The squash volley, striking the ball in mid-air before it bounces, is a hallmark of high-level singles play. An advanced player with strong volleying skills can dominate the centre of the court, apply constant pressure, and take away an opponent's time to respond.
Reflecting on his 1973 British Open final win over Gogi Alauddin, six-time champion Jonah Barrington said, "I knew I could control the centre of the court and that if I took the volley on he could not cope with that." This aggressive tactic disrupts an opponent's rhythm and keeps you in charge of rallies.
This article looks at how to develop the squash volley, covering technique, biomechanics, tactical use, and drills to sharpen your volleying.
The Importance of Volleying in Advanced Play
Volleying is one of the most reliable ways to take control of rallies in squash. By taking the ball early, you keep constant pressure on your opponent and prevent them from recovering to a comfortable position.
Cutting down the ball's flight time means your opponent has less time to react or get set, which often forces errors or weak returns. It also helps you hold a commanding position on the T, the centre of the court and the best spot from which to dictate play. As long as your volleys are accurate, you can keep your opponent pinned behind you and control the pace of the game.
Advanced players also know that volleying is a double-edged sword. Taking the ball so early raises both the risk and the physical cost of each shot. You need split-second decisions and fast reactions to intercept the ball and place it well.
Playing at a high pace with frequent volleys is demanding: if you volley at every opportunity, you can tire yourself out as much as your opponent. One professional admitted that a key match came down to who was volleying best, and that he could not keep it up because it took too much out of him.
So while volleying yields large advantages in pressure and momentum, it has to be used with judgment. Choosing when to volley and when to let the ball bounce is a critical tactical decision. If a ball is so tight to the wall or so deep that a volley would be a desperate lunge, it is often better to concede the bounce and stay in position. Advanced players weigh the risk against the reward of each volley attempt within the context of the rally.
Despite the demands, strong volley skills are essential for the advanced squash player. By volleying well, you can impose a high tempo that many opponents struggle to handle. Even though it is physically taxing, the ability to volley accurately under pressure is a hallmark of top players and often the difference in competitive matches.
The following sections break down how to execute volleys with sound technique and biomechanics, and how to use them sensibly in your game.
Technique: Mechanics of a Good Volley
A good squash volley draws on several technical elements. From your grip and stance to your footwork and swing, every part has to work together to allow a quick, controlled strike. Below are the key mechanics of volleying for advanced players.
Ready Position and Grip
A successful volley begins before your opponent even hits their shot, with your ready position. To volley, you need to be alert, proactive, and hunting the ball. This means holding a balanced stance near the T, knees slightly bent and weight on the balls of your feet, ready to move in any direction.
Keep your racket up and in front of you. Many coaches stress getting the racket back early, essentially the instant you see where the opponent's shot is heading. If your racket is hanging low by your side, you waste fractions of a second lifting it into position, which often results in a rushed, inaccurate volley.
For the grip, volleying generally uses your normal forehand and backhand grip without drastic changes. A useful guideline is to hold the racket around the middle of the handle, with relaxed rather than tight grip pressure:
- Gripping too low, near the butt end, can make it hard to control delicate shots like a drop volley.
- Choking up too high sacrifices reach and power.
- A mid-grip balances reach and control, and a firm wrist at impact stabilises the racket face.
On the forehand side, it can help to use your non-playing hand to point at the incoming ball as you turn your shoulders, which improves your tracking of the ball's path and keeps your upper body engaged in the shot.
On backhand volleys, because the backhand side generates less power, focus on rotating your shoulders fully during preparation; without good torso rotation, you end up poking at the ball with little pace or purpose.
Keeping the racket in a high ready position means you can meet the ball quickly and hit it at the height you want. Advanced players use a short, punchy swing, often called a punch volley, to redirect the ball using the opponent's own pace. This compact swing improves accuracy and adds deception: with minimal backswing, it is hard for your opponent to read whether you will hit a deep drive, a soft drop, or a quick volley kill until the last instant.
Footwork and Positioning
Footwork and positioning are what let you reach the ball in time to volley it. The foundation is holding an aggressive T position. Rather than hanging back near the rear of the service boxes, advanced players hover just behind or on top of the T, ready to push forward or sideways for a volley.
Even half a step higher up the court can be the difference between cutting a ball off in mid-air and retrieving it off the back wall. One way to reinforce this is to practise standing in front of the T-line during drills, which forces you to react to fast shots and trains you to take the ball early.
Stay on your toes, literally. Bouncing lightly and performing a split-step as your opponent strikes primes your muscles to move explosively. If you stay flat-footed or too deep, you will be caught scrambling and lose volleying chances.
When you see a chance to intercept the ball, initiate a quick split-step and lateral movement. Usually you side-step and lunge toward the ball's path. The general pattern looks like this:
- Forehand side: a right-handed player often side-steps to the right and lunges with the right leg, keeping the body facing mostly toward the front wall. This open-stance lunge on the same-side leg is generally the quickest way to stabilise and hit without tangling your feet.
- Backhand side: the left side for a right-hander, where you lunge with the left leg.
- Wider balls: when you need extra reach, you might use a crossover step and lunge with the opposite leg, but that requires turning your body more toward the side wall.
Whenever possible, use minimal, efficient footwork: ideally just two or three quick steps to intercept and two or three quick steps back to the T. A simple cue is go to the ball, then recover; volleying only works if you can regain position for the next shot.
Keep a strong, low base through your legs when lunging, feet apart and knees bent, so you do not lose balance mid-volley. Good balance lets you control the ball and push off powerfully to return to centre.
Swing and Contact Point
The hallmark of advanced volley technique is a compact swing. Unlike a full-length drive, where you take the racket back in a long arc, the volley swing is short and sharp. Many coaches describe it as a punch: a short backswing and short follow-through, as if you were punching the ball with the racket.
A compact swing is faster to execute, which matters when you have almost no time, and more accurate, since a shorter swing has less room for error. A punchy volley swing also uses the incoming pace of your opponent's shot. Rather than swinging harder to generate your own power, you time the ball and rebound it using its existing speed. As the ball springs off your strings, a firm wrist and a little weight transfer forward can return it with equal pace.
To practise this, focus on meeting the ball out in front of your body with a stable racket face. For control, many coaches advise less experienced players to volley when the ball is alongside or just slightly ahead of them, parallel with their body and the side wall. In this position, your racket and arm can align the shot straight and close to the wall more easily.
As you advance, you start taking the ball even earlier, out in front of your lead foot, to cut down your opponent's time further. Early contact is powerful tactically, but it needs finely tuned timing and often a bit of wrist to guide the ball, since you are cutting it off at sharper angles. This improves with practice and experience; elite players can volley balls that are almost behind them by the time they react, using quick wrist flicks to still steer the ball to a target.
Aim to strike attacking volleys with a slightly descending blow, so the ball is directed downward or straight, and use a more level or open-faced touch for soft drop volleys. Even though the swing is short, do not neglect a controlled follow-through.
Accelerate through impact and extend the racket toward your target on the front wall; this deliberate follow-through helps guide the ball and improves consistency. If you simply jab and stop the racket, you are more likely to lose accuracy.
Finally, link your volley to your recovery: as the swing finishes, use the momentum to push back toward the T, ready for the next shot. The end of your swing then flows naturally into moving back to position, which matters if you plan to volley several shots in a row.
Biomechanical Keys and Stability
From a sports-science perspective, the squash volley differs from a normal groundstroke in a few notable ways. Biomechanically, the volley involves a shorter backswing, less trunk rotation, and a quicker kinetic chain than a standard drive.
Motion-analysis research has found that on the volley the racket is contacted significantly more in front of the shoulder than on the drive, and with a smaller trunk-rotation angular velocity. In other words, there is not time to load up with a big shoulder turn.
Instead, power on the volley often comes from a rapid shoulder and forearm rotation combined with a stable core. Advanced players make up for the reduced body turn by snapping the racket through with a fast wrist and forearm and by stepping into the shot to transfer weight. A good lunge provides much of the force through the legs and core, even when upper-body rotation is limited.
Staying balanced and strong through your core matters when volleying, since you are often hitting from a lunge or mid-step. Engage your abdominals and keep your torso upright, not flailing sideways, as you strike the ball.
Many pros use their non-racket arm for counterbalance; you will see them put the opposite arm out or twist it across the body to check their rotation. This is not random flailing. Bringing the non-hitting arm forward or across can slow the torso rotation, preventing over-rotation and keeping the swing compact.
Players often fling the left arm out to the side on a right-handed forehand volley, or tuck the left arm across the body on a backhand volley, for a controlled, stable strike. This coordination of arms and trunk is a subtle detail that improves precision on delicate shots like volley drops.
An advanced player's volley also relies on sharp hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Part of biomechanics is neuromuscular, training your vision and muscle reactions. Elite squash players track the ball very well in flight and make micro-adjustments to their swing path at the last moment.
Regular volley practice, covered in the drills section, sharpens your reaction speed so your body can execute the required swing mechanics under pressure. When the elements come together, quick feet, early preparation, a compact swing, and a stable body, the result is a clean, crisp volley that is hard for your opponent to counter.
Research also suggests that more skilled players tend to hit faster, with higher racket velocity at impact, giving opponents less time. The volley sums this up by robbing the opponent of time and using a fast redirect to turn defence into offence in a split second.
Tactical Applications of the Volley
Knowing how to hit a volley is one thing; knowing when and why to hit it is another. Volleys can be used in several tactical ways in singles squash.
- Dominating the T: Perhaps the main use of volleying is to dominate the centre of the court. By cutting off loose drives or cross-courts early, you hold your position on the T and force the opponent to do extra work. A deep volley that clings to the side wall and reaches the back corner is ideal for trapping your opponent behind you. This lets you control the rally and choose your shots, and many pros use it to tire opponents, since constant volleys keep the rally fast and make the other player do the running.
- Attacking opportunities: Volleys also create chances to go for winners. If your opponent hits a weak shot that sits up mid-court, an advanced player pounces with an aggressive volley. Two common attacking volleys are the volley kill, an emphatic low volley struck with pace to die in the front court, and the volley drop, a soft, placed shot just above the tin. For example, a high floating cross-court can be intercepted with a forehand volley drop into the front corner, catching the opponent off guard. Because the volley drop is taken so early, it gives the opponent very little time to reach the front before the ball is already low. It is high risk, but the reward is large when you have the control to pull it off.
- Changing the pace: While many think of volleying as a way to add pressure with speed, it can also change or slow the pace. A well-placed volley lob is a useful tactic: if you are under pressure but manage to volley, you can lift the ball high to the back court to reset the rally, giving you time to recover and forcing your opponent to the back wall. A mid-rally volley can also inject variation: after a run of hard drives, a sudden volley drop or volley cross-court can break the pattern. From the front, an attacking volley boast, opening the racket face to send the ball into the side wall first, can wrong-foot an opponent who has just played a loose drop.
- Serve and return of serve: In advanced singles, the serve return is often volleyed. Aggressive returners cut off the serve in the air, either going short to punish a loose serve or hitting a straight volley drive to grab the T immediately. Some players also use a serve-and-volley idea on their own serve: after serving, they reposition quickly at the T, anticipating a weak return to volley. This is not used on every serve, but against certain opponents it can start the rally on offence.
Tactically, it is essential to volley wisely. Not every ball can or should be volleyed. A key advanced skill is telling the difference between an opportunity and a trap. As noted earlier, if volleying a particular shot would stretch you so much that you hit a weak return or lose your balance, you are better off letting it go to the back wall.
A ball that is extremely tight to the side wall might be better left to bounce out slightly, giving you a fuller swing in the back corner. Experienced players also adjust their volleying based on the score and their physical state. Volleying is tiring, so if you are winded or protecting a lead, you might volley only the easier balls and rally on the rest.
Volleying too much can backfire if you exhaust yourself or start making errors under fatigue. The best players volley with a purpose: to attack when the chance appears, to keep a positional advantage, or to disrupt the opponent's rhythm, assessing the risk and reward in real time.
In short, volleys in squash are a powerful tactical weapon to control rallies and apply pressure, but they have to be used with judgment. The advanced player blends frequent volleys into their game without becoming predictable or reckless, mindful of conserving energy and selecting the right volley for the right moment.
Training Drills to Improve Your Volley
Strong volley skills come down to practice. Build specific volley drills into your sessions to develop the reflexes, timing, and control you need. Here are several drills, some solo and some with a partner, to help you improve your volleying.
Quick-Reaction Anchor Drill (Pairs)
This drill trains your reflexes and your ability to volley from the T under pressure. One player stands in an aggressive position at or just in front of the T, while a partner stands behind feeding balls. The feeder hits medium-paced shots toward the T area, some straight at the body, some to the forehand side, some to the backhand side.
The T player's job is to split-step, react to each feed, and volley it straight back to the feeder each time. The feeds should be randomised to keep the volleyer on their toes. As you improve, the feeder can hit harder or place the ball farther away, forcing the volleyer to move into the corners and volley on the run.
This drill is excellent for reaction time and volley decision-making under pressure, because you have to decide instantly whether it is a forehand or backhand and get your racket up in time. It is also a strong workout.
Side-to-Side Figure Eight (Solo or Pairs)
The figure of eight is a classic solo volley drill that builds control and consistency. Stand near the T and hit a forehand volley to the front wall so that it comes off the side wall back toward your backhand side in the air. Then hit a backhand volley to the front wall so it returns toward your forehand side, and repeat.
You are volleying the ball in an alternating pattern so it traces a figure-eight path between the two front corners. Keep the volleys fairly high on the front wall at first, around service-line height, and focus on rhythm.
The drill forces you to control the ball's angle and pace precisely to keep the pattern going, and it develops soft hands and racket-head control. Advanced players can do long runs of figure-eight volleys at varying speeds; you can also do it with a partner, each player hitting one corner. If you cannot keep it up as a pure volley, you can let the ball bounce before each shot and build up. It is a good warm-up and coordination exercise that makes your match volleys feel easier.
Controlled Length Volleys (Solo)
This drill builds touch and endurance in your volleying arm. Stand a few feet from the front wall and begin hitting straight volleys to yourself, like a mini rally between your racket and the wall. After every few successful volleys, take a step back and continue, gradually moving further from the front wall.
As you move back, you need to hit the ball slightly harder or higher to keep the volley going, and the control gets harder. See if you can reach the back wall while still volleying straight without letting the ball bounce, then work your way forward again.
This improves your volley consistency and arm strength, since hitting dozens of volleys in a row works the forearm and shoulder, and it teaches you to adjust your swing length and power for different court positions. A variation is to keep one foot inside the service box while volleying continuously, which forces you to reach and adjust but still volley accurately. Over time, these solo drills make your match volleys more solid and reduce unforced errors.
Boast, Lob, Volley Routine (Pairs)
For tactical drilling, simulate rally situations that force volleys. One routine has one player hitting high defensive lobs from the back and the other stepping up to take those lobs on the volley. For example, Player A boasts or drives the ball to a back corner, Player B in the back throws up a high lob, and Player A moves up to volley it straight.
Run it as a continuous loop: boast, lob, straight volley, straight drive, repeat. There are many such combinations, including three-player drills, that build in volleying; the goal is to practise moving in and out of the front court and controlling the volley's direction under realistic rally pressure. These drills improve your tactical volley choices, when to go short and when to go deep, and your movement efficiency around volley situations.
Each drill targets a different aspect of volley skills: reflexes, control, consistency, or tactical execution. Consistency is key; as one coach puts it, practise volleying often. The more comfortable you are volleying in practice, the more naturally it comes under match conditions.
Always focus on proper technique during drills, racket preparation, balance, and a compact swing, so that you build good habits. Over time, what used to be a difficult volley becomes second nature.
Conclusion
A reliable squash volley adds a real edge to your game. By volleying well, you impose your will on rallies, controlling the T, dictating pace, and keeping your opponent under constant stress.
Doing this requires both sharp technique, early preparation, agile footwork, a compact swing, and smart shot selection, and keen tactical sense, knowing when to press with a volley and when to play safe. It is equally physical and mental: you have to condition your reflexes and foot speed, but also develop the confidence and strategic vision to volley with purpose.
For advanced players, the volley is not an occasional trick but a core component of attacking squash. As you refine your technique and work the drills, recall the examples set by the pros. Players such as Jonah Barrington, Nick Matthew, and Mohamed ElShorbagy built much of their success on superb volleying, taking the ball early to suffocate opponents. They show how an early volley can turn a rally on its head, yet they still balance aggression with smart decisions, avoiding excessive risk when it is not warranted.
Aim to volley at every appropriate opportunity without fear. Be alert, keep your racket up, and trust your skills. You will likely make some mistakes as you fold more volleys into your game, but that is part of the progression.
With practice, your timing and control improve, and the volleys that once felt difficult become routine. When you can step up and volley confidently, punch a deep drive, drop the ball on a dime, or flick in a volley nick, you force opponents to play on your terms, and the volley becomes a genuine weapon in your match play.
