By Ian McKenzie
Clinging shots—where the ball stays glued to the side wall—are often undervalued in the modern power game. Many see them as lucky, but in reality, they are a crucial skill that should be deliberately practiced.
THE MECHANICS OF CLINGERS
To execute a clinger, players must angle their shots into the side wall rather than hitting them parallel. If you stand by the service line and strike the ball at a right angle to the side wall, it will travel straight, but that’s not ideal. Instead, the goal is to hit the side wall at the point where an opponent would ideally want to strike the ball.
By placing the ball on the side wall at this crucial moment, you force opponents into difficult positions:
- They may have to rush their shot before it reaches this point.
- If they wait, they’ll need to play the ball after it comes off the side wall, often under pressure.
- Volleys become tricky—if they overcommit, they risk an awkward recovery.
This strategy makes it harder for opponents to execute clean shots, leading to errors or weak returns.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE: ALWAYS IMPACT BEHIND THE RIGHT ANGLE
A key maxim for straight shots in squash is: always impact the ball behind the right angle.
This ensures the ball angles into the side wall, never traveling purely parallel (unless hitting a forced clinger off the side wall).
WHERE TO HIT THE SIDE WALL?
Different scenarios call for different targets:
- FULL-LENGTH DRIVES – The ball should rebound from the back wall and stay tight to the side.
- DYING LENGTH DRIVES – The ball should cling before the back wall, forcing an opponent to play before it dies.
- AGAINST VOLLEYS – Target the opponent’s preferred volleying position to disrupt their shot.
- DROP SHOTS – Aim for the nick (the floor-wall join) or a bounce that hugs the side wall.
When we look at the drops off the back wall played by James Willstrop, we see two targets: if the ball has rebounded out from the side enough for a nick attempt, he will go for the nick, if not the shot is played to bounce and cling.
The same principle applies to other straight shots—when a volley is a threat, put the ball on the wall; when there’s no immediate threat, fade it into the side for control.
PRACTICING CLINGERS
To incorporate clingers into your game, practice angling the ball into the side wall from different distances. Here are some key drills:
1. SOLO PRACTICE – Work on continuously hitting shots while keeping the ball tight to the side wall. Use a small target (such as a taped piece of paper) to refine accuracy.
2. PAIRS PRACTICE – Perform the straight drive drill with a partner, focusing on keeping the ball between the short line and back wall and within the width of the box.
3. CONDITIONED GAMES – Set rules that reward hitting the side wall at specific points, such as behind the service line or before the second bounce.
