Lately, there has been an uptick in raging debate among various communities that is puzzling sports enthusiasts involving pickleball and squash players corresponding to the fact which sport out of these two holds the most might.

While it’s evident that both of these sports hail with a humble beginning, the debate between Pickleball and squash regarding which reigns supreme always seemed enticing to me which is why I felt compelled to curate this article and throw some shade on it.

In Addition to that, I would also be tagging along my two cents about which one is better suited for your playstyle and aligns well with your mindset, in case you hold the passion to get into either of these sports.

Fundamental Differences Between Pickleball Vs Squash

Let’s dig in what are the key differences you may find when comparing these two sports,

Court Dimensions 

Even though Pickleball has considerably slower game mechanics, it still rocks a far bigger court than Squash. In technical terms, a Pickleball court measures up to a whopping 44 feet in length while being 20 feet in width.

Meanwhile, squash players have to accommodate themselves in far smaller spaces as their court measures 32 feet in length while being 21 feet in width approximately. 

While there is a considerable amount of space in terms of length for pickleball players when the width is kept in perspective, the squash court certainly is a foot thicker but nevertheless, it barely makes a difference.

Equipment Assortment 

Pickleball paddles come in two typical variants, oblong and rectangular shaped depending on the type of playstyle you may want to embark on.

But regardless of the variant you choose, both of them are generally made from the same substance type i.e. wood, graphite, or fiberglass. However, it’s evident that the better the quality of the material, the more expensive it may get.

These paddles consist of a unique core which in turn is made from either polymer or nomex material, to provide integrity and support to the face of the paddle.

Nevertheless, paddles are required to have a texture similar to honeycomb and are no heavier than 9 ounces with a grip that is around 4.5 inches.

Squash racquets are oval and longer in size to cover more area while swinging at arm’s length. In general, they measure around 25 inches, however, there are brands that manufacture racquets about 30 inches.

Speaking of size variations, these racquets share similar materials such as graphite or carbon fiber composite to make them feel lighter.

Unlike Pickleball paddles, these racquets have a string pattern which has a pattern of 16×19 with small holes in between. These strings may or may not have a shock compensation system to assist in shot execution.

Ball Type

Pickleball utilizes a vibrant yellowish ball that is made from plastic composite and has around 40 small holes which are influenced by the wind when played in outdoor settings. 

The ball is typically hollow and has a smooth surface, this is kept intentionally so that the honeycomb texture of the surface can easily spin the ball.

The diameter of the ball is 73mm as per the official pickleball federation, anything less or more violates the rules as it may change the trajectory dynamics.

Squash balls are quite interesting in nature and have much more density and integrity when compared to a standard pickleball ball.

These are characterized by three variations, 

1. Double Yellow Dots

These are the slowest of the bunch and move or bounce rigidly, in fact, the bounce frequency is tactile when compared to a traditional ball.

2. Single Yellow Dots

the intermediate variation and the most commonly used in training drills and clubs as it provides a realistic experience for both rookies and professional players.

3. Single Red Dots

The snappiest of them all, these are the balls that will bring the best out of you and test your limits. If you want to train your reflexes, red dots are the way to go.

These ball variations are by far one of the biggest differences when comparing Pickleball vs Squash.

Serving Rules and Positioning

The only similarity you might see between these sports is the serving methodology as players are required to serve underhand below the waistline.

However, in squash, the server has to stand in their own serving box and it must hit above the serve line and below the boundary line.

In Pickleball, there is no rule stopping you from serving from a position you are standing in, as long as you are behind the service line. Moreover, you also have to make sure the ball double bounces before it is received by the receiver otherwise it will result in a fault.

Kitchen Rules

To maintain the pace of the game and prevent an unfair advantage, Pickleball players are prohibited from volleying the ball directly in the non-volley zone. A non-volley zone is a 7-foot zone that initiates directly from the net and is present on both sides of the court.

Unlike Pickleball, there is no particular rule or zone that stops the players in squash from executing shots as aggressively as they like. So players can volley directly with minimal hindrance.

So Which One Has a Lower Learning Curve?

Generally, in Pickleball, players have to hit the ball back and forth unless it goes out of bounds or there is a Kitchen Rule violation. As per the server rule, only the server can score and the game is only played aggressively once it reaches the volley phase.

On the other hand, squash enables players to become aggressive right off the bat. It’s all about timing your shots correctly since the only way to score is either the ball goes out of bounds or your opponent fails to execute the shot on the correct region on the wall.

Henceforth, you would be putting more leg work around the court than pickleball.

Final Verdict

Being a sports enthusiast and a gym rat who believes in a healthy lifestyle and mental wellbeing, my verdict crowns both Pickleball and Squash the king of the hill since they hold their own set of charms and challenges and there are no two ways about that.

In fact, being a first-hand aficionado of both of these sports, I would expunge this discussion of Pickleball vs. squash since the whole point of these sports is to have fun and enjoy the time of your life while staying in shape.