Solo practice 1.

One of the best things about squash is how easy it is to practise your shots on your own without worrying about anyone else. This is one of the quickest ways to improve your game.

We are lucky at Comberton that the lighting is free. So we can go down anytime and hit the ball around.

If you go to the courts it is still good to take a friend - but maybe start by knocking up on separate courts before trying a game together.

If you do go on your own then make sure someone knows you are there in case of an accident. And remember that there will usually be someone at the CB3 sports centre to help you if you hurt yourself.

The most important thing to practise is hitting the ball straight down each side wall.

I find the easiest way to start practicing is to just face the side wall, prepare my racquet for the stroke, and then just throw the ball onto the wall to hit. This makes me hit the ball between me and the wall - and starts me out with the correct foot forward.

I usually don't follow the ball with my eyes to see where it's gone. If I've done it right then it will re-appear on its way to the back corner. Then I can check if it is the right length - bouncing just behind the service box. I don't try to hit it again - just pick it up, and set up to throw and hit again.

I make sure I've turned my front shoulder around so I'm side-on to the wall and I keep my head still - facing the wall - through the stroke. I'm aiming to throw the ball slightly forward in the court in front of the knee I stepped forward. And I check that I don't end up looking down on the ball - that I've stretched out sideways to hit it.

If you want to try this then on the backhand side it is good to learn how to throw it under your hitting arm when you have the racquet pulled back ready to hit.

Get your brain to memorize the position just before you hit the ball - in a game you need to get your feet to this position to produce your stroke while the ball is moving a lot faster that in the practice!