Squash Play

(Photo Credit: Ian Butterworth)

Squash play follows a pretty standard pattern. First at the start of a match the right to serve is determined by spinning the racket. The person not spinning the racket usually chooses for a logo on the butt of the racket to be either up or down. Whoever wins the spin gets to serve first.

The server can choose to serve from the right or the left box on his initial service. Most players choose to serve to their opponents backhand as this is assumed to be the persons weaker side for returning.

Let’s say for example that Bill is playing Bob and Bill wins the spin and gets to serve first. Bill serves and then Bob returns the ball, each player then proceeds to strike the ball alternately until either Bill wins the point or loses his service.

If Bill loses the rally then Bob serves.

If Bill wins the rally then he gets a point.

Play continues like this with the server gaining points if he wins the rally, or losing his service if he loses the rally.

You lose the rally if you hit the ball out of court (touching the red line is deemed out of court), if you hit the ball into the tin, if you serve a fault, or if you give away a stroke by obstructing access to play the ball. For further details please see squash rules.

This pattern of play continues throughout the match.

The above assumes the scoring to nine system where only the server scores for more details on scoring including the new point-a-rally system see squash scoring.