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Squash rules

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Ask anything about Squash rules — answered from the rulebook below.

Squash Rulebook

1. Objective & Format

Squash is a racket sport for two players (singles) played inside a fully enclosed four-walled court. Each player uses a strung racket to strike a small hollow rubber ball against the front wall. The objective is to hit returns the opponent cannot return correctly before the ball bounces twice, winning rallies to score points and games.

A standard WSF-specification court measures 9.75 m long by 6.40 m wide. The front wall carries three lines: the front wall out line at 4.57 m high (top boundary), the service line at 1.83 m, and the tin (board) at 0.48 m along the bottom (returns must stay above it). The short line runs across the floor 5.49 m from the front wall, with a half-court line dividing the back half into two quarter courts and two service boxes (1.60 m square). Out lines run continuously around all walls.

A match is the best of five games (first to win 3 games), though best of three is also used. There is a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 minutes per side) before play.

2. Scoring

Squash uses Point-A-Rally (PAR) scoring, the universal WSF standard since 2009. The winner of every rally scores 1 point, regardless of who served. Each game is played to 11 points. If the score reaches 10-all, the game continues until one player leads by 2 points (e.g., 12-10, 13-11).

3. Core Rules of Play

  • The serve: The server chooses a service box to begin each game; on winning a rally while serving, they alternate boxes. At service, one foot must be in contact with the floor inside the box (not touching a line). The ball must hit the front wall between the service line and the out line, then land in the opposite back quarter court (unless volleyed by the receiver).
  • Returns of serve and rallies: After a good serve, players hit alternately. A good return strikes the front wall above the tin and below the out line, either directly or after hitting the side/back walls, before the ball bounces twice on the floor.
  • The ball may be volleyed (struck before it bounces) at almost any time after the serve.
  • A player loses the rally if the ball bounces twice, is hit out (on or above an out line), hits the tin, fails to reach the front wall, or is struck improperly (e.g., double-hit, carry).

4. Common Fouls, Violations & Penalties

  • Fault (serve): An incorrect serve loses the rally outright (single-fault rule under PAR).
  • Down / Out: Ball hitting the tin or floor before the front wall is "down"; ball on or above any out line is "out." Either loses the rally.
  • Interference – Let, Stroke, or No Let: When a player is obstructed, the referee rules: a let (rally replayed) if the striker could have made a good return and the opponent made every effort to clear; a stroke (point awarded to the obstructed striker) if the opponent did not provide fair access, was struck by a ball heading to the front wall, or the striker had a winning shot; no let if the striker would not have reached the ball anyway.
  • Conduct penalties escalate for offences such as time-wasting, dissent, abuse, dangerous play, or racket abuse: conduct warning → conduct stroke → conduct game → conduct match (disqualification).

5. Win Condition

A player wins a game by reaching 11 points (or by 2 clear points from 10-all). A player wins the match by winning the majority of games — 3 games in a best-of-five, or 2 in a best-of-three.