Racquetball and squash both require racquets, small balls and a closed court surrounded by walls. Though the two sports seem similar, they have distinct histories, rules and equipment. Learn the differences between racquetball and squash to better understand these two racquet sports.
History
According to Ted Wallbutton of the World Squash Federation, students at the Harrow School in England invented the sport of squash in the 1830s. The students played with a punctured ball intended for the sport rackets, and saw that it "squashed" against the wall when hit. Squash was officially organized in 1864. According to the official United States Racquetball Association website, Joe Sobek invented racquetball in 1968.
Basic Concepts
Racquetball and squash have similar basic concepts. In both sports, players must reach the ball and return it to the front wall before it bounces on the floor twice. Players win rallies when their opponent makes an error or cannot reach the ball before it bounces twice. Both sports require opponents to play next to each other in a small, closed space. If one player blocks her opponent from reaching the ball, the blocked opponent can ask the referee to call a let in squash or a hinder in racquetball. If objects enter the court from the outside, the referee will also call a let or hinder.
Court Dimensions and Boundaries
Squash and racquetball require different courts. The standard racquetball court measures 20 feet across, 40 feet deep and 20 feet high. The standard squash court, shorter and wider than the racquetball court, measures 21 feet across, 32 feet deep and 15 feet high at the highest in-bounds part of the court. In racquetball, all of the walls and the ceiling count as in bounds. Squash courts have boundary lines along the front and back walls as well as diagonal boundary lines on the side walls. The bottom of the front wall has a tin strip that also counts as out-of-bounds. You cannot hit the ceiling in squash.
Service
In racquetball, you have two opportunities to serve before each point, like in tennis. In squash, you have only one serve. To serve in racquetball, you must bounce the ball and then hit it. To serve in squash, you must hit the ball out of the air. In squash, your serve must bounce above the service line on the front wall and then behind the short line on the floor. In racquetball, your serve can hit any part of the front wall and then land behind the short line on the floor.
Scoring
Racquetball uses a side-out scoring system, in which you can only win points on your serve. Squash uses a rally scoring system, in which you can win points on your serve and on your opponent's serve. You must reach 15 points with a two-point margin over your opponent to win a game in racquetball. You must prevail in two games to win a match. If the match goes to a third tiebreaker game, you must only reach 11 points with a two-point margin to win. In squash matches, you must reach 11 points with a two-point margin over your opponent to win a game. You must prevail in three games to win the match.
Ball and Racquet
Squash requires a smaller ball that bounces much less high than the ball in racquetball. The squash ball's minimal bounce makes this sport more difficult for beginners than racquetball. Racquetball requires a larger ball that bounces much higher than the squash ball. The racquetball racquet has a larger hitting surface than the squash racquet.
Calories Burned
Both squash and racquetball require speed, quickness and agility. In a competitive squash or racquetball match, you'll find yourself lunging toward the ball and changing directions frequently. MayoClinic.com estimates that one hour of casual racquetball can burn about 511 calories for a 160-lb. person or 637 calories for a 200-lb. person. MyOptumHealth.com estimates that one hour of competitive racquetball can burn about 726 calories for a 160-lb. person or 908 calories for a 200-lb. person. The same website estimates that one hour of squash can burn about 872 calories for a 160-lb. person or 1,090 calories for a 200-lb. person.
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