If you go to a squash club, you may be able to rent a racket, and balls, instead of buying one. If you just want to try out the sport to see if you like it, you could use a different kind of racket, such as a tennis racket or a racquetball racket. However, if you decide that you would like to play more than once or twice, you should get an actual squash racket.
Squash balls are not sold in all sporting goods stores. You may have the most luck finding them online.
You will need to wear sneakers or tennis shoes that do not have dark soles inside a squash court. Dark soles are not allowed because of the marks they would make all over the court. If you become highly interested in the sport and want to play on a regular basis, you could join a squash club if there is one near you.
The goal for both players is to return the ball to the far wall, only allowing one bounce on the floor before hitting it. When returning the ball to the far wall, it can bounce off the the side walls of the court, but not the floor. The last person to successfully hit the wall during a volley wins a point. You must hit the far wall of the court in between an upper line and a lower line, indicated on the wall. The bottom line has a strip of tin along it, so that you can hear when a ball hits it.
If a player reaches 11 points but the other player has 10 points, for instance, then the game continues until one player gets ahead by two points. Unlike in tennis, either player can gain a point on any play. All that matters is that the person who does not return the volley loses the point. The player that earns each point follows their point by becoming, or continuing to be, the server.
You will want to practice trying to hit specific spots on the far wall. Try hitting the ball right below the upper out of bounds line and right above the lower out of bounds line. Having good aim will be important to getting good at squash.
Forehand is when you hit the ball with the racket with your forearm facing the ball. This is the stoke that you have probably been using already when practicing. Backhand is when you hit the ball with your forearm facing away from the ball. The backhand can be one handed but usually requires two hands on your racket. A backhand stroke takes a bit more practice to master but can be very useful when going after difficult to hit balls.
There are many different strategies that professional squash players recommend. Some stress the need for defense, while others swear that offense is the key to a winning game. Read about strategies online and then try to incorporate them into your games and practices. Pick what best suits your strengths and abilities.
It is a good idea to change up your rhythm often as well. [5] X Research source Take different intervals between when the ball hits the ball and you return it, so that your opponent will not be able to prepare far in advance for their return.
While you need to make your opponent run, the rules dictate that you also need to get out of their way. If you are in the way when your opponent is trying to hit the ball, this is ruled “interference. " If you or your opponent are hit by the ball, or a racket, playing stops. If the return would not have been good, the striker looses the point. If it would have been good, two different things can happen. If the ball would have hit the far wall directly, the striker gets the point. If the ball would have hit the side wall before hitting the back wall, then the players redo the point. This is called a “let. "
You may want to play on occasion with someone else who is better at the game than you. You will learn more about the game from a skilled player than from a beginner like you. If you want to really get serious about squash, then take lessons. Your squash coach will play with you and teach you important techniques for becoming a better player.
