I think I've talked about pace in past articles; however, I've been thinking about it a lot more than usual recently.
A bit of backstory: there's a player from my area (in the North-East of England) who is a bit of a local legend, particularly known for his ridiculous pace.
He hits the ball with a combination of ridiculous power and accurate cut. He's easily the hardest hitter I've ever played with, and I've also never seen someone do it as well as him.
What's even more impressive is that he's just come back from several hip surgeries and has had around five years off court. Now he's back and on the up again, beating me pretty much every time we play.
I never got to play him before the surgeries, but I'd watched him a few times. Now, I play on a team with him, and, we also do weekly friendlies too, which has been incredibly beneficial for my game.
Needless to say, this has given me a new perspective and appreciation of just how effective pace can be.
Personally, I never really played with that much pace. I find that my accuracy becomes pretty terrible, and my fitness level often doesn't allow me to sustain the pace for long periods of time.
However, now, I'm making a major push to try to up the pace I play at.
For this piece, I thought I'd try to transfer what I've learned about pace and why it's so effective, as well as how to execute it properly!
Let's dive in.
Why Pace Creates Pressure (Even Without Perfect Accuracy)
One of the biggest misconceptions in squash is that pressure only comes from precision.
Of course, precision is a great ability to have; however, in reality, pace alone can be just as disruptive, even when the ball isn’t tight or hitting the target every time.
First off, when the ball is travelling quickly through the air, your opponent has less time to set their feet, prepare their swing, and make clear decisions.
Fast-paced shots force rushed movement and rushed thinking.
This is what I've discovered the hard way, playing against the person I mentioned in the intro.
When I've got time on the ball, I think a lot more about my shots and where I want them to go. When the ball is flying towards me with pace, I am forced to go reactive-mode and just make sure I keep my return in.
Even a slightly loose drive or crosscourt can still be uncomfortable to deal with if it arrives on your opponent's racquet early and at speed.
It's also a lot harder to control or take pace off a powerful shot, so, more often than not, your opponent will be forced to just transfer this pace and smack the ball right back (often with even less accuracy).
This is where errors start to creep in.
It’s much harder to soften the hands, take pace off the ball, or play a delicate short shot when the ball is coming at you quickly.
This is especially important when it comes to denying your opponent their strengths.
Many players (like me) rely on slowing the rally down, taking pace off the ball, and working their way into the front of the court.
Consistent pace makes that far more difficult. A fast ball arriving even marginally off target is still awkward to control, whereas a slower ball gives your opponent time to adjust and execute (even if it's tight or deep in the back corners).
Pace, when used correctly, isn’t reckless power. It’s controlled pressure.
It shrinks decision-making windows, limits shot options, and forces opponents into uncomfortable contact points.
So, what I'm learning at the moment is that you don’t need to be perfect with your power; you just need to be early, firm, proactive, and consistent enough to make the court feel smaller for the player in front of you.
The Psychological Effect of Constant Pace
Beyond the physical challenges, constant pace has a huge psychological impact on your opponent.
Panic is the first word that comes to mind when I'm playing against the person I mentioned in the intro.
When rallies are consistently played at speed, players feel like they’re under pressure even when they’re technically still in the rally.
The mind rarely feels settled when the ball keeps coming back quickly, and that sense of being rushed can be mentally exhausting over time.
It makes it feel like there are no options other than trying to match that pace right back.
Fast-paced squash forces your opponent to stay alert at all times.
There’s very little opportunity to relax, reset, or gather composure between shots.
Even when they win a rally, it can feel draining rather than reassuring, because they’ve had to work hard just to stay in it.
That constant demand on focus often leads to lapses in concentration, poor shot selection, or going for silly winners at key moments.
There’s also an element of uncertainty that creeps in.
When the pace is high, players start questioning their decisions: Should I slow this down? Should I try something different? Can I sustain this?
Those doubts can be just as damaging as physical fatigue.
The more questions your opponent is asking themselves mid-rally, the less clearly they’re playing.
Another underrated aspect is confidence erosion.
If your opponent feels they’re always reacting rather than dictating, it’s easy for frustration to build.
They may start forcing shots earlier in rallies or attempting low-percentage winners simply to escape the pressure.
That’s often when unforced errors spike.
Over the course of a match, constant pace can quietly tilt the mental balance in your favour.
You might not be winning rallies outright with pace alone, but you’re steadily increasing stress, reducing clarity, and planting doubt, and in squash, those small psychological edges tend to show up on the scoreboard.
How Pace Limits Your Opponent’s Options
One of the immediate benefits of playing with consistently fast pace is how effectively it shuts down your opponent’s ability to work the ball short.
Delicate drops and clever holds rely heavily on control, balance, and, most importantly, time.
These three things become much harder to find when the ball is moving quickly.
When players feel rushed, their hands naturally tighten, and their swing shortens.
Instead of feathering the ball into the front corners, they’re far more likely to leave it slightly high or bounce it a touch too far from the side wall.
At that point, not only do you get a bit of extra time to get onto (and hold) the T, but what was meant to be an attacking short ball can quickly turn into an opportunity for you.
Often, one of the only realistic adjustments your opponent can make is to start lifting the ball.
Higher, safer shots buy them time and allow the rally to slow down, at least temporarily.
It’s definitely a sensible response, but it comes with its own risks.
If you’re comfortable playing at a high tempo and actively looking to volley, those defensive lifts from your opponent need to be exceptionally accurate.
Anything that drifts even marginally short or loose is there to be intercepted on the volley.
Experienced pace players will step forward without hesitation, cutting the ball off early and immediately reapplying pressure.
That’s why relying on lobs against a strong, pace-driven player is such a big ask.
To truly neutralize the rally, the ball has to reach the back corners with height and precision, repeatedly. Over the course of a match, maintaining that level of accuracy is incredibly difficult, and sooner or later one will fall short or loose.
By establishing pace and hunting volleys, you gradually remove your opponent’s attacking options.
Their short game becomes riskier, their lifts become more predictable, and the margin for error shrinks.
Instead of dictating play, they’re left searching for relief, and in squash, playing for relief is rarely a winning strategy.
On a side note, I thought the image below of Youssef Ibrahim was fitting for this week's newsletter since he's one of the hardest hitters on the PSA Squash Tour.
Just looking at that backswing, you can tell he's about to crack the ball!
Photo credit: Steve Cubbins
Controlled Pace vs Blind Power
It’s important to make a clear distinction here; playing with pace does not mean swinging as hard as you possibly can at every ball.
There’s a big difference between controlled pace and blind power, and understanding that difference is what separates effective attacking players from erratic ones.
The most important thing is not to rush yourself.
If the volley isn't really an option, then you mustn't force it. Instead, it might be wiser to follow it into the back and execute your powerful drive or cross-court from there instead, rather than risking giving up a weak shot or, even worse, a stroke.
Blind power usually comes from impatience.
Players try to end rallies too quickly, overhit, and sacrifice positioning in the process.
You might win the occasional spectacular point, but more often than not, you’ll leak unforced errors and make life harder for yourself physically.
Controlled pace, on the other hand, is all about intention.
You’re still hitting the ball firmly, but your priority remains accuracy and shot selection based on your opponent's positioning.
A solid, fast drive that dies deep in the back corner applies far more pressure than a reckless half-court shot that pints up off the side wall.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to hit hard; it’s to make your opponent hit uncomfortable replies.
Good preparation plays a huge role here.
When you’re balanced and set early, you can accelerate smoothly through the ball rather than snatching at it.
The shot feels powerful, but it’s actually efficient.
Players who rely purely on muscle tend to tire quickly, whereas controlled hitters generate pace with timing and technique.
Again, going back to the player I've been mentioning throughout the newsletter, he's older than me and has a wealth of technical experience.
He hits the ball so cleanly every single time, whether he's cutting it or hitting flat.
He's got a large, fluid swing that never looks uncontrolled.
It's also worth mentioning that (I believe) his father used to play at the professional level, so he's likely had some very good technical advice and guidance over the years.
Shot tolerance is another factor worth mentioning.
If you commit to playing with pace, you must also accept that rallies might still go long.
Don’t abandon the plan just because your opponent retrieves a few good shots.
Stay patient, keep your length tight, and trust that the pressure will build.
Think of controlled pace as sustained pressure rather than sudden attack.
You’re not trying to blow the rally apart with one swing; you’re steadily squeezing your opponent’s time and space until something gives.
When you strike that balance, pace becomes a reliable weapon instead of a risky gamble.
Establishing a Tempo Before Breaking It
One of the smartest ways to use pace is to make it the default rhythm of the match early on, before changing it.
When rallies are consistently played at a strong tempo, both you and your opponent begin to anticipate that speed.
Movement patterns settle, swing timing becomes a little more predictable, and the rally develops a certain flow (even if it is rapid).
That’s exactly why a well-timed change of pace can be so effective.
If you’ve been driving the ball hard, volleying regularly, and keeping exchanges sharp, the occasional soft shot suddenly becomes far more dangerous.
A delicate drop, a hold into the front corner, or even a slightly slower length can completely disrupt your opponent’s rhythm.
Instead of moving confidently into the shot, they often arrive a fraction too early or too late, having geared themselves up for another fast exchange.
The keyword here is occasional.
If you slow the ball down too often, it stops being a surprise and simply becomes your new tempo.
But, when used selectively, the contrast between fast and soft forces your opponent to constantly adjust their movement and expectations, and that hesitation is where openings appear.
It also prevents your game from becoming one-dimensional.
Players who only know how to hit hard are easier to read.
When your opponent recognizes that you’re willing to change speeds, they can’t fully commit to any single anticipation pattern, which keeps them slightly on edge throughout the rally.
A good analogy is to think of it like changing gears in a car.
You build momentum first, and then at the right moment, you shift.
Establish the pace, make it uncomfortable, and once your opponent settles into survival mode, that’s your opportunity to feather one in short and catch them off balance.
Lastly, a small side note I'd like to finish on ...
... I feel like I've been making this style of play sound easy throughout this newsletter, when it's really not.
I've been trying to get better at playing with pace for some time now, and I've actually seen a bit of a drop in my overall standard and results.
Physically, I'm dropping off faster, which is also to be expected since it takes a lot of energy to repeatedly hit balls hard and take them early; however, I'm hoping my fitness catches up as well.
I'm hoping that this is because I'm playing with a style I'm not used to, and, since I've stripped back my game a little, it's just going to take some time to adjust.
Being proficient with pace definitely takes a long time to adapt to, especially if you've always been a slower-paced player like me; however, I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.
If you want to implement this style, just be aware that you might struggle at first and may have some poor results, but, over time, this should improve.
This article was taken from our On The 'T' Newsletter, if you're interested in receiving more content like this, please feel free to sign up using the subscribe section located at the bottom left of this page (or underneath the article if you're on mobile), thanks!
