rules to play squash

Because squash is a very fast game and requires quick co ordinated reflexes the use of modified equipment (a shorter racket and larger ball) can help novices gain confidence, and have more enjoyment.Racket Ball and Mini Squash are games played on a squash court that might suit some players who are having difficulty managing the full size equipment.

The squash court is a playing surface surrounded by four walls. The court surface contains a front line separating the front and back of the court and a half court line, separating the left and right hand sides of the back portion of the court, creating three boxes the front half, the back left quarter and the back right quarter. Both the back two boxes contain smaller service boxes. All of the floor markings on a squash court are only relevant during serves.

There are four walls to a squash court. The front wall, on which three parallel lines are marked, has the largest playing surface, whilst the back wall, which typically contains the entrance to the court, has the smallest. The out line runs along the top of the front wall, descending along the side walls to the back wall. There are no other markings on the side or back walls. Shots struck above or touching the out line, on any wall, are out. The bottom line of the front wall marks the top of the tin, a half metre high metal area which if struck means that the ball is out. In this way the tin can be seen as analogous to the net in other racquet sports such as tennis. The middle line of the front wall is the service line and is only relevant during serves.

Squash balls are unlike any other sports ball. The ball does not bounce until it is warmed up by hitting it hard 50 100 times. After that the ball reaches an equilibrium temperature and is quite bouncy. Unfortunately, you have to continue to hit the ball hard to keep it warm and lively.Since beginners and intermediate players can not hit hard and have long rallies, Dunlop offer four different type of squash balls. The difference among them is that they will bounce the same without having to hit them hard.

There are dozens of racquets out there. Gone are the days of wooden and aluminium graphite. Almost any racquet made today is some composite of graphite and titanium. Therefore racquets are much lighter than ever before. With lighter racquets you get more control and its easier to work on the swing mechanics.Buy a racquet with an oversize head of 490 cm2 or greater head size. This will give you a larger sweet spot ( sweet spot is the center of the racquet head where maximum power and control is generated ) so that shots that are hit off center will still have power to them, though not much control. Smaller head racquets are more suitable for advanced players who are looking for control over power. Any racquet less than 180g would be suitable. Avoid a racquet that is too light (<130g) as it will have little power and make you use your wrist too much. Buy one that is durable and well balanced (not head heavy or head light) since you are likely to bang it against the floor and wall often. As you improve you will be able to control your swing on tight shots.

Eye protection is neccesary to protect your eyes from the ball and from the racquet. Wearing eye guards is mandatory in almost every pro tournament worldwide. Keep in mind that pros have spent their lives developing accurate shots with compact follow throughs. So if these players feel eye guards are important than you can be certain you should be wearing them too.

For beginners it is best to buy shoes with plenty of shock absorption. Thin soled shoes or shoes with worn out soles should be avoided. Also do not wear running shoes as you are likely to sprain your ankle in them (no lateral stability and high sole increases twisting forces into your ankle should you sprain it). The Prince NFS shoe is often a highly recommended squash shoes. Otherwise there are dozens of squash shoe brands from Wilson, Addidas, Hi Tec, to name a few.

The proper squash grip is very counter intuitive. Instinct would tell you to grip the racquet with a clenched fist. The racquet has no control in the fore aft and side side motion with that type of grip. The proper squash grip has two subtle features that allow you to have full control over the head of the racquet. It is extremely important to master this grip early on otherwise you will be stroking the ball incorrectly and find it very difficult to play the touch shots that pros play with ease. Furthermore your game will suffer for several months as you try and fix your grip after developing bad habits.