To start squash, use a beginner-appropriate ball, protective eyewear and a court introduction with a coach or experienced player. Return the ball to the front wall before its second floor bounce, while leaving your opponent room to see, reach and hit it safely. Stop your swing whenever someone is in danger; learning interference rules is part of learning the game.
Choose equipment for learning
Borrow a racket with an intact frame, strings and grip. Use clean non-marking court shoes approved by the facility. Wear properly fitted sports protective eyewear suitable for squash; ordinary glasses are not a substitute. Ask the club which ball is intended for beginners and its temperature conditions. The slowest competition ball can make a first rally unnecessarily difficult.
Inspect the floor and walls before starting. A damp patch, grit or a loose object can cause a fall. Close the door fully and keep bags outside the playing space. Warm up gradually and follow the club's arrangements for shared court time. Do not enter another court while its players are in a rally.
Understand a legal return
Players alternate hitting the ball. A valid return reaches the front wall above the tin and below the out line before the ball bounces twice on the floor. Side and back walls can be involved, provided the required front-wall contact happens legally. Lines that mark the out boundary are out, so aim comfortably inside them while learning.
The serve has its own requirements. A server stands with at least one foot inside the service box without touching its boundary, sends the ball to the front wall above the service line and below the out line, and normally lands it in the opposite back quarter unless volleyed. Ask a coach to demonstrate rather than guessing from the court markings alone.
Start with gentle straight drives
Stand a comfortable distance from the side wall and make a small controlled swing. Aim high enough on the front wall to give the ball time to return. Let it bounce and repeat gently on the same side. You are trying to create a predictable path, not a low winner that ends the practice immediately.
Keep the racket swing compact and check that your partner is safely positioned. When practicing together, alternate easy shots on one side before adding movement across the court. If the ball stays too low to reach, change the height and pace or ask whether the chosen ball is suitable. Do not solve every short bounce by lunging harder.
Move away after your shot
After hitting, recover toward a useful central position without blocking the opponent's direct access to the ball. Watch both the ball and the other player. The middle of the court is valuable, but it is not a place you are entitled to occupy regardless of the opponent's swing or route.
If you cannot make a safe swing, stop and ask for a let. Formal decisions distinguish a replay, a stroke awarded and no let, depending on the situation. Beginners should learn these with a coach rather than routinely hitting through interference. Never turn and strike blindly when a ball comes around you off the back wall.
Score a simple game
Standard singles uses point-a-rally scoring: the rally winner scores whether serving or receiving. Games are normally to eleven, with a two-point margin required from ten-all. The server changes service box after winning a point while retaining serve. A match is usually best of five games, though a first practice can be much shorter.
Call the score clearly and settle a disputed point before the next serve. A friendly learning rally can be replayed by agreement, but do not confuse a teaching arrangement with an official interference ruling. Keep enough recovery time between rallies to maintain control and awareness.
Build a useful first visit
Spend the opening minutes learning the court lines and practicing solo gentle drives. Follow with cooperative rallies, then a few serves and returns. End with a short game only when both players can maintain safe spacing. Ask a coach to watch the situations where you repeatedly crowd each other.
Record one technical goal and one safety habit for next time, such as a higher front-wall target and clearing the opponent's route. Stop when fatigue makes your movement uncontrolled. Consistent easy rallies are a better foundation than copying elite lunges, dives or tight shots before you can judge where another person will move.
Rules and further reading
This is an introductory practical guide. Use the organizer’s current rules for formal play. US Squash: rules and safety · World Squash Officiating: singles rules.
For another activity to try, see Table Tennis for Beginners: Serve Legally and Build a Steady Rally. Its equipment and rules differ from those in this guide.
Equipment search
Borrow equipment for your first session where possible. To compare options, search Amazon for squash equipment. This is a general search link, not a tested-product ranking; prices and availability vary.
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