Power gets all the attention, but most squash points are decided within three metres of the front wall — by a drop that just clears the tin, or a lob that floats out of trouble. Front-Court Touch is the routine that builds those soft hands: straight drops into the front corners, defensive lobs out of them, and the deep drives that set both up.
Before you take this routine onto a real court, play the drills online first to learn the rhythm. Touch is timing — and a steady feed lets you groove the slow swing and open face without the pressure of a live rally.
What's in the routine
Six drills that move from length to touch and back:
- Straight Drive Rail (R) and (L) — groove the deep length first. The drop only works because the drive came before it: same swing shape, different finish.
- Straight Drop (R) and (L) — step in on a mid-court feed and float the ball into the front corner. Soft grip, short follow-through, just enough open face to clear the tin.
- Defensive Lob (R) and (L) — when the ball drags you short, get low under it, open the face, and lift a high cross-court lob into the opposite back corner. Height makes the depth.
Why the short game comes first for beginners
New players tend to hit everything at one pace — and one height. This routine teaches the other half of squash: taking pace off the ball. The drop teaches a quiet racket face and a still body through contact; the lob teaches using height as defence. Put together, they turn the front of the court from a danger zone into a place you can attack from — or escape from — on purpose.
A few things to feel while you train it
- Relax the grip before the drop. A tight fist bounces the ball into the middle; a soft grip lets it die.
- Keep the follow-through short. The drop is a placement, not a swing — guide it, don't hit it.
- For the lob, get under the ball. Bend the knees, open the face, and lift — the steeper the launch, the safer the escape.
- Recover after every touch shot. A good drop or lob buys time; use it to get back to the T, not to admire the shot.
Open the routine, watch each drill in 3D Court View or from above on the Tactics Board, then hit Train all drills to run the whole session in order. When your hands have learned the touch, explore the rest of the community's shared work on the Routines and Drills pages.