Now I have your attention with the click-bait title (sorry about that!), I’ll start by saying that I don’t really think the double yellow dot ball is the reason for fewer people playing squash. Well, it’s certainly not the main reason. However, could a more open minded approach to using different squash balls help keep people interested in playing squash for longer?
“You shouldn’t be using a double yellow dot ball” is the phrase most budding squash players will blissfully choose to ignore. I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt, the medal and the trophy.
There’s a variety of reasons why players choose to use a double yellow dot ball. For many, it’s simply a lack of knowledge and understanding of the game. For others, there’s perhaps a slight ego around using what the professionals use. Whatever people’s reasons may be, the double yellow dot ball is seen as the ‘standard’ ball that players should use on a squash court.
Does the double yellow dot ball do more harm than good?
Have you ever watched a match between two beginner players or two older players? Most rallies will be between 3-5 shots long. There might be the occasional ten shot rally, but it won’t go much further than that. There’s genuinely more time spent between points than when the ball is actually in play.
There’s nothing worse than watching two new players excited to be on court, for the ball to never make it past lukewarm. While they might enjoy the first few matches, the chances are they won’t stick around for the long run. The same can be said for matches between older players who have tremendous racket skills, where most rallies are finished within three points thanks to an accurate drop shot – it just doesn’t look particularly enjoyable for either player.
In stark contrast, watching a professional match where rallies can be in excess of 50 shots, the game has a completely different dynamic. People often call squash ‘chess on legs’, however, for the majority of club level and lower league players, I’m not sure how accurate this phrase is – there’s less focus on ‘earning’ a point, and more on who can play the ‘best shot’ from any position.
Why you should consider trying a bouncier ball
As a general rule of thumb, I’d encourage any club level/lower league player to have a go with a red dot ball, even if it’s just once. It might hurt your ego a little asking your opponent to use a different ball, but once you’re past that, you’ll realise how much more enjoyable squash can be.
1 – You’ll have longer, more enjoyable rallies
This is the obvious one – think of the most enjoyable squash match you’ve played. I can guarantee the rallies felt like they lasted forever. Squash with long rallies is far more fun than three-shot-rally matches. The game becomes a strategic battle between you and your opponent, much more akin to the ‘chess on legs’ that professionals play.
2 – You’ll spend less time (proportionally) between points
As you’ll be playing longer rallies, you’ll be spending a smaller percentage of time between points. If you only have 40 minutes on court, you’ll be making the most of the time, getting the best exercise and playing the most squash possible.
3 – You’ll probably play better squash
When the ball spends more time in the air, you’ll feel far less ‘rushed’ on court. This means you’ll have more time to contemplate the shot you’re about to play. You’ll also have more time to prepare your racket and more time to delay your swing. This will likely lead to you playing better rallies and, generally speaking, better, cleaner, less scrappy squash.
4 – There’s less impact on your joints
You’ll be making considerably less intensive movements when the ball is bouncing higher. Though the rallies may be longer, fewer shots will be out of reach. This is useful not just for older players, but for people looking to ensure greater long term joint health. This is the exact reason that Squash57 (or racketball, depending on your preference) has become so popular in recent years.
5 – They’re ideal for cold courts
Should your club ever forget to turn the heating on, keeping a bouncier ball in your bag is a good failsafe to make sure it doesn’t affect your game. There’s nothing worse than using a double yellow dot ball on a cold, cold court.
6 – They’re GREAT for practicing
If you don’t want to play a match with a red dot, that’s understandable. However, taking one on court to practice with is brilliant. A lukewarm red dot ball plays fairly similarly to a fully warmed up double yellow ball. This means you can spend as much time as you like practicing drop shots, lobs and low-medium paced drives, without the ball losing its bounce.
Which brand of ball should you choose?
While Dunlop has captured the market with their double and single yellow-dot balls, I would suggest looking towards a different brand for red/blue dot balls. Dunlop’s red and blue dot squash balls are bigger in both size and weight than their slower counterparts. They have a different feel to their double yellow dot balls, which isn’t ideal if you plan on switching between the two.
I personally found the Tecnifibre’s red/blue dot squash balls felt almost identical to a double yellow dot ball in terms of their size and weight. I’ve also heard similarly good things about Eye’s faster paced squash balls.
Would you be willing to give a faster ball a try? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject – be sure to leave a comment below!
Note from the author: I wrote this article after listening to the Squash Solutions podcast with Nick Taylor and Niall Engerer. Nick spoke really passionately around players using the correct squash ball, so I felt inspired to delve a little deeper into the subject. Their podcast is well worth a listen as they cover a wide variety of topics around the world of squash – I certainly found their point of view really insightful and interesting!
Hi Rob, interesting points, I have ordered some red dots for when we are allowed back on court, looking forward to seeing how they play.
Brilliant article Rob… I would add a major component of using red and blue dots in my program is helping to develop good technical principles in young players because of the hang time the bouncier ball creates.
Nick Taylor
I’am agree ( old player from cold Russia)
Totally agreed with Nick. I think Junior events around the globe should make it mandatory to use single dot balls.
Hi
I do agree with what is said for beginners , training , and senior players.
But not for professional games.
Myself & 2 friends, changed to a red spot ball 15 years ago after I counted the average length of rallies was 3 with the double yellow, and we were fairly good players for 55-60 year olds. I campaigned for change within my club (Abbeydale) with some success.
In my opinion it is the most significant reason for the decline in squash, to some extent the benefit of racket ball
Try the head double yellow dot……..same sire and height but absolutely better !!
Excellent article. I was thinking that for a long time. At my Club you wouldn’t be seen dead with a lesser ball than double yellow, but when I practice on my own I use a single yellow or red dot from when my girls were younger. I consider myself a good club player.
Brilliant article. Richard Millman wrote something similar a while ago:https://squashmad.com/breaking-news/comment-join-the-one-dot-revolution/
As Millman said, I think much of it is that our egos keep us non-professionals playing with the double-yellow and that creates such a huge barrier-to-entry for beginners.
What a great article
I’m what I would call a very average player
Started playing with double yellow as I didnt know any better
Was about 30 when I started so still quickish around the court, reasonaby fit and as rackets improved I managed
Courts were good, warm so got a reasonable workout.
Then I moved, courts were cold. In winter very very cold, no heating.
I was lucky enough to know about different balls so as I got older started playing with different balls, and was lucky enough to play with like minded people.I also bring heated gel packs with me, this allows us to get the ball up and running quicker.
I’ve watched people try to warm a double yellow on a cold court, it’s almost painful.
I’ve watched beginners with very low levels of skill and fitness use double yellow
Whenever chance arose I would assist, I always carry spare single yellow, blue and red dot balls. I give them away free.
I made posters and put them up explain what different coloured balls were and why they should be used.
It’s worth it to see the change, and mostly I get smiles and thank yous.
Sometimes though the odd swear word, this is just ego kicking in.
I’ve taught quite a few people to play squash, or got them started anyway, young, old, both sexes and varying abilities. Some who had been playing for years and years.
Dropping down a ball saw massive improvements in their skills improving, fitness and I’d like to think enjoyment.
1 young girl still at uni started playing, I had the odd game and gave basic instruction when she was home from uni. She paid a club coach at uni to hopefully improve. Everybody used double yellow, even the beginners??????
He gave no advice about different balls, what different rackets can bring to your game, appropriate footwear, warm up, warm down?????
I’m now 58, hip replacement, knee replacement, 8 months ago. We play with red dot.
We now also play varying games with rules that allow longer rallies.
For me squash has always been about enoyment first, fitness second, improving along the way.
My local courts have now closed.
My squash partner and I now drive 20 miles to play I’m sure this is happening a lot.
These days most modern sports change and evolve to interest more people or just keep the people thay have.
I have my own mind, know my body, know what I want from my game, so play red dot.
The Internet is a wonderful source of knowledge and can help a lot if you are open to different ways of thinking.
Yes since reading the original article we’ve tried single yellow and red dot balls and have had some better games as a result.
I currently play padel or tennis padel as some may know it! I’m 64 and my origins in racquet sport was mainly squash. As padel has similarities to squash, (namely the use of side and back walls) my younger days in my 20’s playing squash have without doubt excelerated my progress on the padel court.
Yesterday, I was asked to join a few people for a game of squash, I was exited to revisit this game, even though I hadn’t played for some 35 to 40 years!
In the 80’s we played with the smaller headed racquets such as Dunlop Maxply’s & Grays Light Blues. We used a single dot yellow ball
then and if I recall correctly occasionally a white dot on colder days!
The fact is, I may be older and I may be slower but not significantly! (Slower That Is) What I’ve just experienced with a double yellow dot ball is (and in a very warm country I should add) totally and utterly ridiculous! For me, even playing a pretty proficient elderly but fit hard hitting guy of 67, I swear the double yellow dot ball was infact punctured! Please understand even though this guy created some reasonable heat within the ball, the bounce levels for me remained something of a joke!
Finally, and here is my analogy, very skillful and hard hitting low handicap golfers play stiff shafted clubs, while the large majority of us more normal mortals take the help of a more regular flexible shafted club!
I will never know for sure whether my experience was a normal one on this double yellow dot ball, whether the ball was possibly beyond its ‘sell by date’ or just typical I simply can’t say for sure.
What I can state with great confidence however is this; Whoever you are starting out in this game, build your proficiency using suitable balls, as to whether the larger and very lightweight racquets are exacerbating the problem I wouldn’t know but seriously, if the game of squash is dying a death then.the egho fueled use of unsuitable balls is surely a major factor!
It’s good to see Rob’s original article continues to provoke debate. But getting people to play with a non-double dot ball is still a struggle. For what it’s worth I recently played with a Karakal double dot which seemed a hell of a lot bouncier that the usual Dunlops. Others might like to give them a try!