How To Play Squash
A Guide To Knowing How To Play Squash
Learning how to play squash involves a knowledge of the rules of the game, being in shape, and knowing what equipment you need. None of these are particularly complicated, even the rules are quite simple. Squash is a very fast, offensive-minded game, and getting physically fit, if you're not already, is probably the hardest part of it.
You will find yourself in a rather small enclosure attempting to hit, and at times avoid, a ball that is traveling at a good speed, and coming at you from any direction. In learning how to play squash, you'll find that quick reflexes are a must. You'll need to know that in the serve, the ball must hit the front wall before hitting the ground, and it must fall in your opponent’s territory to be in play. Once in play, the ball can hit any wall and, during a rally, you have to hit it in bounds and hit it before it hits the ground twice. Usually you get to serve until you lose a rally (and the point), and then it's your opponent's turn to serve the ball.
As a beginner, you'll do just fine with borrowed equipment, usually supplied by the owners of the squash court. As your game improves, you can start looking into racquets you feel more comfortable with, and will help your game to improve. There are different ways to grip a racquet, and as in tennis, different ways to swing at the ball. The first piece of equipment you must have however, is a pair of goggles. Whether you are comfortable wearing goggles or not, it is foolish not too. There is going to be more than one occasion where you are going to be hit with either a ball or your opponents racquet (usually unintentionally!), and that hit can easily be in the face. Eye protection is not only necessary whenever you play the game, but mandatory in most squash facilities.
You can play either singles or doubles. Singles is recommended when you are a beginner. Once you've learned how to hit the ball and move around the court, you'll soon be ready to participate in a doubles match. Four beginners attempting to play a game of doubles squash is a downright scary thought! Remember that at first, you heart rate is going to be increasing, and you'll be using some muscles you haven't used in a long time. So if you get in the spirit of things, you might have some trouble getting out of bed the next morning. But by noon you'll be ready for another match!
Once you've leaned the basics of the game, and are beginning to compete at a somewhat decent level, the next step in learning how to play squash is to start employing some strategies. You'll begin to get an idea as to how your opponent reacts in certain situations, how he might serve the ball, and how and where you might hit the ball to make things more difficult for your opponent. In squash, like in tennis, if you can keep your opponent on the move, while keeping your running around to a minimum, it will soon turn things in your favor as your opponent starts wearing down.
Like many things in life, learning how to play squash involves learning some basic things, and as your game progresses, you'll continue to learn more, and have a great time doing so!