How to Hit a Rail in Squash

The rail hit in squash makes an excellent offensive shot in the game. Hitting such a shot to your opponent delivers a ball that hugs the wall where a return means scraping the wall, hitting a loose shot or committing an error. The following steps describe the best way to deliver a rail hit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Hit a Rail in Front of the Service Line

1. Position your body while holding the racquet back to hit a lob rail. The lob rail means you hit the ball up toward the ceiling with height and distance back to the corner of the court.

2. Intend this shot to be a win of the play because, if struck correctly, your opponent moves to play the ball in the back corner of the court.

3. Stay alert as your opponent goes after the ball and strikes the ball off balance to your advantage or lose the ball for your win.

Hit a Rail When Even With an Opponent

4. Watch for your opponent to move next to you while you play.
   

5. Get the racquet back in either a forehand or backhand swing. Keep the racquet parallel with the floor, and hit the ball hard along the side wall.

6. Keep an eye on your opponent as you clear a path for him to retrieve the ball in the back corner. If he returns the rail hit, be prepared to have an easy strike shot and win the play.

Hit a Rail When Behind an Opponent

7. Stay aware of your opponent as she plays in front of you when the ball comes your way.
   

8. Bring the racquet back, keeping it parallel with the floor, and anticipate a deep, high hit. Hit the ball so it goes up high and bounces right in the back to the corner wall.

9. Notice your hit forced your opponent to hit the ball off the wall in the back. Now take the front court position and put the shot away.

Tips & Warnings

• A rail shot simply means hitting the ball along the side wall or alley to the corner in the back. A tough shot that makes it hard for the opponent to return where the ball goes from the front to the back—a hard drive shot.

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