You’ve always wanted to play squash but don’t know how to start?
(Or are you looking to build on your beginner skills? Read on).
Here’s an economical way to learn squash, with an experienced, qualified England Squash coach, on court solo, or with other beginners in regular weekly sessions, at squash courts near you.
Sessions may be mixed or ladies’ only, and solo or group sessions may be available depending on your location.
What is my level?
Broadly, squash players may be categorised into the following levels:
- Absolute beginner
- if you haven’t played squash before, you’re an absolute beginner!
- Beginner
- If you know how to serve and return serve, and can drive the ball to the back of the court, but haven’t developed volleying and movement skills or a repertoire of shots, you would be in the ‘beginner’ category
- Intermediate
- A well as the above skills, if you can volley and groundstroke, forehand and backhand, controlling power, height and direction of the ball reasonably well, hitting with balance, combined with returning to a central position after every shot, and are beginning to develop different shots, you are at intermediate level. You may be ready to join your club’s box league at the lower levels.
- Advanced intermediate
- As well as the above skills you have a repertoire of shots including straight and cross-court drops from the front or back of the court, driving the ball to the back of the court low with power, or medium height or lofted height, volley drives or drops, straight and cross-court lobs.
- Advanced
- All the above skills, plus the ability to play extended rallies with economy of movement and the use of shot variation, power variation, height variation as appropriate, with the ability to disguise your shots, as well as reading your opponent’s intention. You may be ready to join your club team.
Update 28th April 2025
The ‘Absolute Beginner’ classes at Britannia were started in response to the number of enquiries to join the adult group ‘drop in’ sessions held at Finsbury Leisure Centre (Fridays 6-8pm mixed, Saturdays 10.40 – 12pm Ladies only) and Britannia Leisure Centre (Thursdays 6.30 – 9pm mixed and Wednesdays 6.40 – 8.40pm Ladies only).
These sessions are unsuitable for absolute beginners, for safety and continuity reasons, so absolute beginner classes (see pictures below) were started at Britannia and have been very successful, with many players now both going on to join the group sessions and booking courts to challenge their beginner classmates to matches.
The sessions start with basic racket handling and ball control skills and move on to hitting the ball while moving, serve and return, and the basic rules and tactics of play.
Intermediate group squash sessions
Once the basics have been mastered through perseverance in attending the sessions and using the group chat to arrange game sessions, players are ready to move on to the Intermediate level class following the Beginner class at 12.40.
Intermediate squash classes will be suitable for players who can serve and return consistently and hit the ball into the back corners of the court reliably.
The sessions consist of more advanced racket swing techniques to increase power and accuracy, and correct movement into and out of the shot, volleys and more advanced movement.
Game play practice will focus on serve and return, volleying the ball and playing straight down the walls to the back of the court.
Participating coaches:
Martin Shippey
Britannia Leisure Centre, Finsbury Leisure Centre
Group sessions are usually held at Britannia on Sundays, 11.20 – 12.40pm.
Judy Williams
Finchley Manor, Temple Fortune and happy to travel to other sports centres
Lucas Canistracci
Coolhurst and Oakleigh Park
Marco Spinola
Parsons Green Sports & Social Club (Fulham area)
Also Balham area and close to Brixton
Daniel Moreno
Stormont (East Finchley area)
Brendon Mounter
Southgate and Stormont clubs
Dipak Hirani
Harrow/David Lloyd Northwood
Stephen Thompson
Coolhurst and Cumberland
Your first step is to fill in and ‘SEND’ the form below