Sport comparison
Tennis vs Squash: What's the Difference?
If you're trying to decide between Tennis and Squash, the honest answer is they're different enough that most people end up enjoying both for different reasons. This page lays out the differences so you can pick where to start.
| Attribute | Tennis | Squash |
|---|---|---|
| Court size | 23.77m × 8.23m (singles) / 10.97m wide (doubles) | 9.75m × 6.4m, four-walled enclosed court |
| Equipment | Tennis racquet (28in max), pressurised felt ball, mesh net | Squash racquet, hollow rubber ball, no net |
| Scoring | 0/15/30/40, deuce/advantage, sets to 6 (win by 2), best of 3 or 5 | PAR-11 (point a rally, first to 11, win by 2), best of 5 games |
| Physical demand | High — sustained sprint and recovery, full-body coordination | Very high — explosive lunging, sustained intensity, often called the toughest racquet sport |
| Learning curve | Steep — serve, groundstrokes, volleys all need separate technique | Moderate — getting the ball back is easy, controlling it precisely is hard |
| Match duration | 60–180 minutes depending on format | 30–60 minutes |
| Indoor / outdoor | Both — outdoor on hard/clay/grass, indoor on hard/carpet | Indoor only (enclosed court) |
| Group size | Singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2) | Singles primarily |
How Tennis and Squash compare
The rule sets diverge in a few specific places that matter on day one.
Tennis is played on a 23.77m × 8.23m (singles) / 10.97m wide (doubles) court with the equipment and scoring described above. The physical demand is high — sustained sprint and recovery, full-body coordination — that's a real factor in deciding whether you can play it twice a week without burning out. Tennis also has a steep — serve, groundstrokes, volleys all need separate technique learning curve, which determines how quickly you go from "this is frustrating" to "this is fun".
Squash uses Squash racquet, hollow rubber ball, no net and scores PAR-11 (point a rally, first to 11, win by 2), best of 5 games. Matches typically run 30–60 minutes.
The deciding factors
The biggest practical question is venue access. Tennis courts are more common in some countries; Squash courts in others. Check what's within 15 minutes of home before committing — the sport you can actually play regularly beats the sport you'd theoretically prefer.
A subtler difference is the social structure. Tennis tends to draw a mix of competitive club players and lifelong recreational regulars; Squash typically attracts fitness-focused players who want maximum intensity per hour. Neither is better — but if you're joining a club, the vibe matters as much as the rules.
Which should you try first?
Try **Squash** first if you're new to racquet/court sports. It has the gentler learning curve and gets you to fun rallies faster.
But honestly: try both if you can. Volley supports all 9 sports with separate ELO ratings, so you can play both, see how you progress in each, and decide which one you actually enjoy more after a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Which sport has more clubs near me?
Depends entirely on where you live. Tennis and Squash both have growing player bases globally but the density varies enormously by region. Search both terms in your local sports facility directory.
Can I play both Tennis and Squash?
Yes — and many people do. The skills overlap enough that learning one helps the other (especially the racquet sports). Volley tracks separate ELO ratings per sport, so you can see how you stack up in each independently.
Can I track my Tennis and Squash ratings in one app?
Yes. Volley supports all 9 racquet, court, and team sports with separate ELO ratings per sport plus an All-Rounder rating that combines them. Free on iOS and Android.
Is Tennis or Squash better for fitness?
Both are good cardio. Tennis demands high — sustained sprint and recovery, full-body coordination; Squash demands very high — explosive lunging, sustained intensity, often called the toughest racquet sport. If pure intensity per hour is the goal, the higher-demand sport wins. If sustainability over years is the goal, the lower-demand one is the better long-term play.