Whether it’s helping you escape from a tight spot or setting a trap to outmanoeuvre a tiring opponent, a well-executed forehand boast is a vital tool in any squash player’s tactical arsenal.
This guide focuses specifically on the attacking two-wall boast, played from the mid to front court, not the defensive three-wall boast from the back. When used with disguise and purpose, the boast can swing the momentum of a rally, creating space, uncertainty, and opportunities - all without taking unnecessary risk.
KEY POINT 1: EARLY PREPARATION = MAXIMUM OPTIONS
The best boasts are built on the same foundation as a good straight drive: early body preparation and racket readiness. Aim to position yourself so that the ball is just in front of your lead foot, with your shoulders turned and your racket prepped early. This gives you the option to drive or boast from the same shape, which keeps your opponent guessing.
Disguise is everything. If your opponent can’t read your intent, they’ll hesitate - and that half-step of uncertainty is often all you need.
KEY POINT 2: USE THE HOLD TO CREATE HESITATION
Play the ball just after the top of the bounce. This slight delay allows you to apply a subtle hold — shaping as if for a drive before flicking in the boast. It’s especially effective if your opponent is anticipating a straight shot and begins to shift forward from the T.
Hold, disguise, and then execute. The longer you can mask your intentions, the more pressure you place on your opponent’s movement and anticipation.
KEY POINT 3: CONTROLLED POWER THROUGH THE FOREARM, NOT JUST THE WRIST
Because you’re hitting the ball a little lower in its natural arc, you’ll need to generate pace with a compact, controlled swing. Use your forearm rotation and racket head speed to do the work - not just the wrist.
A boast hit too softly is likely to sit up or hit the tin. A boast hit with slightly too much pace might still stay in play - and keep you alive in the rally. So err on the side of confidence: better to hit a fraction too hard than to fluff it short.
KEY POINT 4: AIM FOR THE SIDE WALL - LET THE FRONT WALL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF
When boasting, your target is the side wall. Avoid obsessing over where the ball will land on the front wall. If your angle and weight are correct, the ball will strike the front wall low and die into the opposite front corner.
This margin of focus - on a tangible side-wall spot - will make your boasts more repeatable, consistent, and threatening, even if they’re not outright winners.
KEY POINT 5: BOAST AND RECOVER IN ONE FLUID MOTION
A boast buys you time - use it. As soon as the shot leaves your strings, start your recovery to the T. Your follow-through should naturally guide you back to centre court, so don’t admire the shot or hesitate. Your opponent is on the move; you need to be as well.
The boast is most effective when followed by readiness. If your opponent retrieves it, be prepared to counter with a volley, a drop, or a drive - extending the court and putting you in control.
