Squash Company

Squash coaching with passion

It’s time to make squash so good they can’t ignore us.



This time I wasn’t even surprised to hear squash had failed to make the shortlist of sports recommend for inclusion for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Having failed now for the last 12 years, it just seemed inevitable in some ways. It’s hard as a sport to pick ourselves back up and go again but that’s what we have to do. Though perhaps, this time we need to come from a different angle. This time we need to make squash so good that they can’t ignore us.

We can go on all night listing all the positives about squash and how great a game it is but then we all know how good a game it is. We all know it’s a fantastic sport and a brilliant workout. The problem is most people don’t. Surfing and climbing don’t seem like olympic sports in the slightest but what they do have on their side is the fact everyone knows what they are.

I go into schools every week coaching squash and I rarely get more than one or two kids who have played the game or even have an idea about what it is. Often, when we invite them to our courts for an Open Day with their parents, their parents bring along rackets that really belong a museum and tell of how they used to play when they were younger. Granted, these parents have all lived for longer but they all know what squash is and have played a bit before. Will the same be said of the current generation of children when they go have children of their own? I’m not confident it will. As part of the development work I do in Sussex, England, the main problem we see at our clubs is a declining membership of which the majority are 45 or over and male.

This is something we as a sport have to change and it needs all of us to take up the charge if we are to be successful. It doesn’t even take much. It could be as simple as taking your child, wife or friend on court with you and introducing them to the game. We simply need more people to be aware of what squash is and also more people playing the sport on a regular basis. Or if you have a passion for the game, why not consider becoming a coach or starting a junior set-up if there isn’t already one? We need to grow the number of clubs offering coaching services and junior groups, get more clubs interacting with local schools and community groups and get more women and people from different backgrounds involved.

We need to build and build and get to the stage where we have members complaining at every club because the only court they can get is at 8am or 10pm at night because all four courts are being booked and because there are loads of young players about stealing all the courts. We need to have every club fielding not just one ladies team but two, three or four. We need to get schools up and down the county having squash as part of their PE curriculum and see hundreds of young people introduced to squash at every school.

We need to stop talking about how good squash is and show everyone how good it is. We have to band together and build this momentum to such a fever pitch that it gets to the point where squash is impossible to ignore. We need to make squash so good that the Olympics can’t ignore it.



Squash balls explained: what do the dots mean?



What is the difference between squash balls?

Squash balls for senior players come in six varieties, each with different levels of ‘bounce’. The level of bounce is denoted by coloured dots on the ball. For younger players, there are a number of ‘Mini-Squash’ balls available which have a very high, prolonged bounce.

Colour

Bounce

Speed (hang time)
Suggested player level
Orange Super low Super low  High altitude play
Double yellow Slow Very low Experienced squash players
Yellow Slow Low Advanced
Green  Medium/slow Average Advanced
Red Medium High  Beginners
Blue Fast Very high Juniors and new players

The standard ball for professional competitions is the double yellow according to the World Squash Federation. This has been the case since 2001. The bounce of a squash ball also varies as a function of temperature, which is why it is recommended that a squash ball is warmed up before use.

Before 2001, the single yellow dot ball was the competition standard.

Squash balls - two yellow dots

How to choose a squash ball

The four most common kinds of squash balls are red, blue, single yellow and double yellow. When starting out blue or red balls are best (unless as previously mentioned it is a very young player, in which case ‘Mini-Squash’ balls are preferable, with the orange one being the best). These allow for players who are still developing their hand-eye-coordination to learn techniques without slow reaction times halting progress. Some manufacturers also offer slightly larger balls for new players – for instance the Dunlop ‘Intro’ ball is 12% larger than the standard size, making the ball slower.

Unless you are a good player it is best to play with a blue or red ball while you improve, as more advanced balls require long rallies and regular hard hitting in order to stay sufficiently warm.

The four most common squash balls
The four most common squash balls

As you get better at squash you can move on to single yellow dot balls, but don’t be tempted to move to double yellow balls immediately. Playing with a more difficult ball prematurely can hinder your performance. Hitting a boast shot for instance, is easier with a single dot ball as the ball sits up a bit higher. Double yellow squash balls are typically used by advanced players.

If you are playing against someone who is at a lowel level than you, play with a ball that is appropriate for his/her skill level.

The temperature of the court should also be taken into account, as some courts are colder than others and you will therefore find it easier to play with bouncier balls. In the winter on colder courts, we frequently use single dot balls even for advanced players, as the double dot balls simply don’t bounce enough. It often simply makes for a far more enjoyable game to avoid the double dot.

The altitude of a court should also influence your ball choice. In high altitude areas with lower air pressure, it is necessary to use a ball that has even less bounce. A high altitude ‘orange dot ball’ is often used in places such as Mexico City, Johannesburg and Calgary, while a ‘Dunlop green dot’ ball is commonly used in North America.

Using different squash balls in training

There is a bit of egotism in using a double dot ball but there really shouldn’t be at all. It’s a great training exercise to use different balls, especially for advanced players. If you want to focus on volleying, it can be a great exercise to use a much bouncier single dot ball to test an advanced player’s reactions, as the ball will rebound off of the front wall faster. You’d be amazed as well at how difficult it can be to control a very hot single dot or red dot ball when hitting length or short shots. It’s a great ball control exercise to get players seeing if they can still hit dying lengths – length shots which don’t come out of the back corners – with a single or red dot ball. Equally, if you want to work on finishing rallies or hitting better drop shots, use bouncier balls. Anyone can learn to hit a drop shot with a lukewarm double dot ball but can you hit a winning drop – or indeed any winning shot – with a piping hot red dot ball?

Happy playing! If you have any questions or further insights feel free to leave a comment below.

For more information about what equipment to use, we also have detailed guides on rackets and strings.