Crosscourts: To be mixed in with your straight up and down strokes are the crosscourt forehand and backhand shots. Here again, these are employed to keep the ball out of the middle and keep your opponent defensive and on the move. They can be hit either straight toward the opposite back wall corner (see fig. 10) frequently for a winner, or more sharply cross court, so that the ball either breaks into or behind your opponent's position (see fig. 11).
Three-wall Fadeaway: This shot can only be executed when you are a few feet in front of the service line and off to one side of the court or the other, nearer to the side wall than the center. Otherwise it is practically impossible to obtain the necessary angle to pull of the three-wall fadeaway successfully.
The ball is hit as sharply as possible into the opposite corner, at a position approximately midway between the floor and the ceiling, striking the front wall first and then the side wall. This particular stroke is hit higher than most of the other Squash Tennis shots since the ball has so far to travel. It will shoot off the side wall at great velocity and traverse cross court, bounce, and hit the other side wall deep—ideally within two feet of the back wall. Then, instead of coming off at the same angle as it hits, the ball rebounds practically parallel to the back wall (see fig. 12). A well hit three-way fadeaway, which can be made either off the backhand or the forehand, is practically irretrievable since your opponent, even when he comes to realize how the ball is going to skid out straight at him, will still have great difficulty in getting his racquet head behind the ball (and in front of the back wall) to make a return.
Double Boast: This shot, while not as effective as in Squash Racquets, can, nonetheless, result in many winning points or, if not producing a winner, it will force your opponent to the front of the court in order to make his retrieval. The double boast is hit almost straight into the side wall and fairly low (three to four feet above the floor) and can be hit either off the forehand or backhand side. The ball rebounds off the side wall, goes cross court and hits the opposite side wall just inches away from the front wall. It bounces out and practically parallel to the front, barely touching or "kissing" the front wall for a winner, or at least a very difficult "get" for your opponent (see figs. 13 & 14). The only prerequisite for hitting this shot properly is that you should be fairly far back in the court and close to one of the side walls prior to the execution of your shot.
Four-Wall Boast: This particular shot is much more difficult to master than the double boast or three-wall fadeaway but, at the same time, far more effective and unexpected. It has to be hit with a good deal of power and quite high in order to carry to the front wall. Your chances of success are, therefore, far greater if attempted off the forehand side.
The ball travels off your racquet high into the backhand or left wall, rebounds sharply to the opposite or forehand wall heading toward the front of the court. There should still be enough momentum and height remaining to permit the ball to again go cross court to the left wall where it hits within a few inches of the front wall and drops straight down barely, touching or "kissing" the front wall (see fig. 15). The four-wall boast is presently only hit by a handful of the better Squash Tennis players and should be a shot you attempt only after becoming skillful in the other more standard winning shots.
Straight Up and Down and Cross Court Drops: These soft or "touch" shots are employed primarily to move your opponent up and back, although an occasional winner will result when a low ball, hit with the right amount of pace and spin, dies before your opponent can get to it. Too few Squash Tennis players today, including many of the ranking competitors, employ this change of pace shot. Of all the shots, this one must be hit with a short, low follow-through in order to work successfully. Your primary goal to accomplish these shots is to make certain you hit the front wall first and, ideally, not allow the ball to angle into the side walls (see figs. 16 & 17).