Squash · Guide
Squash rules explained
Hit the ball onto the front wall, above the tin and below the out line, before it bounces twice. Win a rally, win a point. First to 11, by two clear points.
The court in 30 seconds
- Front wall: the out line at the top, the service line across the middle (it only matters for the serve), and the tin along the bottom.
- Side walls: an out line runs diagonally from the top of the front wall down to the back wall.
- Back wall: an out line along the top of the playable area.
- Floor: the short line across the court, the half-court line running back from it, and a service box in each back quarter.
The line is out. A ball that touches any out line, or the tin, is out. This catches out a lot of tennis players.
The tin
The tin is the board along the bottom of the front wall. It is made to make a loud noise, so everyone knows when it is hit. Hitting the tin is the squash version of hitting the net: you lose the rally. The top of the tin is 48 cm from the floor on a standard court. The lower your shot goes without hitting the tin, the harder it is to get back, which is why the best shots at the front skim just above it.
A rally
- The rally starts with a serve.
- Each shot must reach the front wall before it touches the floor. On the way, it may hit either side wall or the back wall.
- The ball must land inside the court and not touch any out line.
- The next player must hit it before it bounces twice. They can volley it before it bounces.
- Players take turns. If your opponent is in the way, you may be entitled to a let or a stroke.
Scoring
- Point-a-rally: every rally wins a point, whoever served.
- To 11: first to 11 wins the game. At 10–10, keep playing until one player is two points clear.
- Serve: the winner of a rally serves the next one.
- Match: best of five games in professional and most competitive squash. Many club boxes and friendly games are best of three.
Warming up the ball
Squash balls barely bounce when cold. Before a match both players get a few minutes on court to hit the ball and warm it up, usually two and a half minutes on each side. Which ball you use matters too: see squash ball dots.
Quick answers
- How do you score in squash?
- Point-a-rally scoring to 11: whoever wins the rally scores, whoever served. At 10–10 you must win by two clear points. Matches are best of five games, or best of three in a lot of club and league play.
- What is the tin in squash?
- The strip along the bottom of the front wall, usually made of metal or another material that makes a loud noise when hit. It works like a net: hit the tin and you lose the rally.
- Is the line in or out in squash?
- Out. Unlike tennis, a ball touching any of the out lines on the walls, or the tin, is out.
- Can the ball hit the side wall first in squash?
- Yes, in a rally. The ball can hit the side or back walls before the front wall, as long as it reaches the front wall before touching the floor. The serve is different: it must hit the front wall first.
- How many bounces are allowed in squash?
- One. You must hit the ball before it bounces a second time, or you can volley it before it bounces at all.