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Rule 1 - THE GAME |
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Idea by Clive Pollard Do you have any comments on the content or any suggestions ? Please fill in our comments form |
1. THE GAME The game of Singles Squash is played between two players, each using a racket, with a ball, and in a court, all three of which meet WSF specifications (see Appendices 5.1, 5.2, 5.3). That's the official WSF Rule for the Singles Game of Squash. How do we interpret it ? |
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with 2 players |
Now don't get upset !! It may seem extremely simple to you, but there is a reason for an explanation of the use of the term 'Singles' because it actually involves two players. For some readers who do not have English as their native language, it might seem rather odd to call a game 'singles' when it is played by two people !! The
term actually refers to the fact that each player is
playing individually and not with a partner, as in the
four-player game (called 'doubles'). |
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We have to specify that a racket is used, rather than a club or stick. The actual definition of a racket is : 'a kind of bat (sic!) with an open frame tightly strung with catgut or artificial fibres'. And looking up 'bat' is less than helpful : 'a club or stick' !! With the current major manufacturers of sports equipment trying their hardest to improve the design and quality of squash rackets, it is useful to be able to consult the WSF racket specifications in cases of doubt. We have seen a match being delayed while these specifications were checked and that particularly racket was not allowed to be used. Amazingly, we still see some players using now 'almost antique' wooden rackets, and others will remain faithful to their 'old style' glass-fibre rackets until the poor things disintegrate, hopefully without causing damage to themselves or their opponent. Modern
rackets are constructed from high-tech plastic, and often
include titanium and carbon fibres, for extra strength,
and if you believe the manufacturers, extra hitting
power. Check out the rackets section of McKenzie's
Squashplayer magazine for all sorts of interesting facts
about squash rackets. |
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That little black beast that always manages to elude your last desperate stretch, or the blur that flashes towards the front wall - did it hit the line on service ? Yes, the squash ball has a great life - being pounded out of shape every time it hits the wall, drowned in buckets of sweat, and sometimes given a good wipe across a hot fevered brow. But what is so special about the squash ball is that it can take all this ill treatment and still look almost as good as new. Only rarely these days (after n matches, where n is any number above 4 ?) does the joint between the two halves of the squash ball give up its struggle. And we have recently moved to the double-yellow dot - identical (or almost) to the previous single-yellow dot, but now NEW! Check out the balls section of McKenzie's Squashplayer magazine for all sorts of interesting facts about squash balls. |
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There's also the white ball used by the top professional players on some exhibitions courts. Although thought to enhance TV visibility, has anyone yet seen the 'perfect' recording ? Some years back, there was the 'teleball' - a special ball constructed with dimples filled with reflecting pieces of glass fibre. Shining a very strong spotlight from behind the court showed this ball on the TV screen as an almost slow motion object. The major problem was that the press photographers complained that they couldn't use their cameras shooting back through the front weall (the best place from which they can take face pics during actual play) into the strong light beam. And apart from its horrendous price, this teleball seemed to be the answer, at least for major finals - whatever happened to it ? |
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A Squash Referee will not be called in to check the technical details about ball specifications in most matches. The tournament organizers or a more important organization, such as ESF or WSF) will have defined the ball to be used and a sufficient number should have been provided. There is sometimes a batch of balls that all appear to be too fast, or too slow. This is usually very apparent to the top players and they will immediately complain. Change
of ball (whether broken or for whatever other reason is
covered in Rule 14). |
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What is a squash court ? Well, some people see it as a goldfish bowl, others as a place for releasing their aggression, and some for impressing their friends. WSF has detailed squash court specifications, but these don't seem to be taken into account very much by court builders. OK, yes the size of the playing area may be correct, and the lines placed according to the corrects specs. But why is that roof so low ? and why is that out-line so flat that it is impossible to tell whether a shot is in or out ? And why do so many exhibition courts have walls that extend above the line ? And why do most of them not have adequate net surrounds, so that the ball simply flies out of court and maybe interferes with play on the next court ? And why are most courts not designed for the placing of a referee, at least somewhere within shouting distance ? Check
out the courts section of McKenzie's
Squashplayer magazine for all sorts of interesting facts
about squash courts. |
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Continue ? |
Read on - Rule 2 |
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