Let's Talk Squash - SUSPENDED

Easynaah · Contributor Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 12

From the marketing messages that are put out about squash there is a push to attract new spectators to the sport, particularly through TV. However the explanation for the scoring changes for doubles is to make it "more exciting for athletes and spectators alike". Fine, except that TV viewers and match day crowds can currently see squash matches scored as:
(1) Hand in -Hand out to 9. Set 1 or 2 [WSF & WISPA tournaments]
(2) PAR to 11. Two Clear [PSA tournaments]
(3) PAR to 15. Two Clear [Selected tournaments]
(4) PAR to 9. Two Clear [PSL]
(5) PAR to 9. Set One [WSF Doubles]

The same explanation has been used for PAR to 11 scoring. Also does that mean Hand In-Hand Out to 9 is bad for spectatros now?

Surely so many scoring systems are bad for the players and also how is anyone going to attract more spectators to the sport when they need a explanation before a ball is hit?

Adam Hildred · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

IMO, squash scoring should just be universal and it should be able to be summed up in five words:

"PAR to eleven, two clear."

Maybe keep English to nine at club level, but when you get to a level where there tend to spectators, then "PAR to eleven, two clear."
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HACKER · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

How do we get the 'powers that be' to change it all to PAR to 11? Whose decision is it?

Surely PAR to 11 is the way forward for the sport and may even help the Olympic 2016 cause.

bendi36 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:04 am Post subject:

I think you'd have to change it for your A level players first and see how they go. I wouldn't mind playing a match par to 11 two clear.
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stevecubs · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:54 am Post subject:

You even have the situation in French juniors where the boys play par to 11 but the girls play standard.

But we definitely need more 'crisis points', and good as "two clear" is, it can make games drag on too long and lacks that 'sudden death' element

So, if we were starting from scratch, I'd probably got for PAR to 9, 2 clear, sudden death at 12-all,
matches being best of 3, 5 or 7 depending on the event or stage of the tournament.

Paul_SW_London · Prolific Contributor Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 82

Oooh, good topic!

I do like PAR, it suites my game well as I can usually pull off some sneaky points in the first five rallies (players still not warm or focused on the game).
However I do think english scoring to 9 should keep it's place at club level.
It makes me think of those games that have gone on for hours......1-0,1-1,2-1,2-2,3-2...etc.

What fitness too! Cool

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Pass the Stripe · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Traditional scoring to 9...

Nichiren · Newbie Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

one more vote for traditional 9,
its hard work, but who said squash should be a walk in the park,
for park walks we have golf and plain old walks in the park

squashclub · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

Traditional scoring to 9 also. I would say 95% of all squash players are only aware of this scoring. A few know about the 15 PAR scoring. And only people who browse these forums know about the 11 PAR scoring.

Maybe pros should play best of 3 in English scoring ?
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VolleyDrop · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

Another vote here for traditional scoring to 9. I think it allows for more strategy and development of rallies and games. Much more interesting to me, FWIW.

bendi36 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject:

I'd much rather do par to 11 and im sure everyone would get used to it
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squish · Prolific Contributor Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 95

Where is the no vote? Tennis, golf, cricket and many other sports have multiple scoring systems; table tennis and volleyball seem to change every 5 years. Absolutely zero effect on the popularity of the sport. Ridiculous red herring. Par to 11 was tried by WISPA. FAILED. The matches are too short.

Calsquasher · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:53 am Post subject:

Definitely trad scoring for me. The new rules reduce the fitness aspect too much and place too much emphasis on shot making.
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Pass the Stripe · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:06 am Post subject:

Mad Dog · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:46 am Post subject:

Traditional scoring to 9 for me as well. Wink

asdf · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject:

Tennis scoring for all racquet sports - unite and excite.
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manus · Prolific Contributor Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 202

asdf · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject:

Are you saying that there would be too many gaps between games because the games are short (PAR to four, two clear)?

Tennis players only rest after every two games, and that has more to do with crowd control and changing sides than rest.

Squash could rest after however many games it chose for the sake of continuity, but regular intervals is good for both crowd movement and television.
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manus · Prolific Contributor Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 202

Adam Hildred · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:34 pm Post subject:

God no. Totally different sports, there's hardly any advantage in serving in squash, in fact at the highest level I'd say the returner is slightly better off as they have the first opportunity to thump it into the nick!
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asdf · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

You are correct, serving is no advantage in high-level squash, but this could be changed easily by:

1) Allowing serves anywhere on the front wall (removal of the service line)
2) Forcing the receiver to volley the return
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manus · Prolific Contributor Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 202

if this was the case then there would be no "setting up" of rallies because the server would be going for nickis the whole time because of the lack of a service line. any player thats reasonably good should be able to hit a nick when serving every time. dont think this would work at all.......

seshadri · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:11 am Post subject:

manus · Prolific Contributor Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 202

Run-away-from-danger Boy · Prolific Contributor Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 140