---
title: When To Attack, When To Wait
description: In this article, we look at when you should go for a winner, when to be patient, and when taking a little more risk may be the smarter option.
image: https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DSCF0937.jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=DSCF0937.jpg
---

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![Alex Robertson](https://blog.controlthet.com/hubfs/CT-2.png)

 By [Alex Robertson](https://blog.controlthet.com/blog/author/alex-robertson) on October 07, 2026

# When To Attack, When To Wait

I've been thinking quite a lot recently about when you should actually go for a winner in squash.

It sounds like a straightforward question, but the more I play, the more I realise there isn't really a simple answer. Sometimes you need to wait, sometimes you should take the ball early, and sometimes another good length is actually the best option.

I wrote about this a couple of years ago after playing in my local county closed tournament, where I had two matches that gave me completely different ideas about attacking.

In one, I was playing a much better player, so I decided to make the match as unpredictable as possible with difficult angles, changes of pace and unexpected winners. I lost 3-1, but felt the strategy had worked because he never really settled into his usual rhythm.

In the other, I took a much more patient approach, keeping my lengths tight and only going for winners when I'd created the right opportunity.

However, since that article, I've had a few more thoughts on the matter and, since it's such an important topic, I thought it'd be worth revisiting.

Let's dive in!

## What Do I Actually Mean By "Attack"?

I guess it is a little self-explanatory. However, I think there's an important distinction between going for a winner and simply playing an attacking shot.

Not every attacking shot is supposed to win the rally immediately.

A really tight volley might not be a winner, but it can force your opponent into the back corner and give you control of the 'T'.

A hard, low straight drive might not finish the point, but if it forces your opponent to hit from behind their body, you've probably created a better opportunity for the next shot.

Even a good cross-court can be considered an attacking shot if you're using it to move your opponent away from the area of the court you want to control.

When it comes to going for a winner, I'm generally referring to playing an attacking shot with the intention of your opponent not being able to reach it or return it effectively.

That could be a straight or cross-court drop, a volley drop, a crash nick, a trickle boast, a hold followed by a hard low cross-court or straight shot, or a low hard kill that dies before the back wall.

There are loads of different options, and I think that's part of what makes squash so interesting.

So basically, going for a winner is an attacking shot, but not every attacking shot is going for a winner. Hope that makes sense!

Anyway, both winners and attacking shots are relevant to this week's newsletter.

Onto our first option for attacking ...

## Waiting For The Right Opportunity

Starting with the most traditional approach, there's obviously nothing wrong with waiting for the right opportunity to appear.

In fact, for a lot of squash players, this is probably the most effective way to construct a rally.

You hit your lengths, keep them as tight as you can, move your opponent around, keep control of the 'T', then eventually you produce that perfect opportunity to attack.

It might be a loose ball that comes away from the side wall, a boast from the back of the court, a weak cross-court or simply a shot that sits up a little too much.

That's when you take it short.

This approach works because you're essentially trying to create the opportunity before taking the risk.

Rather than going for a winner because you think you might be able to hit one, you're waiting until the situation is clearly in your favour.

Generally, you'll also be in a much better position when you do this.

You've got control of the 'T', your opponent is out of position, and you've got time to choose where you want to put the ball.

It sounds obvious, but those things make an enormous difference.

A drop shot when you're standing comfortably on the 'T' and your opponent is deep in the back corner is a completely different proposition to a drop shot when you're scrambling around the court yourself.

I think this is probably the approach that I'd recommend to somebody who is perhaps newer to the sport and unsure about when to attack.

Or, if you're playing someone for the first time and don't really know what they're capable of, there's nothing wrong with starting conservatively, hitting good lengths and seeing what they give you.

You can always become more aggressive later.

Personally, though, I sometimes find this approach difficult because I like mixing things up.

I'm naturally quite tempted by an angle, a volley or an opportunity to take the ball short, even if it isn't necessarily the perfect time to do so.

It's important to be aware of your own style, strengths, and weaknesses too, but with that said, I think there's a lot to be said for having this approach as a sort of safety net.

If I'm feeling nervous, not quite hitting the ball properly or just generally not feeling great on court, going back to tight lengths and trying to build the rally can help me get back into a rhythm.

It also forces me to remember that I don't need to win the point immediately.

If you can establish control of the 'T' and keep putting your opponent under pressure, the opportunity will often come eventually.

## Creating The Opportunity Rather Than Waiting For It

There's a slight difference between waiting for an opportunity and actively creating one.

I think this is where things start to become a little more interesting.

In fact, this is where attacking transitions into a winner.

Instead of simply hitting lengths and hoping your opponent eventually makes a mistake, you can deliberately use more attacking shots to force them into an uncomfortable position.

For example, you could start using low, hard cross-courts, boasts, and mixing up the pace, then hunting down a loose volley opportunity.

This is where I think the best attacking players are particularly good.

They don't just wait for opportunities; they create situations where opportunities are likely to appear.

And there's an important difference between those two things.

If you're constantly looking for the perfect loose ball from your opponent, you might spend a lot of time waiting, especially if your opponent is great at the basics.

If you're constantly trying to make your opponent's next shot more difficult, you're actively influencing what happens next.

That's something I'm trying to think about more in my own game.

Rather than asking myself, "Can I hit a winner here?", I'm trying to think, "Can I make this next ball difficult enough that I have a better opportunity afterwards?"

That feels like a much more proactive way of attacking.

## From Somewhere Unexpected

This is probably the most fun type of winner, although it can also be one of the riskiest.

It's definitely one of my favourites (perhaps at my own peril).

One of the first shots that comes to mind here is the drop from the back of the court.

If your opponent is sitting comfortably on the 'T' expecting another length, taking the ball short from the back can be a brilliant way to catch them by surprise.

Of course, it's also a very high-risk shot.

Your opponent is already in a good position, you're a long way from the front of the court, and if the drop isn't accurate enough, you've potentially just handed them a very easy opportunity to attack you.

That's why I wouldn't recommend suddenly adding five back-court drops to your game because you've read this article!

However, playing one or two at the right time can be extremely effective.

Even if it's not a winner, it's still a form of attack and keeps your opponent guessing. Once they know you have it under your belt, it gives them yet another shot that they need to cover.

I've also got a shot I really like where I'll play a cross-court drop off of my opponent's cross-court drive from the front.

It's difficult to explain without being on court, but essentially, if I've played a boast and my opponent hits a hard cross-court that is around volleying height, I can sometimes move laterally behind them and take the ball very early, sending it back into the opposite front corner.

The reason I like this shot is that their momentum is already taking them towards the 'T' and towards the ball they've just hit.

When I take it early and send it into the space they've just left, they have to completely change direction.

It's not necessarily the most sensible shot, but it's just an example of the kind of ways you can attack at the most unpredictable times.

Just remember, you're not necessarily trying to find the most technically impressive shot.

You're trying to find a shot that your opponent isn't prepared for.

 ![](https://blog.controlthet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DSCF0937.jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=DSCF0937.jpg) *Photo credit: Steve Cubbins*

## Countering Their Attempted Winner

Another great time to attack is when your opponent has just tried to attack you.

The counter drop is the most obvious option here.

If you get there quickly enough, you can play your counter drop while they're already moving back towards the 'T'.

Suddenly, they have to completely change direction and sprint back towards the front of the court.

If you've made this movement before, you'll know just how awkward it feels.

You're not only attacking an area of the court; you're using your opponent's momentum against them.

The same applies to plenty of other situations.

If they play a boast, you can counter-boast or trickle boast.

If they play a loose drop, you might be able to hit a low hard kill (straight or cross-court).

Essentially, they've taken the first attacking risk and you've immediately turned it back on them.

I particularly like the trickle boast off of a drop or boast because the ball can come off the front wall at an awkward angle and make it difficult for your opponent to move in a comfortable way.

Of course, the caveat is that you yourself need to be in the right position to counter-attack.

If you're scrambling into the front corner and barely managing to get your racquet to the ball, trying to play a counter-drop just because it's an attacking opportunity isn't necessarily a great idea.

Sometimes the best response to an attempted winner is simply to get the ball high, buy yourself some time and reset the rally.

Your position and the quality of your opponent's shot matter enormously.

## Going For It Early In The Rally

I've become increasingly convinced that there isn't any particular rule that says you need to wait until a rally has developed before attacking.

If the opportunity is there on the third shot, why not go for it?

When watching one of the local coaches in my area, I noticed that he was really proactive when attacking right from the serve. He was looking for winners from the off.

I remember asking him about it afterward, and he said that it's something he's been consciously adding to his game.

'Why wait?' he said.

And this coach is known for being very fit and great at the basics of the game, so it's not like he's just being a bit lazy.

Obviously, that doesn't mean trying to hit a nick off the serve every time.

There's a massive difference between taking an opportunity early and deciding before the rally starts that you're going to attack early.

The first is tactical; the second is just a bit reckless.

I think this is one of the things that makes watching Egyptian squash so interesting.

There are plenty of examples of Egyptian players being willing to take the ball early when an opportunity appears, rather than feeling as though they need to construct a 30-shot rally before attacking.

The same principle applies to amateur squash.

If you're on the 'T' and your opponent hits a medium-paced cross-court that doesn't have enough width, you might have the opportunity to step across and play a hard straight kill or soft volley drop.

You don't need to hit five more lengths first.

## When Your Opponent Is Tired

Fatigue obviously changes the equation as well.

A shot that isn't a winner in the first game can become a winner in the fourth or fifth.

Your opponent might have been able to reach your drop comfortably earlier in the match, but after 45 minutes of running around the court, that same drop might suddenly be out of reach.

They might also start standing slightly further back, taking longer to recover to the 'T', or becoming less willing to volley because they're worried about getting caught out.

Those tiny changes can create much bigger attacking opportunities.

This is one reason I like the idea of keeping certain shots in reserve.

If you know your opponent is extremely quick at the front, perhaps you don't need to keep testing them with drops in the first few rallies.

It's essentially the opposite idea to the previous section.

Make them do the work and get tired first.

Then, when they're half a step slower, bring the drop into play more often.

The same applies to changing direction.

A hard, attacking cross-court that your opponent can comfortably cover early in the match can become much more difficult once their legs are tired and they've already been dragged into the opposite corner.

## When NOT To Go For A Winner

I think this deserves its own section because, for me, knowing when not to attack is just as important.

The most obvious example is when you're completely out of position.

If you're in the back corner, late to the ball, or having to stretch just to make contact, there's a good chance that trying to play a delicate drop is going to end badly.

You're more likely to make a mistake, and your opponent is more likely to be able to counter effectively.

Instead, get it high and deep and grab yourself some time.

Whenever you plan to up the ante, you need to be very sure that your attacking shot is good enough to justify the risk.

The same applies if you've just played several attacking shots in a row and none of them have worked.

Sometimes you need to recognise that your opponent has started anticipating what you're doing.

If they know you're going to drop every time you get the ball in the front, they're going to start moving before you hit it.

That's when you need to go back to the length.

One of the biggest mistakes I make is probably becoming too predictable when I find something that works.

That's why variety matters.

---

*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!*

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Published by [Alex Robertson](https://blog.controlthet.com/blog/author/alex-robertson) October 7, 2026

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