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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Squash (sport)

Squash is a racquet sport played on a four-walled court with a small hollow rubber ball.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Squash is a racquet sport played on a four-walled court with a small hollow rubber ball. It is commonly played as singles, and can also be played as doubles, with players taking turns striking the ball against the front wall within the court boundaries. Matches are typically played as best-of-three or best-of-five games to 11 points under rally scoring.

Gameplay

Squash is played by serving the ball to the front wall and then rallying with an opponent, who must return the ball before it bounces twice. Players may use the side and back walls strategically, but the ball must remain within the court boundaries.

Court and equipment

A squash court is a four-walled indoor space marked with an out line, service line, and tin. Players use a squash racket and a small hollow rubber ball, with ball types varying by bounce and speed.

Scoring and match format

Modern squash commonly uses point-a-rally scoring, with each game played to 11 points. Matches are normally best of three or best of five games, and tied games are decided by a two-point margin.

Rules and faults

Points can be lost through hitting the ball out, missing the front wall, failing to return it before a second bounce, or interference that prevents a fair shot. The serve must land in the correct service area and meet the front-wall service requirements.

Key facts

  • Players alternate hitting the ball against the front wall, keeping it above the tin and below the out line.
  • A rally ends when a player fails to return the ball before its second bounce, hits the ball out, or causes a fault through obstruction.
  • Games are played to 11 points, and a player must win by two clear points if the score reaches 10–10.
  • A match is usually the best of five games, though some competitions use best of three.
  • Squash rackets are smaller and lighter than tennis rackets, and balls are selected by dot colour to indicate bounce and speed.
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Canadian context

Squash is played across Canada in clubs, schools, universities, and recreational centres, and Canada has national and provincial squash organizations involved in rules, competition, and player development.

Frequently asked questions

What is squash?
Squash is a racquet sport played on a four-walled court with a small rubber ball, usually by two players in singles or four in doubles.
How do you score in squash?
Squash uses rally scoring: a point is awarded on every rally, and games are usually played to 11 points with a two-point margin required at 10–10.
How many players are in a squash match?
Most squash matches are singles between two players, but doubles squash is also played with four players.
What ends a rally in squash?
A rally ends when the ball bounces twice, is hit out of court, hits the tin or an invalid area, or when interference results in a fault or stroke.
How long is a squash match?
A match is usually the best of five games, though some competitions use best of three.

References

  1. Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/news/squash-rules-how-to-play
    Supports: Basic court layout, equipment dimensions, and standard scoring format.
  2. England Squash — https://www.englandsquash.com/get-involved/play/rules-of-squash
    Supports: Match format, scoring to 11, and two-point win requirement at 10–10.
  3. Squash Canada — https://squash.ca/rules-of-squash/
    Supports: Singles and doubles play, court boundaries, rally rules, scoring, and faults.
  4. ActiveSG Circle — https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/learn/squash/rules-of-squash
    Supports: Court markings, serving, and common rally-ending faults.