Squash Rules
A one-minute guide to the essentials — scoring, serving, play, lets, and the gear you need. New to the game? This will get you on court with confidence.
The court
A squash court is a four-walled box, 21 ft wide. The markings referenced in the rules below — the service boxes, the service line, the tin (the "out" strip at the base of the front wall), and the out lines — are all shown here.
Scoring
Men's
First to 11 points wins the game, and every point counts whether you're serving or not. At 10–10 you must win by two clear points (e.g. 12–10, 16–14). A match is the best of five games, with 90-second rests between games.
Women's
The same as men's, but games go to 15 points. At 14–14 you must win by two clear points (e.g. 16–14, 18–16).
Either scoring system may be used, as long as both players agree before the match.
Playing the game
Warm-up
Before play, both players have 5 minutes to warm up the ball together — 2½ minutes on each side of the court.
The serve
Spin the racquet to decide who serves first. The server keeps serving until they lose a rally. At the start of each game — and the first time you serve after winning a rally — you may serve from either side; after that you alternate sides each time you score.
To serve, keep at least one foot in the service box, drop or throw the ball, and strike it onto the front wall between the service line and the out line. It must land in the back quarter of the opposite side of the court (it may touch a side or back wall first). Only one serve is allowed.
Play
After a good serve, players alternate hitting the ball until the rally ends. A good return reaches the front wall before the ball bounces twice, lands above the tin, and doesn't hit the ceiling or any wall on or above the out lines.
Interference & lets
Interference is when a player hinders the opponent's movement to the ball or their swing. The player who is interfered with calls a "let" out loud — the rally doesn't count and is replayed. Lets keep play safe, for example to avoid being hit by the ball or racquet.
Equipment & safety
- Balls: double-yellow-dot (super slow) for tournaments; other speeds are available for recreational play.
- Racquets: aluminum or graphite — choose a weight and balance that suit you, ideally with an absorbent grip.
- Shoes: non-marking soles with good heel and arch support. No outdoor shoes — they bring in dirt that makes the court slippery and dangerous.
- Eyeguards: strongly recommended for everyone, and mandatory for juniors (19 and under).
- Clothing: loose, comfortable racquet-sport attire; two pairs of socks can help prevent blisters.
For advice on equipment and safety, contact Squash BC or Squash Canada.
The court
The hardball doubles court is a four-walled box, 25 ft wide with a length of 45 ft as opposed to 32 ft of the singles court. The markings referenced in the rules below — the service boxes, the service line, the tin (the "out" strip at the base of the front wall), and the out lines — are all shown here.
Scoring
First team to 15 points wins the game, and every rally counts whether you're serving or not. A match is the best of five games, with 2-minute rests between games.
Playing the game
Warm-up
Before play, each team (a left waller and a right waller) warms up separately, taking turns so both teams share the warm-up period. Each team is limited to 3 minutes.
The serve
Spin the racquet to decide which team serves first. Each team decides before match play which player will serve first and which will serve second for the team. Each server has two opportunities to serve in. For the first serve of the game, only one team member gets to serve until they lose a rally and then the serve goes to the opposing team. After this initial rally, both team members get to serve before it goes to the opposing team. The server keeps serving until they lose a rally. The server alternates sides each time they win a rally.
To serve, keep at least one foot in the service box, drop or throw the ball, and strike it onto the front wall between the service line and the out line. It must land in the back quarter of the opposite side of the court (it may touch a side or back wall first). Only one person of the opposing team (based on their wall) should be in the receiving box.
Play
After a good serve, a team alternates hitting the ball until the rally ends. A good return reaches the front wall before the ball bounces twice, lands above the tin, and doesn't hit the ceiling or any wall on or above the out lines. Typically when a ball lands on the left side of the court, the left waller will be the one to retrieve the ball — same for the right side of the court.
Interference & lets
Interference is when a player hinders an opponent's movement to the ball or their swing; players must also have access to hit a shot to the front wall. If there is interference, a let is called out loud — the rally doesn't count and is most often replayed. If a player hits the ball back to themselves and the opposing players are able to access the ball, a point is awarded to the opposing team. Keep play safe — for example, avoid being hit by the ball or racquet.
Equipment & safety
- Ball: a blue hardball for tournaments and recreational play.
- Racquet: aluminum or graphite — choose a weight and balance that suit you, ideally with an absorbent grip. Some brands make racquets specifically suited to hardball doubles.
- Shoes: non-marking soles with good heel and arch support. No outdoor shoes — they bring in dirt that makes the court slippery and dangerous.
- Eyeguards: mandatory for all players, junior and adult.
- Clothing: attire is determined by a local rule of the club or tournament.
For advice on equipment and safety, contact Squash BC or Squash Canada.