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Squash
Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was, until recently, called "Squash Rackets", a reference to the 'squashable' soft ball used in the game.
The game is played by two players, with 'standard' rackets (or occasionally four players for doubles) in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball.
The playing area (Court)
Courts are usually constructed with masonry walls, finished with a smooth render and painted white with red 'out' and 'service' lines. Many modern courts have been constructed with a see-through glass backwall, and professional matches are sometimes played on an 'all-glass' (all perspex) court, allowing viewing by up to 2000 spectators. Recently, some clubs have constructed 'rainbow courts' with green or blue walls, much to the disapproval of traditionalists. However, these courts make watching games easier on the eyes.
The floor is usually a light-coloured timber strip flooring laid longitudinally and sprung, with red line markings for the service boxes and service areas. The ceiling should be light-coloured and high enough to permit the ball to be 'lobbed' (hit in a high arc to the back of the court).
In the more popular and widespread 'International' (originally British) version of the game, the court is 9.75 m (32 feet) long by 6.4 m (21 feet) wide. The 'American' version of the game uses a harder ball and a court 18 feet (5.49 m) wide.
There is a hollow metal panel along the base of the front wall called the 'telltale' or 'tin', analogous to the net in tennis (it is designed this way to make a loud noise when the ball strikes it). It is surmounted by a 50 mm (2 inches) high 'board', on international courts reaching a total height of 480 mm (19 inches). 'Out' lines, 2.13 m (7 feet) high at the back wall and 4.57 m (15 feet) at the front wall, are joined by a raking 'out' line on each side wall. On American-style courts the tin is two inches lower, thus 17 inches high. On an American court the sidewall 'out' lines also stay horizontal from the front wall all the way to the back.
Playing equipment
'Standard' rackets are governed by the rules of the game. Traditionally they were made of laminated timber, with a small strung area using natural 'gut' strings. After a rule change in the mid-1980's, they are now almost always made of composite materials or metals (graphite, kevlar, titanium, and/or boron) with synthetic strings. Modern rackets are 70 cm (27 inches) long, with a maximum strung area of 500 square centimetres (approximately 80 square inches) and a weight between 110 and 200 grams (4-7 ounces).
The balls (manufactured by Dunlop, Prince, Pointfore and others) are made from two pieces of highly durable rubber compound glued together and buffed to a matte finish. Different balls are provided for the varying conditions and standards of play: less experienced players are able to use balls that are bouncier and larger than those used by more experienced players. Small coloured dots on the ball indicate the level of bounciness and hence, the standard of play it is suited for. A bouncier ball is said to be "fast" whereas a less bouncy ball is said to be "slow".
The recognised colours are:
* Double Yellow - Extra Super Slow
* Yellow - Super Slow
* Green or White - Slow
* Red - Medium
* Blue - Fast
The 'double-yellow dot ball', introduced in 2000, is currently the competition standard. Prior to this the yellow-dot was long considered standard. There is also a high-altitude ball, used in places like Mexico City and Denver.
Because of the vigorous nature of the game, players need to wear comfortable sports clothing and robust indoor (non-marking) sports shoes. Towelling wrist and head bands may also be required in humid climates. Eye protection with polycarbonate lenses is also recommended, as players may be struck by a fast-swinging racket or the ball, which can typically reach speeds of up to 200 km/h (125 mph) - in the 2004 Canary Wharf Squash Classic, John White was recorded driving balls at speeds over 270 km/h (170 mph). Many squash venues require the use of eye protection.
Cultural and social aspects of squash
The relatively small court and low-bouncing ball makes the game harder to master than its American cousin racquetball, as the ball may be played to all four corners of the court. Since every ball must strike the front wall above the tin (unlike racquetball), the ball cannot be easily killed. As a result, rallies tend to be longer than in racquetball.
Squash provides an excellent cardio-vascular workout. In one hour of squash, a player may expend 700 to 1000 calories (3,000 to 4,000 kJ) which is significantly more than most other sports. The sport also provides a good upper and lower body workout by utilising both the legs to run around the court and the arms/torso to swing the racquet.
There are several variations of squash played across the world. In the US 'hardball' singles and doubles are played with a much harder ball and different size courts (as noted above). Whilst 'hardball' singles has lost much of its popularity in North America (in favor of the 'International' version), the hardball doubles game is still active. There is also a doubles version of squash played with the standard ball, sometimes on a wider court, and a more tennis-like variation known as squash tennis.
Squash games are most competitive and enjoyable when played between players of similar skill levels. However there is no international standard method for evaluating the players' skill levels. This creates a rather interesting phenomenon within the squash community: many squash players are constantly on the look-out for potential partners who are compatible physically, mentally, and technically.
Squash now has a universal appeal, as there are courts in 148 countries in the world from Argentina to Zambia.
Two novel programs in Boston and New York City, SquashBusters and StreetSquash, which may become models for similar programs in other cities, use squash as an academic and development catalyst after school and during the summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Flags: Very Short (0-60 mins), Short (1-3 hours), Solo, With a Friend, Teens, Adults, Indoors, Morning, Day, Night, Sunny, Snowy, Rainy