Squash Tips


About a ball
A black and inside-empty and soft and light rubber ball is used. About 500yen to 600yen each. Merco's or Dunlop's balls are popular. A dot is marked on a ball like the ball above. This dot shows if the ball is fast or slow. Single yellow dot balls are the slowest and are used by championship level players. Red or green dot balls are fast and are used by biginers. Ball is very slow at first but it will warm up and become faster. 
About a racket
Weighs about 120g to 220g. Costs about 10,000 yen to 30,000 yen. Average cost is about 20,000 yen. 
What's the difference squash from racket ball?
Balls, rackets, the size of the court and the rules are different. Ceiling is not used in squash unlike racket ball. Racket ball is not empty inside and the ball is very fast. The players wear goggles to protect their eyes. We don't see squash players wear goggles but it is recommended to use goggles. 
Where can you play?
Some sports clubs have squash courts these days. So if you want to start playing squash, find the sports club which has squash courts. If you can't find one. Try sending an inquiry mail to me at the bottom. 
Kind of shots

  Straight
A squash court

  Cross    


  Drop     


  Boast


  Most of the players hit the ball with a racket by one hand even back hand.
  But known exception is Peter Marshall.  He always hits the ball with two
  hands.
 
How to decide a server

  One player spin the racket and the other player says UP or DOWN before
  the spin.  If the other player says UP and the racket is UP, server is
  the player.
  On one side of the shaft of some rackets, it's written like "Your serve" 
  or "My serve".
  The server changes when the server lose the rally.

How to count points
  
  Hand out rule
    1 game ends at 9.  Only the server can get a point like volley ball.
    If the score becomes 8 to 8, the player who got 8 first can decide
    if the game ends with 9 or 10, in answering '1' or '2' when the refree
    says "Set please".

    In 3 game match, the player who gets 2 games first wins the match.
    In 5 game match, the player who gets 3 games first wins the match.

  American rule : Point a rally, PAR
    1 game ends at 15.
    The point is nothing to do with the server.
    A player can get a point when the player wins the rally.
    If the score becomes 14 to 14, the player who got 14 first can decide
    if the game ends with 15 or 17, in answering '1' or '3' when the refree
    says "Set please".
  
The Americal rule is used more often these days.



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