Why Do Squash Players Touch The Glass?
Have you noticed many squash players touching the glass during a game? Squash has many interesting rules, and the players have no less interesting habits. But why do squash players touch the glass?
The primary reason squash players touch the glass is to dry their hands. Having sweaty hands while playing squash makes it more difficult to grip the racket, so many squash players dry their hands on the glass by touching it. Squash players also touch the wall to settle before serving.
There are various reasons why a squash player may choose to touch the glass, and many do it without realizing it is something they do. We’ll consider why squash players touch the glass and when you can hit the glass while playing squash.
Why Do People Touch The Glass When Playing Squash?
When watching a game of squash, you may notice that the squash players often touch the glass side walls. Amateur and professional players do this, and it might make you wonder if it has to do with the rules of squash.
Well, it doesn’t. In fact, the reason why many squash players touch the glass during the game is much simpler than that and can be boiled down to three primary reasons:
- Squash players touch the glass to dry their hands.
- Second, squash players touch the glass to settle themselves.
- Third, squash players touch the glass if they’re slipping.
These reasons might not make sense to you if you’ve never played squash before, but they are straightforward for those who have. Let’s consider why squash players touch the glass in more detail.
Squash Players Touch The Glass To Dry Their Hands
The first and most common reason why squash players may touch the glass during a game is to dry their hands. You get insanely sweaty while playing squash and your clothes are only dry for the first game or two if they even last that long.
Therefore, many squash players touch the glass to dry their hands, specifically before serving to ensure their hands are dry and they can grip the racket securely. While it’s true that glass isn’t the best material to dry your hands on, it is often the best alternative in the squash court.
You aren’t allowed to take water or a towel into most squash courts, meaning there aren’t many options for drying your hands. When your clothes are soaked, the cool glass is the next best thing to use a method for drying your hands.
Squash Players Touch The Glass To Settle Themselves
Another reason why many squash players touch the glass is to settle themselves. For example, if a new serve is coming, or if you had a frustrating rally, you might need a second to compose yourself and focus before starting the next one.
People often hold steady objects, like walls and furniture, to settle and ground themselves in everyday situations. Therefore, it’s not far-fetched to assume that squash players touch the glass for the same reason. You may notice that the longer the match continues, the more the players touch the glass to calm themselves.
In this case, the squash player may not even notice that they are touching the glass, as it is an immediate and automatic response. This is why squash players don’t always recall touching the glass if they do it as part of a nervous tick while playing.
Squash Players Touch The Glass If They’re Slipping
Another reason why squash players may touch the glass is if they are slipping. You may slip on the court if you don’t wear proper squash shoes. If you feel yourself slipping during a rally, you may grab for the glass to prevent yourself from falling.
Since there aren’t any rules against touching the glass when playing squash, you can touch it to prevent yourself from falling when you slip. However, slipping on the court can cause you to lose focus, which may cost you points or the game. This is why most squash players wear proper shoes that are made not to slip on the court.
These are the three most common reasons why squash players touch the glass. But you might also notice that they only touch the glass at certain times during the rally. Why is this? And when do squash players mostly touch the glass?
When Do Squash Players Touch The Glass?
We’ve discussed why many squash players touch the glass, but did you also know there is a time during the squash match when they are more likely to do so? Most squash players will touch the glass during squash before they serve the ball or are served to.
This is true for both drying their hands and settling themselves. Touching the glass sort of resets the player’s mind as they prepare to make or receive a serve, and this is why you will mostly see squash players touch the glass at this time.
Touching the glass before a serve is also the only time a squash player gets to do so, as there isn’t time to rest or take a break during a rally. This is why some people think that touching the glass is a part of the squash rules, as it only happens between serves.
The only reason a squash player will ever touch the glass in the middle of a rally is when they feel like they are slipping and grab the glass to prevent them from falling. Now that we have discussed why and when squash players touch the glass, you may wonder if they can hit the ball onto the glass in a game.
Can You Hit The Glass When Playing Squash?
Considering all the rules in squash, you may wonder if players can hit the glass during a match. Well, the answer is yes. Squash players may hit the ball against the glass during any part of the rally except the serve.
When a squash player serves the ball, it must hit the front wall first before the other player returns it. After the serve, a player is free to hit the ball against the glass or back wall when trying to score points. Therefore, the glass isn’t merely to enclose the space and for touching but serves another purpose in the game of squash.
Squash players often hit the ball against the glass or side wall to outplay their opponents and score points.
Is Squash Good Exercise?
Finally, since we’ve discussed how much squash player sweat and their need for drying their hands, you may wonder if squash is good exercise? Squash is excellent exercise and one of the best sports with HIIT training.
Squash targets many muscles in your body and improves your cardiovascular endurance. It is also a sport that sends your heartbeat up the most and can easily send your heart rate up to its maximum during an intense game.
Considering this, it’s no surprise that squash players sweat so much and require a moment, and space, to dry their hands between rallies.
Conclusion
Squash players often touch the glass during a squash game to dry their hands, which become sweaty from playing. Touching the glass can also help to calm squash players before serving the ball, and they may touch the glass if they feel themselves slipping.
