catch you by surprise. The left court forehand hard serve (for right-handed players) hits the center of the front wall and moves back close to the T line towards the back wall where it will bounce off. Again, although it is technically easier to return this serve, the surprising aspect of it may catch you (as the non-serving player) off guard. Once you notice the ball will come towards you, you need to move right and back, while stepping towards your left when you hit the ball.
Scenario 9
If your (right-handed) opponent is playing a forehand lob serve from the left side of the court it will come off the right side of the front wall. Afterward, the ball will hit the side wall farther back but will not bounce much off the side wall. This makes it more difficult to return the ball due to the limited space. Good timing and allowing yourself to step into the ball are of great importance. To anticipate the return of the service, move back and step toward your right side into the ball.
Scenario 10
When your (right-handed) opponent plays a hard backhand serve on the left side of the court, the ball will hit the center of the front wall. From there it will hit the side wall behind the service box and come out off the side wall toward the back wall. Since the ball comes farther off the side wall, you have more space to return this type of service. To anticipate the return, move back and when you hit the ball, step only slightly out towards your right.
Scenario 11
A hard backhand serve from the left side of the court by your (right-handed) opponent will have the same trajectory as scenario 10. However, rather than waiting until the ball comes off the side wall, you can take the ball early. Rather than moving back, you need to step slightly forward and to the right. By stepping forward and taking the ball early you need to react quicker compared to scenario 10. However, you are directly moving towards the front wall, this makes the return of serve easier. Make sure you are holding the racket high and the racket blade facing towards the front wall.
Scenario 12
If your (right-handed) opponent plays a backhand lob from the left side of the court, the ball hits the center of the front wall and hits the side wall from a steep angle near the back corner of the court. Due to the steep angle, the ball will not bounce off the side wall and making it harder to return. If you notice the type of serve, start moving back and towards the right. Despite the fact that the ball will remain near the side wall, allow yourself sufficient space to step into the ball and hit it properly.
Positioning after returning the serve
Play the ball in such a manner that will allow you to move back to the T line, since this is considered one of the best tactics in squash.
Besides watching your opponent and anticipating the type of service, you want to take back a dominant position on the court. This general rule applies (to all of the above scenarios) regardless of whether you are returning a forehand or a backhand serve, that is played hard or as a lob from either the left or right side of the court. After returning the serve, move back to the T line, as illustrated in the movement pattern below. The T line marks the center of the court and allows you to quickly maneuver to any corner. Play the ball in such a manner that will allow you to move back to the T line since this is considered one of the best tactics in squash.
Time your positioning
While positioning is important, timing is crucial as well. This entails both the timing of your positioning as well as the timing of the shot itself. If you position yourself where the ball will hit the floor too early, you may need to step back in order to hit it. As a result, you can’t put your weight behind the shot properly and are unable to hit the ball with power towards the front wall. However, if you give yourself the space to step into the ball and hit it, you can put the proper power and direction to the ball. Therefore, it is better to jog back and step forward into the ball while hitting.