Nowadays there are a plethora of squash balls available to the public at their local sporting goods store. They come in a dizzying variety of colours and sizes, leaving the majority of people looking dazed and colourblind when in the squash aisle.

The different colours on a squash ball refer to the 'speed' of that ball and how it realtes to it's bounce. Balls with less bounce are for playing a faster game when compared with those with a large bounce. This review will focus on the Dunlop Pro Series squash ball with two yellow dots.

The double yellow dot ball is the competition standard ball used in all major championships around the world. It has the least bounce and hence is the fastest squash ball available to the general public. Some stiffer balls exist for playing in areas at altitude but these tend to be few and far between.

The Dunlop Pro Series comes either as a single ball or a tube of three. Larger packages are available but they tend to just be multiples of the smaller sizes. Despite the professional stamp and tournament affiliation these balls should be no more expensive or hard to find than any other size. In reality most shops only carry the blue, red, single yellow and double yellow editions of the Dunlop Pro series. Typical price is about £3 a ball and £7 for three. Price breaks exist for higher numbers so it's worth bearing in mind if you're purchasing for a club or a large group of players.

Like any squash ball the Dunlop Pro needs to be warmed up prior to play. Most players accomplish this by hitting it off the back wall a number of times on their own or in a rally. Usually 5 minutes or less will leave the ball warm enough for proper play. When compared with the higher bounce balls the Dunlop Pro seems to heat up quicker, perhaps due to the change in the rubber format.

Longevity is not an issue to the casual player. I have had the same double yellow ball for 4/5 months and I have seen no need to replace it. That said, a competitive player who goes for a game 3/4/5 times a week will obviously require one in a shorter space of time.

Overall there is little to say about this squash ball other than it performs it's task perfectly. It is as cheap as any of it's competitors and has the added bonus of affiliation to the world's largest competitions and competitors. A point to be made is that if you play with this ball in your local club the chances are that at any given competition you will be playing with the same ball, so you will avoid any surprises.

Thumbs up.