On the Game of Doubles Squash — Hardball

By Jackie Ferrier

Hardball doubles attracts a lot of single players partly because it’s considered to be easier on the body.

For one, you don’t have to get every ball (usually) and you don’t have to cover the entire court every other hit. Despite the court being longer the the ball bounces farther, lobs are often used as a tactical shot to push your partners back in the court, giving you more time to get into position. This all results in fewer sudden twists, turns or lunges.

But it also attracts singles players who have been playing a long time because while there are similarities to singles squash, doubles brings new challenges. It’s a faster, more complex game, with longer rallies and and greater risks of getting hit.

how does it work?

The most frequent questions I’ve heard in discussing hardball doubles squash is does one play the front and the other the back or do you stay on your own side. Do you take turns? Do you hit to one then the other? Who serves?

In general it’s similar to a singles squash game except instead of players hitting it back and forth to one another, teams hit it back and forth (doesn;t matter which player from the team).

Serving

You serve from the service box to the quarter on the other side. If you win the rally, you move to the other side to serve. Your team loses the rally, and the serve goes to the same team partner before it goes to the opposing team (except the after the first losing rally where it does to the other team). Sequence would be A1, B1, B2, A1, A2, B1, B2, A1, B2 and so on usually until 15 points (and usually don’t need to win by two points.

Who hits

The ball is played from team to team.

Generally you play your side. If I play the right side (right wall), I am expected to get everything front and back on the right whenever possible. Same if I play on the left with the following exceptions:

If I am too far away to retrieve a ball hit to my side, so my team mate might come over and cover that shot. But note, that doing so puts the team at risk because you leave the whole other side open. It’s best to play a long shot to the back in that case to give time for your team to recover their positions.

Some players take on an “I” position, (usually temporarily) where one plays the back court and the other plays the front. However in my experience from both playing and watching more experienced players, while one person can cover the back, it takes two to adequately cover the front. If one moves forward to cover a short ball, the other player should still be at the red line or even a step in front of it and should still be ready to move forward while ensuring that they can cover both sides at the back if needed.

Communicate is key, otherwise collisions can and do occur! You might be tracking a high ball running to the back and as the ball lands – surprise! Your partner who has remained silent is there and you both blow the shot.

When the ball comes to the muddle, who ever has a forehand shot plays it most commonly.

The Same but Different

More Lets, Less Strokes

Typically there are more lets called in a doubles game. While similarities include the same rules for lets and strokes in theory, strokes are called on the hitting player and rarely called on the player’s partner.

Unlike in singles, if you hit another player when the ball is going to the front wall, it is a Let and not a stroke. In all cases, a player should hold off hitting th

A Second Serve

Generally the game is played to 15. The rules about serving and number of bounces, etc. is the same, except if your serve is out, you get a second serve! But not only do you get a second serve, each player on the team serves in order before the ball gets handed over to the other team (all except the first rally where just one player on the team serves before it’s handed over).

Court Awareness

Many singles players watch the game of hardball doubles squash and are too intimidated to try it. Too watch it is more confusing to actually play it, however. But you’re not wrong to think it can get confusing and messy. But this is half the thrill in playing doubles.

Now you have to pay attention to two opponents on the court instead of one, as well as keep an eye on where your own partner is. Court awareness becomes even more important. Teams start to learn how their partner and their opponents prefer to play, and when one should cover and the other get the ball.

Initially when you are starting out you will make a drop shot you think is good (it probably won’t be – it won’t die as easily) because you know your same side wall opponent is at the back. Won’t you be surprised when the other wall opponent comes flying over the get that bad drop!

Different Ball, Different strategies

The hardball game originated in North America where the courts were cold, and it was difficult to warm up the standard singles ball. The ball is the same size, but it is a much harder ball (hence the term “hardball” doubles).

What makes the game distinctly different for singles players is that the hard ball bounces differently and moves much faster. Because the court dimensions are different (longer and wider) and you play with four on the court, the tactics and strategies are different.

Shots you might avoid on a singles court, like shots in the middle, cross courts or wild boasts suddenly have a role in doubles. Some think there is more opportunity to be creative in a doubles game. Standard shots, like tight rails down the wall are less threatening ih a doubles game than a singles game, because getting dying length is much trickier. Generally the ball sits up much higher and comes out farther coming off the wall allowing the player to get these shots much more easily.

movement

Movement is a tricky thing to learn in doubles if you are a singles player. Typically many singles players starting our will drift to the middle of the court and behind the service line the most secure and comfortable place to get the ball from.

“T” Position

However the “T” position is not actually where the T is on the court, but closer to where the service box is and on the red line or a step in front of the line. Standing in the middle of the court is appropriate when others are getting the balls, but often causes traffic problems when it is time to hit your ball. If you are in the middle, your wall opponent may be forced to stand closer to the wall, which should be your position.

Also, if you are too far out into the middle, it can be difficult to retrieve a hard hit shot down the wall depending on where the ball is being hit from.

New players often start to drift back behind the service line. There is a discomfort for singles players to be so far forward. One, they can’t see the whole court. Two, it’s not the natural place to be when you are on a singles court. Three there is a lack of belief that they can get a ball from the back in time.

In reality, a ball to the back that is too high to volley is more likely to come bouncing off the back wall. Not only is it coming out further requiring you to run as far back, but the ball is in the air longer so you usually have more time to run back to get it. It is running to the front that is the real threat. So keep your eye on the red liine. If you can see it you are too far back.

Clearing To the Middle

Once singles players understand this concept the next task is clearing when it’s time for your same side wall opponent to hit the ball.

Most commonly experienced players will clear near to the middle to allow players at the walls to hit (assuming the ball won’t be returned from the middle). Depending on the shot, you might creep in closer to the wall, but you have to allow your opponent to have full view of the front wall. Once your opponent has hit, you might step into the “T” position. This movement creates a lateral side to side “movement”dance” that you might enter into with your same-side wall opponent.

As players gain more experienced and court sense on the doubles court, they may engage in this dance less because they read the ball better and clearing has become an automatic way of moving. But new players should conscious learn these patters to avoid traffic problems, and getting hit or hitting someone with the ball.

Clearing to the Wall

Unlike singles, there are times you will also want to clear to your wall side (like actually touching the wall) – this is usually when the ball is going to be returned from the middle at the back in particular.

The most common time people get hit with the ball on the court that I have seen is when the ball is coming off the glass at the back in the middle. The hitting player is turned toward the glass watching the ball, and loses sight of where everyone is on the court. Experienced players are watching where the ball will be hit from, but inexperienced players may be standing in the middle facing the front wall, unaware that the ball may have bounced to the middle at the back and this is where the player is hitting from. Watching is even more important in doubles than singles!

Does it mess with your singles game?

Starting out as a singles “D” player, I was concerned that playing doubles might mess with my singles game. When I first started it did a little – I was hitting the ball out in singles after playing doubles, or expecting the ball to bounce more coming off the back wall, etc. It takes a little time to make the adjustment. But this seems to be a short term effect. It really is a different game and soon enough you adapt.

Over a short period of time it actually seemed to help my singles game. The singles court started to seem small, every ball gettable because it was closer and moving slower making balls more “gettable” than I remember. Whether it’s actually true, that perception can’t hurt!

Doubles is Social

People talk about squash being a social game. Players love to talk about it, and go out for food or drinks after they play. My experience of doubles is that it’s… well… double that. Needing four on a court means you have to connect with people. Having a partner means talking strategy with them, or at a minimum calling for the ball when the both of you might go for it.

If you are lucky enough to play at a club that has a vibrant community like I do, several of us will come out and play together, rotating courts and partners allowing you to get to know people and their playing styles.

If you remember loving the challenge and satisfaction of learning squash, or you have simply been playing singles for a long time, I strongly encourage you to find a hardball doubles court if you can and take it up.

Doubles Squash Strategy

If you are interested in learning more about the strategy

Peter Briggs Article – Primer of the Game of Doubles Squash

You’ll find Peter Brigg’s article in different places around the internet. I’ve included a link to one for your convenience.

http://thesquashist.blogspot.com/2010/07/primer-on-game-of-doubles-squash-peter.html

Locations of Doubles Squash Courts

Canada

https://squash.ca/doubles/

United States

https://clublocker.com/organizations/10000/clubs

By Jackie Ferrier