Not to be confused with the funky-shaped yellow vegetable, squash is an indoor racquet sport that is played amongst either two or four players. Singles squash uses a small, hollow ball and is played 1 v. 1. Singles squash games are played to 11 points unless the score becomes 10-10, in which case the game must be won by 2 points. A singles squash match is constituted by the best of five games. Doubles squash competitions involve a team of two people against another team of two people. The doubles squash court is larger in area than the singles. Doubles squash is played with a small hardball. The doubles match is also scored by the best out of 5 games; however, doubles squash games are played to 15 points as opposed to the 11 points in a singles squash game.

A Brief History of the Sport of Squash

The game of squash originated over a century and a half ago at a prestigious English public school just outside of London. In the 1830s, racquets were extraordinarily popular and often used for play in schoolyards. Legend has it that the game was accidentally invented at Harrow School when a group of students discovered that playing racquets with a punctured ball completely changed the bounce and speed at which the ball moved. And so, the game of squash was born.

Benefits of Playing Squash

Squash is a sport that can be played at any skill level. It can be played for leisure as a way to get your body moving or competitively. Whether you’ve had a racquet in your hand since you can remember or you are looking for a new hobby, there are many benefits to playing squash. It is suitable for all ages; there are adjustments to gameplay and modified versions of equipment that make the game accessible to all. Like other forms of physical activity, squash can improve cardiovascular health, contribute to maintaining a healthy weight, and increase your overall strength and fitness ability. Squash particularly promotes strong hand-eye coordination and good coordination, agility, and flexibility as it requires you to be fast on your feet and make explosive movements. Not to mention, there is a very strong and supportive squash community, so it is a great opportunity to meet new people and engage in some friendly competition!

Fun Facts About Squash

1. There was a squash court on the Titanic.
2. There are approximately 50,000 squash courts in the world.
3. England has the greatest number of squash courts in the world with around 8.500 courts.
4. Every Ivy League school has a squash team.
5. A squash player (Jahangir Khan) holds the longest winning streak in any sport.