SQUASH RACKETS. A game played on exactly the same principle as rackets but in a smaller court and with a ball made of india-rubber. The rules are in most particulars similar to rackets but the scoring is different. In matches in England, hand in only can win an ace. The rubber is the best of five games of 9 up. If, however, the score becomes 8 all, the player who reached 8 first has the option of a set to two. In America a game con sists of 15 points up, and an ace is scored for each rally irrespective of which player is serving, all matches being the best three out of five games. The rotation of service in England is just as in rack ets. In the American game, the winner of one rally serves in the next.
The markings on the floor and front wall of the court are exactly similar to those in a racket court. On the front wall, the top of the play line is 19 in. from the floor and the service line is 6 ft. from the floor. The short line is 14 ft. from the back wall. The service boxes are 5 ft. 3 in. square. In the space be tween the play-line and the floor is generally placed a strip of tin or some other metal in order to differentiate clearly in sound when the part of the front wall "in play" or "out of play" is hit. The lines on the wall and floor are painted red. Maple is considered a most suitable wood for the floor. The courts should be lighted from the roof, and nearly all modern courts, in addition to this lighting are fitted with electric light for evening play.
The American standard court is of dif ferent size to the English, being consider ably narrower, 31 ft. by 18 ft. 6 in. The racket is precisely similar to the imple ment used in the game of rackets, only shorter in the handle. The ball is of black
rubber. Many different forms of ball have been tried and formerly, when there were no standard courts, the ball which seemed best suited to the particular conditions was generally used. For the present standard English court the Association has adopted three standard balls. The ball used in America is larger than that in England.
Open competitions at squash rackets were unknown in England before the World War. In the years since, several have been started, the most important be ing the London inter-club tournament (teams of three) for the Bath Club cup; the amateur championship, the royal navy and army champion ships, and the ladies championships. The winners of the amateur championship have been:—April 1923, Capt. T. 0. Jameson; Dec. 1923, Capt. Jameson ; Dec. 1924, W. D. Macpherson ; Jan. 1926, Capt. V. A. Cazalet; Dec. 1926, Capt. J. E. Tomkinson; Dec. 1927, Capt. V. A. Cazalet ; Dec. 1928, W. D. Macpherson ; 1929 and '3o, Capt. V. A. Cazalet ; 1931-3 and 1935-36, F. D. Amr Bey; 1934, C. P. Hamilton. The amateur championships are held annually in December at the Bath Club. The duke of Windsor is a very keen player and, as prince of Wales, competed several times in the amateur and army championships.
The British professional champion in 1937 was J. Dear (Prince's Club) who defeated D. Butcher (St. John's Wood Club). Leading lady players are Miss C. Fenwick, Miss Cave, Miss Joyce Cave, Miss S. Huntsman, Miss Susan Noel, and Miss M. E. Lumb.
The development of the game in America has been even more rapid than in England. The large cities of the United States, particularly New York, Boston and Philadelphia, are amply sup plied with courts and the game is also played with much keenness in Canada. Two British teams have visited America in the last few years and a United States team has also toured in England. Among leading American amateurs are M. Baker, W. Palmer Dixon and W. S. Wright. Recent champions are H. N. Rawlins, 1928, 193o, J. L. Pool, 1929, 1931-33, N. Sullivan, 1934.
The French Squash Rackets Association was formed in 1926 and four courts were opened in Jan. 1927. Outside Europe and America courts are to be found in several parts of the British empire, especially in India and the far East. There are courts in New Zealand and in South Africa.