Squash Tip 5: Have a game plan!

Here’s little time to think during a squash match, so much of your thinking has to be done before you go on court. This is your gameplan. You should practise it in practice sessions and games and discipline yourself to stick to it during matchplay. But know when to change it if it’s not working.
My game plan is simple. I want my opponents in the back corners and I want to be in the T. Here are my four main game plan tactics:
a) Length.
b) Take the ball early.
c) Control the T, feel sharp and aware.
d) Take opportunities to attack.
To get my opponent in the back corners I hit low and hard so that they can’t intercept and have to scramble back for the ball. I hit flat with some cut which helps the ball stick in the back.
My strengths are to get onto the ball early, hit a good length and make my opponents work hard getting to it. This makes them concentrate on stopping me rather than getting on with their game.
Applying this kind of pressure forces opportunities for me to attack. My tactics are to get the ball deep, get my opponent stretched and force the weak ball or tactical error. Then I can attack or send an opponent back deep into the corners again.
This is the pattern of a rally. First I set up the rally with length, apply pressure to an opponent and look for opportunities to attack. Just one attack is not always successful so I don’t become rash and lose my tactical discipline when they get the ball back. I just set up the rally again and try to force the next opportunity.