Tennis squash is an American variant of squash, but is played with balls and rackets that are closer to the equipment used for lawn tennis, and with somewhat different rules. For younger players, the game offers the complexity of squash and the speed of badminton. It also has exercise and recreation potential for older players.
Video Squash tennis
Court
Tennis squash is played in various four walled courts. The front wall (where the ball is presented) has a mark (usually wrapped with lead) on some lower legs of the floor, the service line is about 6 feet (1.8 m) from the floor, and out-of-bounds about 16 feet (4, 9 m) from the floor. The back line of the wall is 4.5 feet (1.4 m) from the floor. There are two necessary lines on the floor: the service line is about 10 feet (3.0 m) from the back wall, and the center line of the court runs at least from the front wall to the service line. Unlike squash racquets, there is no service box. There are four types of courts:
North American squash squares
North American squash field is 18.5 x 32 feet (5.6 x 9.8 m). Originally designed for game related squash rackets, in the early 1930s the National Squash Tennis Association (NSTA) approved the game in this kind of court. The dimensions are quite similar to the official squash tennis courts. The only necessary modification is the addition of the 4.5-foot (1.4 m) rear wall line (in N. American squash, the rear wall line is 6.5 feet or 2.0 meters from the floor) and the center line of the court in floor. The temporary line can be easily added with the blue painter's ribbon. The problem at the moment is because the North American version of the squash is becoming less popular, new courts are not built, and many of the old ones are being converted to other uses.
Squash tennis court
In 1910 the NSTA adopted a standard court size of 17 with 32.5 feet (5.2 by 9.9 m). Although many were built in the New York area, after the play was passed on the squash courts N. America they began to disappear. It does not make sense economically to maintain a special court when a more flexible one is acceptable.
International squash court
International squash court is 21 x 32 feet (6.4 x 9.8 m). Additional lines need to be added. The extra width of the court makes multi-wall shots more difficult or impossible, so experienced players prefer to use the North American court. However, a 21 foot (6.4 m) court is often the only one that is generally available, especially outside North America.
Non-standard court
Initially the game is played in court rackets, then in toddler courts. Prior to 1911 there was no standard for court size, and those built specifically for squash tennis varied from one another. They are built on private plantations and clubs. At least one of these courts survives today in a condition that can be played. The court at Plum Orchard was completely restored in 2008 with cans in place and electric lights working. It was added to George Lauder Carnegie's "Plum Orchard" estate on Cumberland Island, Georgia, in winter 1903/04, and now owned by the National Park Service. An exhibit on the history of squash tennis was recently installed in the mansion, which is sometimes open for public tours.
Maps Squash tennis
Tools
The equipment required is quite simple and inexpensive: a junior tennis racket and a standard grass tennis ball. In the last few decades, modified tennis balls are produced for the game. They have higher pressure and are slightly smaller than tennis balls. The last ball produced in particular is green, so it can be more easily seen with white walls. The preliminary court had a dark wooden wall so a white tennis ball could be seen. Players now use markers to darken yellow balls, or use colored tennis balls (like pink balls sold on a limited basis by Penn to raise money for breast cancer research). The blue painter tape can be used to add additional lines on the floor and back wall of the squash racquet racket.
How to play
Tennis squash is played by two players. Picture play guide with rules published by NSTA in 1968 (see external links below).
Serve
At the start of the first game, a round of rackets is used to decide who serves first. In the next game match, players who won the previous game serve first.
The server stands behind the floor service line, either to the left or right of the center line. Throwing the ball in the air, he attacked with a racket before the ball hit the ground. Nice service if the ball:
- first touches the front wall above the service line and below the outline (touches the banned line),
- without crashing into the back wall, landing in front of the service line on the opposite side of the court, left or right (depending on the server side).
This is the main difference between squash tennis and squash rackets. In the last sport the ball must go beyond the floor service line into the receiver box. But this is similar to tennis grass, because the ball is presented diagonally and landed in front of the service line. In the squash racket server also stands in the direction of the side wall, not in the middle of the field.
Initially, the server can choose which side it starts, left or right. One error is allowed if the ball does not come out (ie do not hit or go above the line out, attack the sign, or touch the floor before hitting the front wall). If the server wins points, he or she should move to the opposite side of the court (left or right) before serving again, alternating each service.
The standard service is a gently struck ball that strikes just below the front line of the wall, reappears in a high arc, then bounces right in front of the floor service line where it meets the side wall. Cutting a bit will help the ball hug the wall. High reflections along the walls are more difficult to return. The receiver can not hit the ball before bouncing on the floor.
Rally
After a fair match, the receiver will hit the ball so that it directly or indirectly touches the front wall before hitting the floor a second time, out of bounds, or hitting the tin. Players thus take turns hitting the ball until one fails to make a fair return. The ball can only be played from the back wall if the ball first touches the back wall. A ball can hit any part of the back wall if the first ball bounces to the floor - otherwise the ball should be below the back line of the wall. Unintentional interference produces "let" - the point plays back.
Scoring
A game is played until one player reaches 15 points, unless the first score reaches 13/13 or 14/14. When 13/13 is reached, the recipient decides whether the game should reach 15, 16, or 18 points. If it reaches 14/14 (without 13/13) the recipient decides on 15 or 17. One does not have to win by two points. Initially only the server can print; if he loses the rally he will lose the right to serve. The current rules provide points and services to the winners of the rally.
The match is three of the five best matches.
History
The squash racket game and the sport of his parents, the racket, spread to America in the 1880s with the country's first court built at St. Paul's School, in Concord, New Hampshire. Due to delays in the delivery of the right racket equipment, the boys used balls and rackets for a recently introduced grass tennis game to the country. Even after the right equipment arrived, some continue to use tennis equipment in both types of courts.
In the 1890s, both squash rackets and squash tennis had spread to adults in Boston, and the game began to become more formal. In 1898, after the court building at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, New York, squash tennis became popular among members of the New York community. Private courts are built on land owned by millionaires like William C. Whitney, J. P. Morgan, and George Lauder Carnegie. In 1905, the Racquet and Tennis Club, Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia Clubs in Manhattan had courts, as did Brooklyn's Crescent A. C. and Heights Casino.
In 1911, the National Squash Tennis Association was established and organized by banker John W. Prentiss, Harvard Club of New York. Rules, equipment, and court dimensions are formalized.
In short the sport gained popularity and some games were limited in other cities like Detroit, Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, but the squash rackets soon overshadowed the squash tennis. But in New York City the game retained strong followers during the 1920s and 1930s. The decision to introduce high-pressure balls accelerated the decline of the sport. Faster balls are preferred by advanced players, but it makes beginners discouraged. In an effort to make the game more accessible, the play tournament was passed in the squash racquets field. But over the years, the sport attracted several new players. During World War II special balls were no longer produced, so the advanced players began to lose interest.
Two outstanding champions of the fifties are Robert Reeve and Trudy Porter. Playing leagues and tournaments was continued with energy supplied by Norman F. Torrance in the 1950s. The sixties witnessed a revival when younger players took the game and Jim Prigoff became National Champion and then President of the Tennis Association Squash and Richard C. "Dick" Squires became active when the special ball was once again available for the player. Prigoff dominated the Nationals in the 1960s beating Squires and Bacallao until he retired from the game in 1969. But competition with new badminton games prevented these efforts from making progress with the public. The annual citizen became the only official tournament, but became the private property of two people, Pedro A. Bacallao (1969-1980, 1986) and Gary Squires (1982-1983, 1985, 1987-2000) son of Dick Squires.
Squash tennis status
This game is almost extinct. There are no organized tournaments. The game is played regularly only by about a dozen players at Harvard Club in New York City; although old enthusiast Bill Rubin stated that there are some young, very talented, new players. NSTA has not had a meeting in years.
Basic equipment is cheap, however, and for those who have access to a squash court can be easily enjoyed due to its recreational value and training. Dick Squires published a guide to this sport in 1968. The book is not copyrighted, and is available online at Project Gutenberg. This guide includes instructions on how to play games, history, rules, and a list of all national champions.
See also
- The squash table
- Volley squash
External links
- Tennis Squash in Project Gutenberg
- Atlantic - Last Squash Tennis Player
- The "Lost" Court of Cumberland Island
- Tennis Box Rules, sport from Tennis Squash
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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