All about Squash

All about Squash

Welcome to the world of squash!  You’ll quickly become enthralled by this exciting, challenging, and athletic sport which has 25 million fanatical players from every corner of the world.

Squash is a fun and challenging contest of agility, strategy, talent, and mental and physical strength. It is an incredibly beneficial game for health and fitness, and has been voted the number one healthiest sport by Forbes Magazine.  Along with its health benefits, squash has the ability to be played year-round, in all kinds of weather, and by players of any skill level – making it a sport for everyone to love!

How to Play

Squash is a racquet sport played by two players (or four players for doubles) in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball.  Once the ball is served, players take turns hitting the ball against the front wall, above the tin and below the out line.  The ball may strike the side or back walls at any time, as long as it hits below the out line and above the tin.  The ball may only bounce once on the floor, and players may move anywhere around the court.

• Rules of Squash – learn the rules of squash.

Scoring

A match is the best of 3 or 5 games.  Each game is played to 11 points. The player who scores 11 points first wins the game, unless the score reaches 10-all, in which case the game continues until one player leads by two points.  Either player may score points (PAR – point–a–rally). The server, on winning a rally, scores a point and retains the service; the receiver, on winning a rally, scores a point and becomes the server.

Interference

When it is his or her turn to play the ball, a player is entitled to freedom from interference by the opponent.  To avoid interference, the opponent must try to provide the player with unobstructed direct access to the ball, a fair view of the ball, space to complete a swing at the ball and freedom to play the ball directly to any part of the front wall.  If a player finds their opponent interfering with the play, they can accept the interference and play on, or stop play.  It is preferable to stop play and call out "let" if there is a possibility of colliding with the opponent, or of hitting him or her with racket or ball.  In this situation, the point is then replayed as a "Let" if the opponent was making every effort to avoid the interference. If the interference is substantial and the player could not have played the ball, a "Stroke" is awarded and the player wins the point.  The basis for a "Let", "Stroke" or "No Let" can be complicated, particularly for new squash players, and it is highly recommended that the Rules of Squash are read to fully understand the distinction between each.

Strategy
Players typically return to the center of the court (the "T") after making a shot.  A key strategy in squash is known as "dominating the T, the intersection of the red lines near the center of the court.  Skilled players will return a shot, and then move back toward the "T" before playing the next shot.  From this position, the player can quickly access any part of the court to retrieve the opponent’s next shot with a minimum of movement. In squash, the better players become, the longer the rallies are and the more mentally and physically strategic and challenging the game becomes.

Squash Balls
US Squash is proud to partner with Dunlop as the Official Ball. Dunlop is the premiere name in squash worldwide; it offers the World’s Number One Squash Ball. The 2009 Dunlop ball range meets the needs of the range of players from the professional level to beginners stepping onto a court for the first time. In 2009, Dunlop is introducing a new construction technology (N-1SR³) that makes each ball more durable and playable.

• Pro Ball
• Competition Ball
• Progress Ball
• Max Ball

With a 12% larger size to the Pro and Competition ball, the Max ball has a 40% longer hang time to the Pro ball.  Players can quickly and easily develop correct technique while improving their skill level using the Max Ball. 


Eyewear
The risk of eye injury in racquet sports such as squash is high according to the American Academies of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, the American Optometric Association, and eye care professionals who have studied sports eye injuries. Fortunately, these injuries are almost totally preventable with appropriate protective equipment.

All players and coaches must wear protective eyewear whether playing singles or doubles, hardball or softball squash during all activities involving racquets and balls that take place on a court at US Squash accredited (sanctioned) events.

The eyewear must meet or exceed the current American Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM-F803).  Selecting protective eyewear that meets or exceeds the ASTM-F803 standard is the responsibility of individual participants.

Racquet
Racquets vary significantly in weight, power, balance, grip, and frame. Choosing a racquet is a personal decision that depends on how one feels most comfortable.

When starting out, the best option is to go to your local club pro shop and ask to try a range of their racquets. This will allow you to understand the differences and decide on the racquet that most suits your strength, ability, and preference.