Using the glass: when to play off the wall

What this lesson covers

Players often default to blocking balls in front of the body to avoid the discomfort of the rebound. Beginners should adopt a rule of using the glass for any ball landing behind the service line. This builds a necessary database of rebounds through repetition. The process requires accepting initial errors and frustration while the brain learns to compute varying angles from the back and side glass.

Drilling with a partner or a ball machine accelerates this learning curve far faster than match play alone. Once a player reaches a competent level, the decision to use the glass versus stepping in to block becomes a tactical choice rather than a necessity driven by fear. Advanced players may choose to take the ball in front to take time away from opponents or to create space. Ultimately, the goal is to eliminate the weakness of the glass so that the player can then lean into their specific strengths, whether those come from a tennis or squash background.