Movement in squash is critical. It is imperative to move well to and from the ball. Often though when we arrive at where we expect to hit the ball we might not be in the best possible position. This can happen for a couple of reasons. It can happen if we simply misjudge the ball or if the ball comes off of the wall unexpectedly. When this happens the ball will most often be in a poor position for us to hit. One of the most common errors that players make is not adjusting and hitting the ball when they are now out of position. Of course as we play and practice more this will happen less but when it does happen it is imperative, if you have the time to move your feet and get to the best position you can to hit a good shot.
One of the most common places this will happen is with balls that get very deep in to the back corner before the first bounce. The bounce out of the corner will be very different if the ball hits the floor, side wall or back wall first. Doing your best to identify what is going to happen is of course the first thing you should be trying to figure out naturally. Giving yourself some space though is also very important. If you get too far in to the back corner a bad bounce will be very likely in to you which leaves you will little to no shot. It is not as easy to try and back pedal away from a ball that is coming towards you unexpectedly as it is to move in to a ball that has taken a bad bounce away from you.
Another example of where you should remember to move your feet and adjust to the ball is when a length shot is over hit. The ball will come back pretty far in towards the centre of the court if you let it. Often though what ends up happening is the player will go back in to the back of the court with the ball and then hit as soon it comes off the back wall. When this happens it makes sense to adjust to the ball and move with it as far as you can in to the centre of the court and still be in a good hitting position. This puts you in a better position on the court and forces your opponent out of the centre of the court and away from the 'T' as they have to give you room to play your shot from where you choose. The benefit is threefold with this. You are able to hit from a better spot on court. You are now closer to the 'T' and will have to move less after the shot. Lastly your opponent has now had to surrender their position on the 'T' putting them in out of position they would like to be in.
Remember to move your feet and adjust your position to put yourself in not only the best possible position on court but to also hit the ball. This will help you hit a better shot when the ball has taken an odd bounce. It will also help you attain better strategic position on the court if you are given the opportunity to let the ball come back in to the centre of the court towards the 'T'.
