How to Make a Good Serve When Playing Squash

To prepare to serve, get at least one foot fully into the service box. Your foot may not touch any red line, and one foot must touch the floor throughout your racquet's contact with the ball during the serve.

With your weight on your back foot, begin to prepare to hit, while directing your visual and mental focus on your front wall target, which is roughly halfway between the right and left walls, and well above the red line.

Make a simple toss with your left hand extended, tossing the ball in front of you, and just above head height. At this point, your weight should be centered on your rear foot. With a power serve, make sure to take a full backswing before rotating to hit the ball. 

On a lob serve, the body is usually turned a little more full on to face the target wall, and the ball toss may be slightly lower, and the swing less forceful. 

After the toss, watch the ball closely since you want to make clean contact. Avoid being distracted by the target or by your opponent. A clean, solid hit is the key to maintaining control of the initial exchange that will follow. 

As you hit, transfer your body weight onto your front foot, being sure to keep the other foot within the service box until you finish contacting the ball. Ideally, most of your weight should be on the racket foot at the moment you impact the ball. 

The angle of the racket as it strikes the ball is critical. The face of the racket should directly face the target as you strike the ball. 

After you make contact, be sure to finish your swing, then begin to move into better court position. Follow through is critical to making sure the ball goes where you want it to with the desired velocity. 

When your stroke is complete, move quickly towards the "T," using a big step. The quicker you can get to the "T" at center court, the better—you will have more time to watch your opponent and figure out where the ball is going next.

Keep your eye on your opponent as you move into better court position. Try to anticipate where your opponent plans to hit the ball on his first stroke. His body position will almost always give away his intention. 

As you approach the T, slow your pace, and keep watching the ball and your opponent to learn what will happen next. Quick eye movements are essential here.

After a good serve, you can position entirely on the "T" and be ready to control the point. From this vantage, you will be able to reach many of your opponent's possible returns, no matter where he hits them. Controlling the center is the key to success at squash.