Who It Suits

Squash is a fast racket sport played on a four-walled court: two players (singles) or two pairs (doubles) take turns hitting a small hollow rubber ball against the front wall, and each player must return the ball before it bounces twice. The ball has to land above the low band on the front wall (the tin) and below the top out line, and it may strike the side and back walls as many times as it likes. Because the court is compact and the ball is small, rallies reward positioning, timing, and simple tactics as much as fitness.

It suits people who like quick stop-start movement, tactical rallies, and indoor sport with clear, immediate feedback. A beginner’s first session usually looks like a short warm-up, gentle drives to the front wall, learning the serve, and cooperative rallies with a partner. The main constraints: you need access to a dedicated squash court, it is a demanding cardio workout, and you need at least one other player for real games.

A Quick Fit Check

Beginner question Practical answer
Best for People who want a fast, tactical indoor racket sport with visible progress and a club community.
May dislike it if You dislike stop-start sprinting, want a low-impact activity, or cannot get to a squash court regularly.
Typical first-session cost Varies a lot by country, city, and venue. Off-peak community court hire or a club beginner night with borrowed equipment is usually the cheapest way to try it; private lessons cost more.
Weekly time commitment One 60-90 minute session a week is enough to learn; two sessions a week builds footwork and timing much faster.
Space requirement A dedicated indoor squash court. Meaningful practice is not possible at home.
Fitness demand High-intensity stop-start. Shorter games and bouncier balls make early sessions manageable.
Social level Partner-dependent. Clubs, ladders, and lessons are the usual way to find regular opponents.

Getting Started

The usual gateway is a club, gym, school, or recreation centre with one or more courts. World Squash’s “Where to Play” page has a court finder, and national associations (for example USA Squash, England Squash, Squash Canada, Squash Australia) run club directories, junior programs, and beginner courses. A club beginner night or a short introductory course is often the cheapest and fastest way to learn the rules properly.

For the first session, borrow a racket and ball if the venue offers them, and ask for a bouncier beginner ball (a blue-dot ball or a larger introductory ball). The professional double-yellow-dot ball is the slowest ball in the game and needs sustained hard hitting to stay warm, so it makes early rallies frustrating.

Learn the basics in this order: a comfortable grip, a safe serve from each service box, a straight drive to the front wall, recovering to the T after every shot, and staying out of your opponent’s way. A few coached sessions early on prevent grip, swing, and footwork habits from becoming hard to change.

How a Rally Works

Rule area Beginner version
Objective Hit the ball against the front wall above the tin and below the out line. The ball may strike the side or back walls any number of times as long as it stays below the out line.
Bounces After the ball hits the front wall it may bounce once on the floor before you must return it. Hitting it before the second bounce is the core skill.
Scoring Rally scoring (point-a-rally): either player can win a point on any rally. Games are normally to 11 points (some venues and junior formats use 15), win by two at 10-all (or 14-all), and matches are best of three (sometimes five) games.
Serve The winner of the racket spin serves first, then players serve from each service box in turn. The serve must go straight to the front wall, clear the half-height line, and come off the front wall to the opposite side of the court (it can be volleyed before it lands). Part of one foot must stay inside the service box.
Let The rally is replayed when a player is obstructed or it is dangerous to hit the ball. If you could have played a good shot but chose not to, you lose the point instead.
Stroke The obstructed player wins the rally if the opponent did not try to get out of the way or was too close to swing safely.
Common faults Hitting the tin, hitting above the out line, missing the front wall, letting the ball bounce twice, or a swing-and-miss on the serve.
Rest There is no time-out during a game, but players get 90 seconds between games.
Broken ball If the ball breaks during a rally, the rally is replayed as a let.

Court Lines and Key Terms

A handful of terms cover most of what you will hear on court. Learning them early makes club sessions and coaching much easier to follow.

Term What it means Beginner note
T The intersection of the short line and the half-court line, in the middle of the court. Your home base: recover here after every shot.
Tin The low band on the front wall, about knee height. A ball that hits the tin is out.
Service box The marked box on the front wall at each end of the court. You serve from inside it, with part of one foot touching the floor within the box.
Short line The line across the court near the front wall, where the T sits. A useful landmark for drop shots and recovery.
Half-height line The line across the middle of the front wall. Your serve must clear it.
Out line The top line running around the court. A ball that lands on or above it is out.
Drive A flat shot hit straight to the front wall. The workhorse shot; most beginner rallies are drives.
Lob A high shot that arcs deep to the back wall. Buys time to recover; the first defensive shot to learn.
Drop A soft shot that dies just past the tin. Learn it after drives are reliable.
Boast A shot hit at a side wall so it rebounds back into play. Useful when you are pushed into a corner.
Volley Hitting the ball before it bounces on the floor. Legal and common, including on the serve.
Swing-and-miss Swinging at the ball and missing it. On the serve, your opponent takes over serving.
Spin Spinning the racket to decide who serves first. The coin toss of squash.

Balls and the Dot System

Squash balls are marked with coloured dots that indicate how fast they bounce. Balls are cold when new and bounce less; they warm up with play, which is why matches start with a four-minute warm-up, changing sides after two and a half minutes.

Ball Who it suits Bounce
Blue dot (intro) Beginners Around 15-40% longer hang time than the pro ball, so rallies stay alive without hard hitting.
Red dot (progress) Improvers and recreational players Around 10-20% longer hang time; sometimes a larger diameter.
Yellow dot (competition) Club players, or very cool courts 5-10% longer hang time than the pro ball.
Double yellow dot (professional) Tournament and strong club players The slowest ball; needs consistent, sustained hard hitting to stay at temperature.

World Squash advises beginners to ask for an introductory larger ball or a faster ball (white, blue, or red dot), and to move to slower balls (yellow or double yellow dot) as your hitting improves.

Basic Gear

Item Essential starter Optional later Avoid at first
Racket Borrow for the first sessions, then buy a comfortable beginner racket. Rackets vary in weight, power, balance, and grip, so try a few at a club pro shop before buying. A racket matched to your strength and style, restringing, a second racket. Expensive pro-level rackets before your grip, serve, and drive are settled.
Balls Ask the venue for beginner balls. A few blue- or red-dot balls are cheap insurance for solo practice. Yellow-dot balls once you are hitting consistently. Double-yellow-dot balls for early practice; they barely bounce when cold.
Shoes Clean shoes with non-marking soles. Do not wear the shoes you travel in onto the court. Dedicated indoor court shoes with soft gum or synthetic rubber soles for grip and side-step support. Outdoor trainers, worn treads, or dark soles that mark the floor.
Eyewear Protective eyewear is recommended by World Squash for all players at all times during play, and is mandatory for juniors at WSF championships. Look for eyewear certified to a national standard (for example ASTM F3164-19 or BS 7930-1); WSF publishes a list of certified models. A second pair, or a model that suits your prescription. Ordinary sunglasses or sports glasses that have not been impact-tested for squash.
Clothing and bottle Comfortable movement clothing and a water bottle. Sweat towel and a small kit bag for regular sessions. Restrictive clothing or jewellery that catches during swings.
Grip A replacement overgrip if the handle slips or feels too small. Towel grips or a thicker build once you know your hand size and sweat level. Playing for months with a slick grip, which encourages over-squeezing.

First Session

Warm up before playing points: both players hit the ball for about four minutes, changing sides after two and a half minutes. Then practise gentle straight drives to the front wall, simple serves from each service box, and cooperative rallies where both players aim for control rather than winners. Keep the racket swing compact when another player is nearby, and after every shot move back toward the T so your opponent can see the ball, reach it, and swing at it safely.

First Month

Play once or twice a week if possible. Focus on serve returns, straight drives, lobs, and safe court movement, and keep recovering to the T after each shot. Add basic scoring, lets, strokes, and simple tactics once you can keep rallies going. Playing short games (to 5 or 7) before full games to 11 keeps early sessions fun and protects your legs and lungs.

Costs

Squash has a moderate cost, and court access is the main ongoing expense. Court hire varies widely by country, city, venue, and time of day, so check local prices: off-peak community court hire is usually the cheapest route, and club membership or beginner nights can reduce the per-session cost. Budget for a racket (borrow first), non-marking court shoes, eyewear, replacement grips, and a few balls. Lessons cost extra but are often worth it early.

Space Needed

Squash needs a dedicated indoor squash court with four walls, a tin, and marked lines; there is no meaningful home substitute. Home storage is minimal (a racket, shoes, and a few balls), but the hobby depends on regular access to a club, gym, school, or recreation centre.

Solo or Social

Squash is mostly social because rallies and games need another player. Solo court time can still help with serves, straight drives, lobs, drop practice, and footwork patterns, but regular partners, ladders, lessons, or club nights make the hobby easier to sustain.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting with a ball that barely bounces, like a double-yellow-dot ball.
  • Standing too close to the other player after hitting instead of recovering to the T.
  • Swinging hard before control and spacing are reliable.
  • Watching the front wall instead of tracking the ball and the opponent safely.
  • Playing long, intense games before your legs and lungs are ready.
  • Wearing outdoor or travel shoes on court, which mark the floor and slide on side steps.
  • Not calling a let when you are obstructed or it is dangerous to hit.
  • Buying an expensive racket before fixing grip, serve, and timing.

Safety / Accessibility

Squash involves quick stops, lunges, twisting, shared court space, and close racket swings, and the small ball and rackets make eye protection sensible. World Squash recommends that all players wear protective eyewear at all times during play; it is mandatory for juniors at WSF championships. Warm up, wear non-marking court shoes, call lets instead of forcing unsafe shots, and build intensity gradually.

Risk or access need Practical adaptation
Ankle rolls Use non-marking shoes with side-step support, warm up, and keep first games slower.
Knee stress Limit deep lunges at first, practise shorter recovery steps, and use bouncier balls for gentler rallies.
Eye strikes from ball or racket Wear certified protective eyewear, keep spacing, and stop and call a let when a shot is dangerous.
Collisions with your opponent Recover to the T after every shot, agree who takes middle balls, and never swing when the opponent is in the way.
Turning around If the ball passes behind you, it is safer to stop and ask for a let than to turn and swing.
Warm-up needs Spend about four minutes hitting the ball before games, changing sides halfway through.
Lower coverage option Shorter rallies, coaching feeds, solo drills, and bouncier balls reduce sprinting while still building skill.
Adapted play Ask clubs or leisure centres about inclusive sessions, adaptive formats, or coaches used to adapting drills.
When to start with coaching Use coaching if you have previous ankle, knee, or balance concerns, or if you want to join club games quickly.

Where It Can Go

Squash can stay casual or become a long-term sport. It can lead toward club ladders, leagues, coaching, refereeing, fitness training, doubles squash, or a regular indoor workout routine. The footwork and timing also transfer to racquetball and other racket sports, though the ball, court, and rules differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play squash alone?

You can practise serves, drives, lobs, and footwork patterns alone, but real games need at least one other player. Clubs, beginner nights, and ladders are usually the easiest way to find regular partners.

Do I need special shoes?

For one taster session, clean trainers with non-marking soles are usually fine if the venue allows them. For regular play, indoor court shoes with soft, grippy soles are strongly recommended because squash involves side steps, lunges, and quick stops.

Which ball should I use?

Ask the venue for a beginner ball: a blue-dot ball or a larger introductory ball bounces easily and keeps rallies alive. Move to red, yellow, or double-yellow-dot balls as your hitting improves.

Do I need protective eyewear?

World Squash recommends that all players wear protective eyewear at all times during play, and it is mandatory for juniors at WSF championships. Choose eyewear certified to a national impact standard; WSF publishes a list of certified models.

How much does it cost to start?

Court hire is the main cost and varies widely by country, city, and venue. Borrowing equipment for a first session keeps it cheap; a basic racket, court shoes, and eyewear are the main one-off purchases. Check local clubs and community centres for current prices.

How is squash different from racquetball?

Squash uses a smaller, lighter ball on a four-walled court with no net, and you must return the ball before it bounces twice. Racquetball uses a larger, bouncier ball and a different court, so the footwork and timing transfer but the shots and rules do not.

References

Last reviewed: 18 August 2026.

Editorial note: This page is written as beginner discovery guidance, not as a maintained product ranking. Court hire fees and gear prices vary by country, venue, and season; check local clubs for current costs.

Official and institutional sources:

Optional community resources:

  • USA Squash — US national association; club directory, junior programs, and beginner resources.
  • England Squash — UK national association; club finder, coaching, and junior pathways.
  • Squash Australia — Australian national association; local clubs and learn-to-play programs.

Tennis, badminton, pickleball, table tennis, and racquetball share the court-and-racket mindset, while running and swimming support the cardio that squash builds. Yoga and stretching help with the lunges and quick direction changes.