What Is the Difference Between Squash and Racquetball?

Racquetball-vs-Squash

Both the games are similar but have several key differences. In racquetball, you just let the ball come to you; wherein a squash, it’s all about placement.

The court and equipment are one of the main differences between the two sports, squash and racquetball. 

In squash, the court is smaller, and the racquet is longer and narrower at the top, whereas a racquetball racquet is wider to hit the giant ball.

Also, the ball for squash is smaller and more complex, and the ball of a racquetball is almost solid rubber and extremely bouncy.

The score is kept roughly the same; however, everyone has a variation in how they keep score.

Measurements are not the only differences between the two sports. Every game has different rules for gameplay and scoring that are important to know about.

Squash vs. Racquetball – Differences

What Is the Difference Between Squash and Racquetball? 1

Squash

The squash game is played between either two people or four, and the court is walled from all sides. The players can take turns returning the ball and hitting on the front wall. 

You have to hit the ball above the tin and below the outside to be considered valid. The hollow rubber ball bounces off the walls pretty fast. It is found in play as long as it is within these parameters, and the ball can hit the side walls too.

Racquetball

In a racquetball game, you can go all out on hitting the ball, and the ball can hit any wall as long as before hitting the floor, the ball comes in contact with the front wall. 

The scoring is done when you are unable to hit the ball before it bounces or you cannot return the ball. It is a very intense sport, and one game lasts only a maximum of 20 minutes. 

This game has a weird and unique rule that at any point in time, if you think you are actually about to hurt another player, you can stop the game and do the previous rally again.

See : 15 Best racquetball racquets to level up your game

Court Dimensions

The courts of both the games squash and racquetball are enclosed, but there are differences between the two sports regarding the playing surface and the size. 

Racquetball courts are more extensive than squash, measuring 20 by 40 feet, whereas Squash courts are 21 by 32 feet. Also, the ceiling is higher for racquetball than squash by 5 feet.

If we talk about squash, the court has several outlines marked at the top of the court and an exclusive line on the front wall at the height of 19 inches from the floor. 

If the ball hits any of the headings above or below the one on the front wall, it is called “hitting the tin,” and it is considered an out.

In squash, the ball is not allowed to hit the ceiling. If this happens, the player is considered out, but the ball is allowed to hit the top in racquetball.

In squash, courts are more restrictive; it allows for much longer points.

Therefore, the kill shot is not prevalent as in a racquetball game

Because in racquetball, a kill shot is aimed to hit the lowest part of the front wall and then bounce twice to end a point.

Kill shot is not existing in squash due to tin. In this, the closest is equivalent to a kill shot is hitting the nick.

Ball Difference

The most significant difference in the ball is that a racquetball ball is almost solid rubber and highly bouncy, whereas a squash ball is hollow rubber and barely bounces. 

This difference makes squash more physically demanding as it requires the player to bend lower and stretch more.

Racket/Racquet Difference

The size and shapes of the tools are different from game to game as well. Also, in squash and racquetball, the shape and size of the racket/racquet are different from each other. The racquets are spelled differently; for squash, it is “racket,” whereas for racquetball, “racquet.”

The main difference is that a racquetball racquet is wider to hit the giant ball of 6 cm diameter, and the squash racquet is a little bit thinner as the ball is only 4 cm in diameter. 

A racket is longer at 27 inches and narrower when the racquet is 22 inches long and has a more comprehensive, teardrop shape.

Serving the Balls

If we talk about squash, the players must have at least one foot in a demarcated service box and hit the ball into the opposite corner on the front wall and do not bounce the ball before hitting it and only get one serve per point.

In racquetball, players serve by standing anywhere behind the service line, bouncing the ball, and hitting it anywhere on the front wall; the ball must then bounce behind the service box before it hits the back wall. In this, players are given two serves per point, like tennis.

You are only allowed one serve for better or worse; however, you can replay the serve in racquetball if it is considered faulty. 

A serve can be regarded as faulty for various reasons, including the ball bouncing ahead of a short line on the floor, the ball touching any wall or ceiling before landing on the floor, or the receiver being not ready.

Scoring and Winning

The game goes up to 9 points in regular matches and 11 in championships and tournaments in squash. Two clear points must win the games. In tennis, issues can be defeated regardless of whether the player is serving or receiving.

Whereas racquetball, the game goes up to 15 points; points can only be scored when you do.

Same as squash, games must also be won with two clear points. There is another difference between each game that in squash, each player can earn an issue no matter who serves, while only the serving player can score in racquetball.

In racquetball, game players can only score points if they’re serving. So the player who wins 15 points first wins a game (though it’s won by two), and the best of three rounds wins a match. 

If the score is tied with two games to two games, then a tie-breaking match is played up to 11 points.

Squash players can score points whether they’re serving or returning. Each game with 11 points (win by two) and the best five games wins the match.

More updates :

Which is suitable for the workout?

Both racquetball and squash are great games and great workouts. Simple is that the one you play harder is the better workout. 

If we choose one of the two, squash is the first choice. This game is a better workout and requires more thinking and strategy than racquetball.

Squash and racquetball, both games, are accessible and fun to play with the unique workout. So here, we explained all the essential differences between Squash vs. Racquetball. Squash is the most superior and the most popular game, whereas racquetball is also impressive. Now it’s up to you to decide what to play.

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