Squash vs Racquetball

Squash and racquetball are two completely different sports. The most major difference is that racquets used in the latter are smaller with their allowed maximum length being 22 inches while the squash rackets can have a maximum allowed length of 27 inches.

Also, a squash balls is smaller at 4 cm in diameter than a racquetball one of 2.25 inches in diameter. The squash ball is not made of elastic rubber as the one for the other sport therefore, the squash ball expends much more energy during impact and slows down as a rally progresses. There is an ‘out of bounds’ area marked out around the squash court particularly at the base of the front wall. This is not so in racquetball.

A racquetball court is an indoor or outdoor area that is fully enclosed. It is usually 40×20 feet with a height of about 20 feet. There are red lines that define the service area and the serve-receiving areas. A squash court is similarly a rectangular box area with four walls of varying heights but there is a clear height above the court area. Its dimensions are 32×21 feet.

In squash the court has several out lines marked at the top of the court along with a special line on the front wall at a height of 19 inches from the floor. If the ball hits any of the lines above or below the one on the front fall it is called hitting the tin and is considered out. In squash, if the ball hits the ceiling it is considered out but in racquetball, the ball is allowed to hit the ceiling.

In squash you must allow your opponent to hit the front wall directly but in racquetball you can allow only limited freedom to your opponent to hit only part of the front wall. Squash games are scored up to 9 points and 11 in professional tournaments but racquetball matches are scored to 15 points. The serving styles are completely different too in both the games.