What happens if the ball hits your opponent in squash?
I · Intermediate · Lets and strokes · 3 of 5Play stops. If the ball was heading straight to the front wall and would have been good, the striker wins the rally. If it was going by way of a side wall, it is a let, unless it would have been a winner. If it was not going to be a good return anyway, the player who was hit wins.
How it works
- Stop: when the ball on its way to the front wall hits the non-striker, their racket or their clothing, "play must stop".
- Would not have been good: the non-striker wins the rally.
- Direct, first attempt, no turn: "a stroke is awarded to the striker".
- Via another wall: a let, or a stroke if it would have been a winning return.
- On a further attempt: a let.
- After turning: a stroke to the non-striker, unless they moved deliberately to intercept.
- Coming back from the front wall: if it hits the non-striker before the striker has tried to hit it, the striker wins the rally.
- Unless the striker caused it: if the striker's position caused the non-striker to be hit, a let.
- After an attempt: if the striker has swung and missed and the ball then hits the non-striker, a let, provided the striker could still have made a good return.
- Hitting yourself: if the ball hits the striker with no interference, the non-striker wins the rally.
- Deliberate or dangerous: the referee must consider whether hitting the opponent was either and rule accordingly.
The glossary has the ball hitting a player entry, the stroke, the let, turning, the front wall and the boast.
Tricky cases
A drive hits the opponent on the back and would have reached the front wall. Who wins?
The striker, if it was a first attempt without turning and the ball was going directly to the front wall.
The ball hits the opponent but was heading for the tin. Who wins?
The opponent. If the return would not have been good, the non-striker wins the rally.
A player's own shot rebounds from the front wall and hits them. Who wins?
The opponent, who is now the striker, provided no interference occurred.
A player hits the ball hard at an opponent who is in the way, to make a point of it. Is the stroke automatic?
No. The referee must consider whether the action was deliberate or dangerous and rule accordingly, which may mean a conduct penalty.
Why the rule exists
The player who has hit the ball must get off the line between it and the front wall. If they are struck on that line, they were where they should not have been, and they lose the rally. The softer ruling for a shot off the side wall recognises that those lines are harder to predict and clear.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Direct to the front wall | Stroke to the striker | WSF Rule 9.1.2 |
| Via a side or back wall | Let, or stroke for a winner | WSF Rule 9.1.3 |
| After turning | Stroke to the non-striker | WSF Rule 9.1.5 |
| On the way back from the front wall | The player hit usually loses | WSF Rule 9.2 |
From the rule book
World Squash Federation, Rules of Singles Squash (version 1.2.2, effective 1 September 2025), Rule 9 and Rule 3.6.8. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Squash Singles Rules 2025 (PDF).