Squash vs. Tennis — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 27, 2024
Squash is played indoors with a small, hollow ball, focusing on wall rebounds, while tennis is an outdoor/indoor game with a larger ball, played over a net.
Difference Between Squash and Tennis
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Key Differences
Squash involves two or four players hitting a small, rubber ball against the four walls of a court, with the game's strategy centered around controlling the ball's rebound. Tennis, on the other hand, is played by two or four players on a rectangular court divided by a net, where the primary aim is to hit the ball over the net into the opponent's court in a way that they cannot return it.
The equipment in squash includes a smaller racket and a soft, hollow rubber ball, which contrasts with tennis's larger rackets and a felt-covered, rubber ball designed for bounce and flight. These equipment differences significantly influence the gameplay and strategies of each sport.
Squash courts are enclosed, promoting a fast-paced game that requires quick reflexes and stamina due to the ball's rapid rebound from the walls. Conversely, tennis courts can be found in various surfaces including grass, clay, and hardcourt, affecting the ball's speed and bounce, thereby introducing a strategic variety to the game.
The scoring systems also differ; squash often uses a point-a-rally scoring system, where points can be scored by either player regardless of who serves, while tennis employs a series of points, games, and sets, with specific rules on how points are scored, creating a layered structure to matches.
Physically, squash demands intense, short bursts of energy and agility due to the confined space and rapid ball movement. Tennis, while also physically demanding, requires players to have endurance, powerful strokes, and the ability to cover a larger court, emphasizing a balance between physical and strategic play.
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Comparison Chart
Court Type
Enclosed space with four walls.
Open court divided by a net, with variable surfaces.
Ball
Small, hollow rubber ball.
Larger, felt-covered rubber ball.
Racket Size
Smaller rackets.
Larger rackets.
Gameplay
Focus on ball rebound from walls.
Focus on hitting the ball over a net.
Scoring System
Point-a-rally scoring, points can be scored by either player.
Series of points, games, and sets with specific rules for scoring.
Compare with Definitions
Squash
A racquet sport played indoors by hitting a ball against a wall.
They play squash every Thursday to improve their reflexes.
Tennis
Has four Grand Slam tournaments known as the majors.
Winning a Grand Slam is the highest achievement in tennis.
Squash
Uses a small, soft ball that hardly bounces unless warmed up.
Warming up the squash ball is crucial for proper play.
Tennis
A global sport played on grass, clay, or hardcourts.
Wimbledon is the most prestigious grass-court tennis tournament.
Squash
Played in a fully enclosed court.
Squash courts require less space than tennis courts.
Tennis
Played both outdoors and indoors, based on court type.
Indoor tennis courts allow play year-round, regardless of weather.
Squash
Known for its high intensity and short match durations.
Squash games are intense, often lasting less than an hour.
Tennis
Involves hitting a ball over a net using rackets.
Tennis players use powerful serves to gain an advantage.
Squash
Characterized by a fast-paced game requiring quick movements.
Squash demands excellent hand-eye coordination.
Tennis
Requires physical endurance and strategic play.
Tennis matches can last several hours, testing players' endurance.
Squash
The fruit of any of these plants, eaten as a vegetable.
Tennis
Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court.
Squash
The act or sound of squashing.
Tennis
A game played with rackets and a light ball by two players or two pairs of players on a rectangular court divided by a net. The players must hit the ball over the net and into a marked area on the other side for play to continue. Also called lawn tennis.
Squash
Something that has been squashed.
Tennis
Court tennis.
Squash
A crushed or crowded mass
A squash of people.
Tennis
(sports) A sport played by two players (or four in doubles), who alternately strike the ball over a net using racquets.
Squash
(Sports) A game played on a four-walled court by two or four players who use long-handled rackets to hit a small rubber ball against the front wall, with play stopping if the ball bounces twice on the floor or does not reach the front wall after a stroke. Also called squash rackets.
Tennis
(dated) A match in this sport.
Squash
Chiefly British A citrus-based soft drink.
Tennis
(obsolete) An earlier game in which a ball is driven to and fro, or kept in motion by striking it with a racquet or with the open hand.
Squash
To beat, squeeze, or press into a pulp or a flattened mass; crush.
Tennis
To play tennis.
Squash
To put down or suppress; quash
Squash a revolt.
Tennis
(transitive) To drive backward and forward like a tennis ball.
Squash
To silence or fluster, as with crushing words
Squash a heckler.
Tennis
A play in which a ball is driven to and fro, or kept in motion by striking it with a racket or with the open hand.
His easy bow, his good stories, his style of dancing and playing tennis, . . . were familiar to all London.
Squash
To become crushed, flattened, or pulpy, as by pressure or impact.
Tennis
To drive backward and forward, as a ball in playing tennis.
Squash
To move with a splashing or sucking sound, as when walking through boggy ground.
Tennis
A game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court
Squash
With a squashing sound.
Squash
(uncountable) A sport played in a walled court with a soft rubber ball and bats like tennis racquets.
Squash
(British) A soft drink made from a fruit-based concentrate diluted with water.
When I'm thirsty I drink squash; it tastes much nicer than plain water.
Squash
A place or a situation where people have limited space to move.
It's a bit of a squash in this small room.
Squash
(biology) A preparation made by placing material on a slide flat, rectangular piece of glass, covering it and applying pressure.
Squash
Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of peas.
Squash
Something unripe or soft.
Squash
A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
Squash
An extremely one-sided, usually short, match.
Squash
A plant and its fruit of any of a few species of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
Squash
Cucurbita maxima, including hubbard squash, great winter squash, buttercup squash, and some varieties of pumpkins.
Squash
Cucurbita argyrosperma (syn. Cucurbita mixta), cushaw squash.
Squash
Cucurbita moschata, butternut squash, Barbary squash, China squash.
Squash
Cucurbita pepo, most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash, zucchini.
Squash
(botany) Any other similar-looking plant of other genera.
Squash
Lagenaria siceraria (syn. Cucurbita verrucosa), calabash, long-neck squash.
Squash
(culinary) The edible or decorative fruit of these plants, or this fruit prepared as a dish.
We ate squash and green beans.
Squash
Muskrat.
Squash
(transitive) To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
Squash
To compress or restrict (oneself) into a small space; to squeeze.
Somehow, she squashed all her books into her backpack, which was now too heavy to carry.
We all managed to squash into Mum's tiny car.
Squash
(transitive) To suppress; to force into submission.
Squash
An American animal allied to the weasel.
Squash
A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
Squash
Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease.
Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod.
Squash
Hence, something unripe or soft; - used in contempt.
Squash
A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies.
My fall was stopped by a terrible squash.
Squash
A game much like rackets, played in a walled court with soft rubber balls and bats like tennis rackets; - called also squash rackets.
Squash
To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
Squash
Any of numerous annual tendril-bearing trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits
Squash
Edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable
Squash
A game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets
Squash
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
Common Curiosities
What is a common physical demand in both sports?
Both sports require high levels of fitness, but squash emphasizes agility and quick reflexes, while tennis requires endurance and powerful strokes.
Can tennis be played indoors?
Yes, tennis can be played on indoor courts.
How does the court surface affect tennis play?
The court surface (grass, clay, hardcourt) influences the ball's speed and bounce, affecting gameplay and strategy.
How do the scoring systems in squash and tennis differ?
Squash often uses point-a-rally scoring, while tennis uses a series of points, games, and sets with specific scoring rules.
Are squash courts bigger than tennis courts?
No, squash courts are smaller and fully enclosed, unlike tennis courts.
What is the main strategic difference between squash and tennis?
Squash emphasizes controlling the ball's rebound off walls, while tennis focuses on hitting the ball over a net into the opponent's area.
Is squash considered a good workout?
Yes, squash is a high-intensity sport that provides an excellent cardiovascular workout.
What is the role of the walls in squash?
Walls are integral to squash gameplay, as players must hit the ball against them.
Can you score points when not serving in squash?
Yes, points can be scored by either player regardless of who serves.
What is a Grand Slam in tennis?
A Grand Slam refers to winning all four major tennis tournaments in a single calendar year.
What equipment is unique to squash?
Squash uses smaller rackets and a small, hollow rubber ball.
What type of ball is used in squash?
A small, soft rubber ball is used in squash.
How do players win points in tennis?
Players win points by hitting the ball in such a way that their opponent cannot return it properly within the court boundaries.
What makes tennis a strategic game?
Tennis strategy involves serve and return, shot placement, and adapting to different court surfaces.
How does weather affect outdoor tennis?
Weather conditions can significantly affect play, especially on grass and clay courts.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
