Interesting post to read! I started my squash life as a "banger". Trying to hit the spots off the ball and running around chasing everything. It took me until I was 19 (some 13 years after starting!) to realise that playing like that, although fun, was completely pointless when it comes to competition. Now I'm a much more tactical player with a very aggressive playing style (I attack from unusual positions on the court and opt for complex attack mixed with simple defense).

It sounds from the original post that you are in a position to move up in standard and to begin playing better players on a more regular basis. This is going to bring a change to your game whether you want it to or not! Higher standards often mean opponent shots become more difficult to retrieve, the pace of the game becomes faster (note that a faster pace does NOT mean hitting harder!) or certainly more tactical in execution. I think the pace aspect is the bit that the other player might have been alluding to. You don't have to hit the ball hard to create more pace in a match. Quite the opposite. I had the chance to watch a match between a very fit and moderate level shot player (in his 30s) from my club against a mid-60s moderately fit player from another club. What my guy didn't know was that his opponent was an ex international player. The ball speed was low and the older guy never played a single hard shot, but my guy ran from pillar to post like a headless chicken chasing shadows for most of the match. Why??? Because the older guy read the game well, moved into position early and played the ball away from the opponent. This meant the younger guy never got chance to settle and felt completely frustrated and rushed even though the ball wasn't being struck hard. In effect the pace was high as the dwell time between my guy's and his opponent's shots was very low meaning my guy couldn't recover his position on the court quick enough.

This is what you'll find as you begin to improve. It's not about hitting the ball a million miles an hour and being super fit, it's about out positioning your opponent and finishing them off clinically when you get your chances.

Anyhow! Good luck with the match play and hope the new experiences bring you joy with just a hint of frustration (and not the other way around )

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hitting the ball hard its not sometimes aggod method to win the point or to stree on your opponent..it needs to play swmoothly specially the side walla to keep your opponent in the back of the court..in mean time you should stand on the T to control his delivery

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Style is good, there are very few drop-lobbers out there and they are fascinating to watch. There's no reason you have to hit the ball hard, although the variation does come in handy at times. You may also prefer a cooler ball for the softer shots, when you start hitting it harder the hotter ball will bounce more. If you can disguise a soft lob, drop or trickle boast from the front, more power to you.

I'd be happy to hit the ball higher and tighter any day, than harder, it's just that harder is often easier.

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Thanks Rippa, I did play tennis but with no coaching.  Gave it up because of the sheer fustration of not being able to keep the ball in.  But I did try to limit the amount of times I hit the ball out by playing a lot of spin shots, maybe that's what you're referring to?

I will just keep playing my own game then, I quite like having an 'unusual style'!  Maybe the only thing I'll try and change is putting more power into my cross court and down the line shots.

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Your phrase "a very unusual style" had me intrigued! I cannot help but think your touch comes from another ball game? Are you playing that game on the squash court to some extent?

Firstly, if you enjoy what you are doing just go for it as looking closer into your technique, and variety of shots you can play might start off a "new ball game".  To change your style would take practice at least 4 times per week and if you do not have time to devote to training just adapt your existing technique as you get more experience.

Meantime we have an excellent Library, with many chapters, eg tactics, technique,video library for your benefit.

Good luck.

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