Hardball squash
Encyclopedia
Hardball squash is a format of the indoor racquet sport
squash
which was first developed in North America
in the late 19h century and early 20th century. It is sometimes referred to as being the "American version" of the sport. Compared to the "British version" of the game – which today is usually referred to as being the "international" version, or "softball" squash – the hardball game is played using a harder rubber ball which plays faster, and usually on a smaller court for singles play, or a much larger court for the doubles game.
Records of squash being played in Canada
go back to the early 1880s. There it was found that the softer squash balls being used in Britain were not ideally suited to playing in the extremely cold conditions of the Canadian winter, and so a harder rubber ball was developed. It was quickly discovered that this ball was better suited to playing on slightly narrower courts than were used in the British version of the game. As the popularity of the game spread around Canada, the United States
and Mexico
, court specifications were codified. In 1924, it was decided to standardize the court width for the hardball games at 18+1/2 ft, with a 'tin' at the bottom of the front wall which was 17 inches (43.2 cm) high – whereas the British version of the game was played on a 21 feet (6.4 m), with a 19 inches (482.6 mm). By 1929, official court plans were being sold by the United States Squash Racquets Association (USSRA) (now called U.S. Squash
), and the hardball game was brought into controlled growth.
Hardball squash was largely the only form of the game played in North America until the 1980s. Growing exposure to the international version of the game then led to many clubs in North America building 21 feet (6.4 m), and the "soft" ball being used on wide and narrow courts. Additionally, the USSRA recognised a 20 feet (6.1 m) as being acceptable for playing the international version (this width being derived from an increasing trend of converting racquetball
courts for squash play). By the mid-1990s, the vast majority of squash players in North America had switched to playing the international version of the game. In 1996, 80% of squash ball sales in the United States were of the international-format balls.
Though hardball squash is no longer a very popular game for singles play, the hardball doubles game continues to thrive. Hardball doubles is played on a court measuring 45 ft (13.7 m) and 25 ft (7.6 m).
Most observers consider Sharif Khan (late-1960s to early-1980s) and Mark Talbott (mid-1980s to mid-1990s) to be the two greatest players of all time in the hardball game.
Racquet sport
Racquet sports are those where players use racquets to hit a ball or other object.-List of racquet sports:* Badminton* Ball badminton* Basque pelota** Frontenis** Jai alai* Beach tennis** Matkot* Bilbocatch* Frescoball* Lacrosse...
squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
which was first developed in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the late 19h century and early 20th century. It is sometimes referred to as being the "American version" of the sport. Compared to the "British version" of the game – which today is usually referred to as being the "international" version, or "softball" squash – the hardball game is played using a harder rubber ball which plays faster, and usually on a smaller court for singles play, or a much larger court for the doubles game.
Records of squash being played in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
go back to the early 1880s. There it was found that the softer squash balls being used in Britain were not ideally suited to playing in the extremely cold conditions of the Canadian winter, and so a harder rubber ball was developed. It was quickly discovered that this ball was better suited to playing on slightly narrower courts than were used in the British version of the game. As the popularity of the game spread around Canada, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, court specifications were codified. In 1924, it was decided to standardize the court width for the hardball games at 18+1/2 ft, with a 'tin' at the bottom of the front wall which was 17 inches (43.2 cm) high – whereas the British version of the game was played on a 21 feet (6.4 m), with a 19 inches (482.6 mm). By 1929, official court plans were being sold by the United States Squash Racquets Association (USSRA) (now called U.S. Squash
U.S. Squash
U.S. Squash is the national governing body for the sport of squash in the United States. U.S. Squash was previously known as the United States Squash Racquets Association . The organization is headquartered in New York City and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. U.S. Squash owns and...
), and the hardball game was brought into controlled growth.
Hardball squash was largely the only form of the game played in North America until the 1980s. Growing exposure to the international version of the game then led to many clubs in North America building 21 feet (6.4 m), and the "soft" ball being used on wide and narrow courts. Additionally, the USSRA recognised a 20 feet (6.1 m) as being acceptable for playing the international version (this width being derived from an increasing trend of converting racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
courts for squash play). By the mid-1990s, the vast majority of squash players in North America had switched to playing the international version of the game. In 1996, 80% of squash ball sales in the United States were of the international-format balls.
Though hardball squash is no longer a very popular game for singles play, the hardball doubles game continues to thrive. Hardball doubles is played on a court measuring 45 ft (13.7 m) and 25 ft (7.6 m).
Famous hardball squash players
- Michael DesaulniersMichael DesaulniersMichael "Mike" Desaulniers is a former World No. 1 hardball squash player from Canada.Desaulniers played squash for Harvard University, and won the US intercollegiate title in 1977, 1978 and 1980 ....
- Clive Caldwell
- Stuart GoldsteinStuart GoldsteinStuart "Stu" Goldstein is a squash player from the United States. He was one of the leading hardball squash players in North America from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s.Goldstein was formerly a squash All-American at Stony Brook University...
- Ralph HoweRalph HoweRalph Eliot Howe III is an American hardball squash player. He was one of the leading squash players in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s.Howe won the US national junior title in 1960...
- Sam HoweSam HoweSamuel P. "Sam" Howe III is an American hardball squash player. He was one of the leading squash players in the United States in the 1960s.Howe won the US national singles title twice in 1962 and 1967...
- Kenton JerniganKenton JerniganKenton L. Jernigan is a squash player from the United States. He was one of the leading hardball squash players in the US in the 1980s and 1990s....
- Victor NiederhofferVictor NiederhofferVictor Niederhoffer is a hedge fund manager, champion squash player, bestselling author and statistician.Victor Niderhoffer was born in Brooklyn to a Jewish family. His father, Arthur, graduated from Brooklyn Law School but went to work in the police. Victor’s mother, Elaine was a teacher....
- Sharif KhanSharif KhanSharif Khan is a retired professional squash player. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time great players of hardball squash . He was the dominant player on the hardball squash circuit throughout the 1970s...
- Diehl MateerDiehl MateerGeorge Diehl Mateer Jr. is an American hardball squash player and tennis player. He was one of the leading squash players in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. He is the only amateur player to have won two US Open squash titles . He also won three U.S. National Singles titles between 1954...
- John NimickJohn NimickJohn G. Nimick is an American squash player and tournament organizer. He was one of the leading hardball squash players in the United States in the 1980s...
- Henri Salaun
- Mario SanchezMario SanchezMario Sanchez is a squash player from Mexico. He was one of the leading hardball squash players in North America in the late-1970s and 1980s.- External links :*...
- Mark TalbottMark TalbottMark Talbott is a squash coach and former professional squash player from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time great players of hardball squash .Talbott was ranked as the World No...
Most observers consider Sharif Khan (late-1960s to early-1980s) and Mark Talbott (mid-1980s to mid-1990s) to be the two greatest players of all time in the hardball game.
Softball champions who also enjoyed notable success on the North American hardball circuit
- Azam KhanAzam Khan (squash player)Azam Khan is a former squash player from Pakistan who won the British Open four times between 1959 and 1962.Azam was introduced to squash by his older brother, Hashim Khan, who was also one of the world's top squash players in his time. After winning the British Open in 1951, Hashim recruited Azam...
- Hashim KhanHashim KhanHashim Khan is a former squash player from Pakistan. He won the British Open seven times between 1951 and 1958.Hashim Khan was born in Nawakille , a small village near Peshawar, in British India to an ethnic Pashtun family. The year of his birth is usually reported as 1916, though this has been...
- Jahangir KhanJahangir KhanJahangir Khan, HI, is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from Pakistan, who is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the game. During his career he won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times...
- Mo Khan
- Roshan KhanRoshan KhanRoshan Khan was a squash player from Pakistan. He was one of the leading players in the game in the 1950s and early-1960s, and won the British Open title in 1957...