I've played the game of squash for the last three years, and find It to be an incredibly effective work-out. Unlike golf, where the ball plays only a small part in determining a player's performance, the squash ball is an extremely important factor in deciding the outcome of a game. This is because certain squash balls have a lower bounce than others. The balls used by beginner players are very bouncy, whereas, the pro-standard balls have a low bounce, giving the player less time to return the shot. So how do you know which squash balls are right for you?... luckily there's a dot and colour system in place.


Varieties of squash balls: the dot / colour system
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Beginner squash balls are blue in colour (often known as the 'Max' if manufactured by Dunlop) and are slightly larger than the balls which are available for more seasoned players. Next up (in the UK at least) is a little black number known as the 'Progress' ball - like the Max, this particular sphere is nice and bouncy, but not quite as large. Following on is the standard 'Competition' ball with its a single yellow spot - this is significantly less bouncy than the Max and the Progress, and is aimed at the intermediate player. Finally, there's the 'Pro' ball, which has a double yellow spot and is the least bouncy of the lot. I normally opt for the latter, as I feel it makes for a more exciting game with less time to think.


A bit more about the ball itself
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The standard squash ball has a diameter of 40mm and is made from rubber. Dunlop are the world's premium manufacturer of the squash ball, and seem to have a monopoly on the market. To be honest, i've only ever used Dunlop squash balls - firstly because they are the best, and secondly because many sports shops only sell the Dunlop variety! There are other manufacturers out there however, and if for some reason you can't get hold of a Dunlop ball, Wilson balls are arguably regarded as the next best thing.


Warming up your balls
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It's common practice to "warm" the squash ball before you start a game - and this is because it only reaches its optimum level of bounce when it becomes a certain temperature. The warming process is simple enough - you just hit the ball against the far wall until the bounce is of a consistently acceptable level. In winter, it can take quite a long time to get the ball up to speed if there is a poor heating system in the leisure centre - even the most bouncy of squash balls won't be especially easy to hit unless it's had enough warm up time.


So how much do squash balls cost?
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You can currently purchase a three pack of Dunlop's Pro Squash balls for around seven pounds from amazon.co.uk - and, both the Competition and Progress balls are available for a similar price. Wilson's three pack of squash balls retail at £7.50, although as I previously mentioned, my personal preference is Dunlop. The beginner Dunlop Max ball can be bought on it's own for £3, or in a pack of three for £7.50.


Squash Ball Longevity & Final Word
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In my experience, i've found that Dunlop's squash balls will last between three to four months before they need replacing - of course this also depends on the amount you play, and how hard you hit the ball in the first place! Normally, a small split will appear somewhere on the ball, resulting in a lower than usual bounce which should be instantly noticeable. At the end of the day, your choice of squash ball will result in how much you enjoy your game of squash - so it's important to buy the correct ball for your own level of play. I highly recommend the entire Dunlop range, which I have found to be reliable and cost-effective.