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What are the rules for serving in squash?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 24, 2026

To serve, players must keep one foot inside the service box during the serving motion. The ball must hit the front wall between the service line and the out line, and then land in the area behind the short line on the opposite side of the court from which the ball has been served.

How do you serve in squash rules?

For it to be a valid serve you must:

  1. Keep one foot in the service box while serving.
  2. Hit the front wall first.
  3. Hit the ball above the service line (the ball can't touch the line; it has to be completely above)
  4. Land the ball in the opposite back quarter of the court (unless your opponent volleys the ball first)

How do you decide who serves in squash?

When a squash match starts, whoever wins the racket spin / coin toss decides to serve from the right side or left side service box. You also choose which side to serve from when you win the serve from your opponent.

Do you get two serves in squash?

Service Rules

You only get one serve in squash so take your time. However, if a player makes no contact with the ball, it does not count as a serve and theoretically, this could happen over and over again. You must serve the ball from one of the two service boxes.

Can you serve underhand in squash?

This is the most common service in squash, and should be used the most. Why? Taking into account underhand or at hip height, you can hit the ball high enough get on the sidewall, at a height that your opponent will find difficult to hit well.

38 related questions found

How is squash scored?

Scoring a point can come one of 4 ways: the ball bounces twice before your opponent hits the ball, the ball hits the back board (or net), the ball goes outside the outline or a player causes interference purposely to prevent their opponents from getting the ball.

Why do squash players touch walls?

One popular use of sensory cues in squash is touch. You may have noticed a lot of players wiping their hands on the walls. This isn't always about sweat. A lot of players do this to help 'centre themselves'.

What happens if you hit someone with the ball in squash?

If the opponent is struck by the ball after the striker has turned, the rally is awarded to the opponent. If the striker, while turning, stops play for fear of striking the opponent, then a let is played.

Can you throw your racquet in squash?

Referees are watching—and saying nothing. That silence means: It is all right to throw your racket on the squash court. And those players will do it again—and again—because they have not been called to task and given the correct message.

What do the dots on squash balls mean?

The Different Types of Squash Ball:

For beginners or children there is a single white dot ball. The difference between these balls is in their bounce. Your level determines which ball is the most suitable for you. The squash ball with a double yellow dot is called the HEAD 'Prime Squash Ball'.

What is squash sport?

What is Squash? Squash is a fast-moving racket sport. It can be played with two people in a singles match and four people in a doubles contest. The game is played within a four-walled court, with a small, hollow rubber ball. Both players are also equipped with squash rackets.

Can you play squash with a tennis ball?

Can one play squash with a tennis racket? The straightforward answer to this is no, if you are looking to regularly play squash then it's best you buy a squash racket instead of doubling your tennis racket for squash as well.

What is a stroke in squash?

STROKE. A stroke is where the rally is awarded to a player as a penalty against the opponent. A stroke is awarded or given when: the incoming striker is in position to win the rally but suffers interference. the incoming striker would have struck the opponent with the ball going directly to ANY PART of the front wall.

Where does the receiver stand in squash?

The Basics of the Squash Serve

The receiver stands anywhere in area B behind the half court line. The server plays the ball against the front wall above the service line, without hitting any other surface beforehand.

Do you hit the ceiling in handball?

4. Ceiling serve - Any served ball that touches the ceiling after hitting the front wall either with or without touching one of the side walls. 5. Long serve - Any served ball that first hits the front wall and rebounds to the back wall before touching the floor.

Can you play squash on a racquetball court?

Play Racquetball

The game is played on a standard squash court, but unlike squash, you play with a bigger and bouncier blue ball. As the racquet has a larger head and a shorter handle it is easy to manipulate.

Can you play squash by yourself?

We often get asked whether squash can be played alone. The obvious understanding is squash is a sport played by two players (or four in case of doubles) but if you want to improve your squash skills and do not have a partner or a coach to do that with, you could do that on your own even at home.

Why is the game of squash called squash?

Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was formerly called "Squash rackets", a reference to the 'squashable' soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball used in its parent game Rackets (or Racquets – see below).

How do you win at squash?

How to Play Squash — Tips, Tactics and Strategy

  1. Understand the Squash Fundamentals.
  2. Control the “T” / Middle of the Court.
  3. Learn How to Serve Effectively.
  4. Master the Return of Serve.
  5. Establish Good Length.
  6. Keep the Ball Tight.
  7. Attack Loose Balls.
  8. Lift the Ball When You're in Trouble.

Can you block in squash?

Since two players are confined within a shared space, interference and obstruction are quite inevitable in squash. Generally the rules entitle players to direct straight line access to the ball in order to get reasonable swing as well as unobstructed shots to any part of the front wall.

What do the lines mean in squash?

The squash court features an out line, which is the topmost line on the wall that runs to the side walls, a service line, as well as a line known as the tin, which has a similar role to a net in other ball games. For instance, if the squash ball touches the tin, it means that the ball is considered out.

Can we play squash with lawn tennis racket?

Can you play tennis with a racquetball or a squash racquet? Simply speaking, no, tennis must be strictly played with tennis racquets and you must avoid using other sport racquets like squash or racquetball for it.

What is the difference between tennis and squash racket?

The racquets used in both tennis and squash might look similar, but racquets used in squash are frequently smaller. Tennis racquets cannot be more than 73.7 centimeters in length, with squash racquets limited to 68.6 centimeters.

What is difference between racquetball and squash?

Racquetball uses a 'racquet' that can be up to 55.88 cm long with a tear-drop stringed area. Squash uses a 'racket', and not just to be different. Back in the day, English prisoners used to call an earlier version of the game, 'Rackets. ' A squash racket is longer (up to 68.6 cm) but the stringed surface is narrower.