From fan shots and corkscrew lobs to cross-court nicks, it’s the variety of shots – and how they are played – that makes squash such as intriguing game to play and watch.
Every player has different shots in their arsenal. Here are ten examples:
1. James Willstrop double fake
Don’t try this at home rating: 8/10
Despite building a career on his precision hitting, ‘The Marksman’ will forever be associated with his flamboyant windmill shots.
Here the Yorkshireman pulls off a ‘double fake’. See how the former world number one manages to whip his racket twice around the ball before pulling the trigger, on this occasion in the semi-final of the 2013 North American Open.
2. Sherbini hold drive
Don’t try this at home rating: 6/10
It’s six-time World Champion Sherbini’s hold that makes her a nightmare opponent for even the game’s best movers.
The ‘Warrior Princess’ is squash royalty when it comes to holding and showing a drop shot, before punching it long as the opponent heads into the front corner. Taxi!
Here she is sending lightning-fast Nouran Gohar the wrong way during the British Open 2021 final.
3. Mohamed Elshorbagy slingshot
Don’t try this at home rating: 6/10
‘The Beast’ has a number of signature shots in his arsenal, but it’s his ‘slingshot’ forehand drop that’s arguably his most unique weapon.
Few others have the ability to threaten a drive with such severity before turning the wrist at the last moment to land what is inevitably a winner. All the opponent can do is rock on the ‘T’ and watch as the ball dies.
4. Shabana wrist dislocation
Don’t try this at home rating: 10/10
Known as ‘The Maestro’, Amr Shabana at times did look like he was conducting his very own symphony on court.
We don’t even know what this shot is, only that attempting it would result in a trip to A&E for most people. As world number one for 33 months in the late noughties, Shabana was the role model for many of the Egyptian players at the summit of the game today.
5. Fares Dessouky corkscrew
Don’t try this at home rating: 9/10
Just like a hot dog in tennis or overhead kick in football, you’re lucky to witness a corkscrew lob once in a tournament.
If most club players tried it, the ball would come back off the front and side wall before hitting them square on the nose.
But when it comes off, it’s the most satisfying shot out there.
We’ve seen Egypt’s Fares Dessouky – cited by some as the best mover and technician in the game – play it more than most. Here’s one from last year’s GilenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic.
6. Sarah-Jane Perry fan shot
Don’t try this at home rating: 7/10
The top-spin forehand volley ‘fan shot’ is only played regularly by a select few pros, including France’s Victor Crouin and Egypt’s Mohammed Elshorbagy.
But is there a better technician of this obscure shot than the highly creative England number one Sarah-Jane Perry?
Judge for yourself in this clip below, taken from the Oracle Netsuite Open in 2018.
7. Nouran Gohar backhand straight kill
Don’t try this at home rating: 6/10
World number one Nouran Gohar hits the ball harder than almost anyone on a consistent basis, winning numerous points on drives and kills.
But it is the backhand straight kill that is so often the weapon of choice for ‘The Terminator’ as she dismantles her opponents. Pulverising the ball low and hard prevents a possible stroke situation that can be a danger with this shot choice.
8. Mazen Hesham three-wall boast nick
Don’t try this at home rating: 6/10
Egypt’s Mazen Hesham seems to hit more three-wall boast nicks than any other player on tour, and from either flank.
Here is the Black Falcon landing one of his best rollers at the 2021 Qatar Classic.
9. Mostafa Asal cross-court nick
Don’t try this at home rating: 8/10
When he first burst onto the scene, current World Number One Mostafa Asal seemed to be attempting to set new records for cross-court nick attempts.
In the second game of his 2020 Tournament of Champions second-round match with Mohamed Abouelghar, ‘The Raging Bull’ lands five of the six cross-court nicks he attempts. Here’s one of the rollers from that game.
10. Raneem El Welily behind-the-back trickshot
Don’t try this at home rating: 9/10
While not in the training manual, behind-the-back drive winners were one of the many signature trickshots of this great of the game.
Known as ‘The Enigma’, Raneem El Welily spent 23 months at world number one before hanging up her racket in 2020.
