Squash serve rules and how to serve
Every rally starts with a serve. There is no second serve in squash: a fault gives the point straight to the opponent.
Who serves first
The first server is decided by a racket spin. After that, the winner of each rally serves. At the start of every new game the winner of the previous game serves first.
Where to stand
The server must have at least one foot completely inside the service box, not touching its lines. At the start of each hand the server chooses a box; while they keep winning points they alternate between the right and left box.
Where the ball must go
The serve must hit the front wall directly — between the service line (1.78 m) and the out line (4.57 m). Hitting a side wall first is a fault.
After the front wall the ball (unless the receiver volleys it) must land in the opposite back quarter: from the right box into the left back quarter and vice versa. Landing on the short or half-court line is a fault.
Types of serve
The lob serve goes high on the front wall and drops into the back corner — hard to attack. The hard serve is faster and lower; it can catch the receiver off guard but is easier to get wrong.
Try it in the game
When you serve in the game, the target quarter is highlighted in green. Try a soft serve below the service line and see what happens.
Play squash onlineQuestions and answers
- Is there a second serve in squash?
- No. Modern squash has one serve: a service fault gives the point to the opponent.
- Can the serve hit the side wall?
- Only after the front wall. If the ball hits a side wall first, it is a fault.
- Can you volley the serve?
- Yes. If the receiver volleys the serve, the quarter rule no longer applies.