Boasts and angles · Advanced
How to play the skid boast in squash.
See the representative arrival, strike, side wall, then high front wall, first bounce, opponent cue and recovery for the skid boast.
In short
Consider the skid boast when you are balanced in front or middle and the opponent has moved forward, leaving the opposite back corner open. Use height and sidewall angle to move the next contact from the front to the opposite back corner.
Watch the trajectory
Blue dashed lines show realistic arrivals one at a time. Yellow shows the strike and outgoing path. The opponent and recovery zone provide tactical context. No players or rackets are shown.
Trajectory, in words
- The blue path or paths show how the ball can arrive before the strike.
- The yellow path reaches side wall, then high front wall in numbered order.
- The first bounce enters the highlighted opposite deep target; the recovery zone anticipates the likely reply.
Blue shows the representative arrival or alternatives converging on one strike. Yellow shows the straight or angled outgoing path for the skid boast. Numbered contacts, the target, opponent position and recovery zone explain the tactical sequence.
Read the opportunity
When should I play it?
- You are balanced in front or middle and the opponent has moved forward, leaving the opposite back corner open.
- You can reach the strike point in balance rather than forcing the shot.
- You have a clear view, direct access, a safe swing and an unobstructed intended ball line.
Opponent cue
Where should the opponent be?
The opponent is forward and may be wrong-footed by a high angled ball that travels deep.
Intention
What am I trying to achieve?
Use height and sidewall angle to move the next contact from the front to the opposite back corner.
Plan the next ball
What is likely to come back?
- An opposite-side straight length
- A defensive boast
- A volley if the skid is too low
Follow-up: Recover fully and watch whether the opponent can intercept before the ball reaches the back.
Where do I recover?
Move towards the central T while preserving the opponent's route behind you.
Common mistake
Hitting too low and presenting an easy volley around the middle.
Safety
The diagonal flight must not pass dangerously through the opponent.
Sources and review
This is a source-aligned Squash Dog editorial illustration, reviewed 6 September 2026. It represents one useful pattern, not the only valid trajectory, a governing-body endorsement or personal coaching advice.