How to Keep Score in Squash

How squash scoring works

PAR-11 (point-a-rally to 11) is the current WSF standard. Every rally produces a point regardless of who served. First to 11 points with a 2-point margin wins the game.

Best of 5 games is standard for both club and professional squash matches. Win 3 games to take the match.

Squash is unique among racquet sports because both players share the same physical space — you can't avoid interference completely. The "let" and "stroke" rules handle this. A let is replayed; a stroke is awarded to the player who was interfered with.

Edge cases and details

PAR-15 (first to 15) is the older scoring format and is still used in some recreational squash. The structure is identical but games are longer.

Hand-out scoring (where only the server scores) is the historical squash format that PAR replaced in 2004. You will essentially never encounter this any more.

The "no let" call is rare but real — if interference happened but the interfered-with player wouldn't have made the shot anyway, the rally stands as played.

Keeping score during a match

The traditional way to keep score in squash is to call it out after every point. The server announces their score first, then the receiver's score. This works for casual play but breaks down quickly when matches get long or someone gets distracted.

The better option for any match longer than a few games is to use a scoring app. Volley scores squash with both PAR-11 (default) and PAR-15 (toggle), best-of-3 or best-of-5 game formats, and a clean way to record lets and strokes when you need them.