If you're already too close to have to stretch out to meet the ball at the contact point, back out and reset your feet to stretch in. If the other guy's coming in he has to give you the room. Extend to the ball with a solid wrist, from down low, lift it, and you won't screw up so much. They're from golf. Not from squash.
Golf is a demanding game.
Most players at your level get into most of the trouble they get into with their crosscourts. The key is the stance. It's like golf. Off the tee, if I want to hook the ball, I move my stance back so that I take the ball a little bit in front. If I want to slice it, I move the stance forward.