The Basic Intent

This site, A Road to Better Doubles, was created to post my thoughts and concerns about hardball doubles squash.

I have a few concerns with the rules and officiating. Knowing what the rules state and having agreement when a rule is broken is fundamental. Otherwise, there is little hope for consistent officiating in accordance with the rules.

The main theme of the site will be to examine what is written in the rules and illustrate the rule with diagrams.

Where to Start

Rule 5 lays out various types of interference. It is a cornerstone of understanding and officiating squash. One type of interference is identified as ball flight. A player may request a let when they perceive an intended shot is being blocked. That is, if the striker had struck the ball, the ball would have hit an opponent. Ball flight interference is further subdivided into shots directly to the front wall, directly to the back wall, and to either sidewall.

Perhaps the most difficult shots to judge are those going to a side wall. Such a shot is called a boast. Book on Boasting, my initial series of posts, is not a book but the scoop, skinny, dope, low down, or inside information about boasts. The articles attempt to take Rule 5 a iii too its ultimate conclusion with respect to boasts by thoroughly examining the geometry of boasts. The application of rule 5 a iii is not consistent among referees. That is reason enough to create Book on Boasting—to shed light on boasts and associated let requests.

My Approach

Book on Boasting focuses on Rule 5 a iii. My approach has been to state what is written or inferred and apply that. Readers’ experience will be diverse. Some things are elementary, and some are a little more advanced, but nothing should be beyond a player’s capacity. The postings are somewhat sequential but there is repetition from one post to the next. New terminology and concepts are introduced and then incorporated in later postings.

The postings are restricted to a single item of interference, ball flight. I did not want to have other types of interference cloud the issues about ball flight.

The rules do not hint that being left handed or right handed is a consideration. Nor if the ball is struck forehanded or backhanded. Nor is there any suggestion that mirror images of situations should be treated differently. The flight of the ball prior to reaching the strike point is not considered. Thus, in the images only the striking point and the flight of the ball are shown.

The penalties that might be applied are not considered. I only consider the judgement of whether or not a let should be granted. Supplementary documents which have much to say about ball flight interference are not considered at this time.

Then What

After side wall boasts, other ball flight interference will be examined.

A short series about laws, rules, and fairness is currently being drafted.