30 Must-Know Squash Terms, Phrases and Slang

Ready to conquer the court with racket in hand?

Every squash warrior needs to know the lingo that slams the ball!

From “boast” to “tiebreak,” we’ve got 30 terms that’ll sharpen your squash language.

Strap in, young athletes—let’s squash the jargon and rule the game!

Must-Know Squash Terms, Phrases and Slang:

1. Boast
2. Crosscourt
3. Drive
4. Drop shot
5. Game ball
6. Ghosting
7. Let
8. Lob
9. Nick
10. No let
11. Rally
12. Serve
13. Stroke
14. Tin
15. Volley
16. Back wall
17. Ball mark
18. Clinch
19. Corner kill
20. Cutthroat
21. Down
22. Fault
23. Grip
24. Hand out
25. Kill shot
26. Match ball
27. Parade
28. Side wall
29. Stroke play
30. Tiebreak

#1 Boast

A shot where the player hits the ball against the side wall or back wall before it reaches the front wall, creating an angle that can catch the opponent off guard. It is often used as a strategic deception.

#2 Crosscourt

A shot that sends the ball to the front wall, from which it travels diagonally, landing in the opponent’s back corner. This is typically used to move the opponent across the court and create openings.

#3 Drive

A straight shot that travels parallel along the side wall towards the back of the court. The drive is a fundamental shot, aiming to force the opponent to the back and limit their shot options.

#4 Drop shot

A delicate and precise shot that barely clears the top of the tin and lands softly in the front corner of the court, making it difficult for the opponent to reach. It’s often used to wrong-foot an opponent positioned deep in the court.

#5 Game ball

The term indicates the point at which a player has the opportunity to win the current game, having acquired the necessary lead. It adds psychological pressure as it is a high-stakes moment in the match.

#6 Ghosting

A training exercise in which players move around the court without a ball to simulate actual play. Ghosting helps improve footwork, court coverage, and anticipatory skills, enhancing overall movement efficiency.

#7 Let

A call in squash that results in a rally being replayed. This occurs when a player’s swing is impeded by their opponent, preventing a fair chance to hit the ball. No points are scored, and the rally is replayed from the serve.

#8 Lob

A high-arcing shot in squash that sends the ball towards the back of the court, typically over the opponent’s head. The aim is to make the ball bounce close to the back wall, making it difficult for the opponent to return.

#9 Nick

An ideal shot in squash where the ball hits the junction between the side wall and the floor, making it very difficult for the opponent to retrieve. The “nick” can quickly end a rally and is a highly skillful shot.

#10 No let

A decision by the referee when a player does not get a let (interference call), indicating no interference occurred or the player could not have reached the ball anyway. It often contributes to the intensity and competitiveness of the game.

#11 Rally

Continuous play where the ball is hit back and forth between the players until one cannot return it. Rallies are the essence of squash and the foundation of play, testing skill, endurance, and strategy.

#12 Serve

The action that starts each point in squash, where a player hits the ball against the front wall, and it must land in the opposite quarter court. A proper serve sets the tone for the rally and can give a strategic advantage.

#13 Stroke

A penalty awarded to a player if their opponent obstructs their play to an extent where they would have clearly hit the ball. It results in a point for the player who was obstructed, emphasizing the importance of fair play.

#14 Tin

The lower part of the front wall in squash that is out of bounds; hitting the tin means losing the rally. The tin effectively makes the target area for shots smaller, increasing challenge and precision in the game.

#15 Volley

Hitting the ball before it bounces on the ground. In squash, volleys are strategic shots used to maintain pressure by cutting down on the time the opponent has to respond.

#16 Back wall

The rear wall of the squash court. Players often aim to hit the ball towards the back wall to make it difficult for the opponent to return, especially with shots like lobs and drives.

#17 Ball Mark

The mark left on the squash court walls or floor after the ball hits them. These marks can sometimes help in determining whether a ball was in or out when there’s a dispute during a game.

#18 Clinch

To secure a win in a crucial point or game within a match. In squash, clinching typically refers to winning important points that decide the outcome of the match.

#19 Corner Kill

A shot in squash aimed low into the front corners of the court. The idea is to make the ball bounce twice quickly before the opponent can reach it, effectively winning the rally.

#20 Cutthroat

A variation of squash usually played with three players, where one player serves and the other two team up against them. Each player takes turns being the server against the other two.

#21 Down

When a player hits the ball into the tin or below the service line on the front wall, causing the shot to be out and a point to be lost. “Down” is a decisive call indicating a player’s unsuccessful attempt to keep the rally going.

#22 Fault

A service fault occurs when the server fails to meet specific requirements, such as hitting the ball into the wrong service box or failing to clear the short line. A fault gives the opponent a point or a chance to serve.

#23 Grip

The way a player holds the squash racket, which is crucial for control and power. A proper grip allows for a range of shots and can greatly impact a player’s overall performance.

#24 Hand Out

This term refers to the change of the server in the game; when the receiving player wins the rally, they earn the right to serve, and it’s called “hand out” for the outgoing server.

#25 Kill Shot

An aggressive and low shot aimed close to the front wall, intended to end the rally by putting the ball out of the opponent’s reach. A kill shot is a demonstration of precision and power.

#26 Match Ball

This signifies a situation where a player has the opportunity to win the match if they win the next rally. Match ball creates a critical, high-pressure moment in the game.

#27 Parade

Not a commonly defined term in traditional squash terminology, it could either refer to a sequence of competitive rallies displaying a high level of skill, or it might be specific to local or informal play and not widely recognized in professional squash.

#28 Side wall

The walls on either side of the squash court. Shots played off the side walls can create challenging angles for the opponent and are a key element of strategic play in squash.

#29 Stroke play

A situation in squash where an obstruction by a player is deemed to have prevented the opponent from playing a winning shot, resulting in a point awarded to the obstructed player.

#30 Tiebreak

In squash, if the score reaches 10-10, play continues until one player leads by two points; this is commonly referred to as a ‘tiebreak,’ although the official squash term is ‘setting.’

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