Squash and tennis require hand-eye coordination, speed, endurance, proper swing mechanics, and strategy. It is beneficial to have power behind shots, but consistency and accuracy are just as important. The two sports can be played as singles (one vs. one) and doubles (two vs. two). Despite these similarities there is a reason the rackets are different.
You can’t use a squash racket to play tennis, and you can’t use a tennis racket to play squash. Using a proper racket is crucial to prevent injury, to play the sport effectively, and to get the most enjoyment out of the sport.
How do you Differentiate Between a Squash Racket and Tennis Racket?
Squash rackets have a maximum length of 27 inches, while a standard adult-size tennis racket is 27 inches long. The head size of a squash racket ranges from 70-78 square inches, while the head size of a tennis racket ranges from 85-120 square inches.
Squash racket generally weigh between 110-175 grams, while tennis rackets generally weigh between 255-340 grams. Squash rackets are typically strung at 24-28 pounds, while tennis rackets are typically strung at 50-60 pounds.
Rackets in both sports are designed to properly contact the ball and for the ball to bounce properly on the playing surface. Squash balls weigh between 23-25 grams, while tennis balls weigh between 56-59 grams.
The ball bounces off walls in squash and it doesn’t in tennis. Squash is played on a hardwood floor, while tennis is played on a hard court (designed as a cushioned surface), clay, or grass. A squash court is 32 feet long and 21 feet wide, while a tennis court is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide (for doubles).
All of these specifications make squash and tennis rackets unique, and they are not meant to be used for other sports. For both sports, it is recommended not to use a racket that is too heavy or too light to prevent strain on the arm.
When choosing the right squash or tennis racket for you, factors include level of play, style of play (such as power and control), and grip size.
A squash racket is too light and the strings are too loose to absorb the force of a tennis ball and to hit it a farther distance (with tennis courts being bigger than squash courts). This can lead to injury when using a squash racket for tennis.
It won’t work to string a squash racket as tight as a tennis racket so that it can be used for tennis, since this will exert too much pressure on the frame of a squash racket.
Can I Use a Tennis Racket to Play Squash?
Just as squash rackets can’t be used for tennis, tennis rackets can’t be used for squash. Squash shots use more wrist movement than tennis shots. Playing squash with a tennis racket can result in injury since these rackets are too heavy for the shots used in squash.
A mistake that beginner players can make is picking up any kind of racket and thinking it will be adequate for their purposes.
They may not want to invest in a racket right away, and they may not be able to tell the difference between different types of rackets. However, it is important to play with a proper racket when starting out to learn the proper form.
The early stages of a player’s development in squash or tennis are crucial to forming good technique habits (such as preparing early for the shot, transferring the weight forward, and following-through on the swing). If bad habits are formed right away because the player is using the wrong kind of racket, it will be difficult to correct these habits later on.
If a beginner squash player uses a tennis racket, or a beginner tennis player uses a squash racket, it will difficult to achieve any measure of success.
For example, a tennis player starting out might follow this progression: bouncing the ball on the court, dropping a ball in front and hitting it over the net, hitting a ball over the net after it has been hit by an instructor on the other side of the net, maintaining a rally against a backboard, and maintaining a rally over the net.
All of these tasks will be difficult with a squash racket, which is too light for tennis. Beginner tennis players are advised to use an oversize racket, which offers a larger “sweet spot” than a midsize racket, making it easier to make solid contact with the ball. The head size of a squash racket is too small for any tennis player, and much too small for a novice tennis player.
No competitive club-level or professional squash player would compete with a tennis racket, and no competitive club-level or professional tennis player would walk onto the court with a squash racket.
This should tell beginners that squash rackets are meant only for squash and tennis rackets are meant only for tennis, even if the player hasn’t reached an advanced level.
Other Differences Between Squash and Tennis
The two sports have different scoring systems. In squash, a match typically consists of best-of-five games, with 11 points needed to win a game. When the score reaches 10-10, a player must win by two points.
In tennis, a match consists of best-of-three sets (men play best-of-five sets at Grand Slam tournaments). A player needs to win six games (by a margin of two games or more) to win a set. When the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker is played (first player to seven points, winning by at least two points).
While the two sports both have professional circuits, tennis is an Olympic sport and squash is not. While squash is an indoor sport, tennis is played outdoors and indoors (most commonly outdoors).
Most professional tennis tournaments are played outdoors.The two sports are both great forms of cardio exercise, they can be enjoyed individually and with a partner, and they are excellent ways to develop friendships.
Join a squash club or a tennis club for social interaction, to participate in leagues and tournaments, and to meet other players for practice. Make sure to bring proper equipment with you, including the right type of racket.
