WORLD OF SPORTS | SQUASH: BALLS

Squash is one of the popular racket (racquet) sports, which is played by more than 20 million people around the world in more or less 180 countries.

^Source

The number of participants and respective frequency of participation in Squash are increasing by the day, more than 30% participation has increased, over the last 5 years or so, in only USA. This situation is not too much different for the rest of the world.

---

squash ball, racket & court...

BALL:

Squash is played with both, softball and hardball.

Softball Squash (Generally reffered as original or British Squash) is the one which is mostly played around the world and also known as "International Version of British Squash", whereas Hardball Squash was developed and is popular in North America and also reffered or known as "American version of British Squash.

Hardball Squash is comparatively faster in playing than Softball Squash, reason is less bouncing of the ball. Most of the players used to play Hardball Squash to get better skills for their Softball Squash games.

Both the balls of Squash, hardball and softball, are made of rubber. Softball is an internally hollow rubber ball (This is the very reason and origin of the name of sports as well. When ball hit the wall, it squashed). Hardball is a full solid rubber ball.

TYPES OF BALLS & HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT BALL?

There is another and rather interesting specification to choose the right ball according to the level and extent of the players and the game.

Squash has different types of game status (beginners, professionals etc), like any other game, and for each of them there is a different duration of the game/rally. For beginners or new players, a ball is selected with higher bouncing & hang time, and of bigger size.

^Source

Different balls are designated with different colors and number of dot/s (1 and/or 2 dots are standards, fixed by World Squash Federation since 2001)

---

NOTE: I had full intentions it to be a single post when I started writing it, but as I proceeded with the writing, it got lengthy and then lengthier even after my efforts to discuss and describe its different aspects as briefly as possible, and I had to decide posting it into several parts for the sake of readers' interest and to avoid boredom.

So,

to be continued...

---

<sub>...sources & references
1. SQUASH BALLS EXPLAINED: WHAT DO THE DOTS MEAN?
2. How To Choose The Correct Squash Ball
3. Squash Facts</sub>