When else is a rally replayed in squash?
A · Advanced · Lets and strokes · 2 of 6A let is also played when the ball breaks during a rally, when a player is distracted by something not of their own making, when an object falls onto the court from outside, when the court changes through nobody's fault and when the receiver was not ready. An odd bounce is never a reason for a let.
How it works
- Broken ball: "If the ball breaks during a rally, a let is allowed for that rally."
- A wrong claim: a player who stops to appeal that the ball is broken, and it is not, loses the rally.
- Distraction: either player may request a let, but must do so immediately.
- Caused by a player, by accident: a let, unless it interrupted a winning return.
- Caused by a player, on purpose: a conduct penalty.
- Crowd noise: at some events players are expected to play on through sudden crowd reactions.
- Dropping the racket: a player may pick it up and play on.
- Something falls from a player: with no contact from the opponent, the opponent wins the rally.
- Something falls from elsewhere: a let, unless it interrupted the striker's winning return.
- Wet patch from a dive: the player who made it must play on or concede the rally. The opponent may ask for a let before hitting the ball.
- Sweat on the floor: either player may ask for the court to be wiped at the end of a rally.
- Wedged ball: a let. A ball that touches an article in the court may bring one.
- Bad bounce: "No let is allowed for any unusual bounce."
The glossary has the let, the ball, the referee, the appeal entry, the conduct penalties entry and the court.
Tricky cases
A player's headband falls off in a rally. Nobody touched them. What happens?
Play stops and the opponent wins the rally.
A spectator shouts in the middle of a rally and a player stops. Let?
A let may be allowed for a loud or isolated noise from off the court, if the player stops and asks at once.
The ball hits a join in the floor and shoots sideways. Let?
No. No let is allowed for any unusual bounce.
A player dives, leaves a wet streak and wants it wiped before continuing. Can they stop the rally?
No. The player who caused the wet area must continue play or concede the rally.
Why the rule exists
These lets cover events that neither player caused and that spoil a rally. The exceptions close the gaps a player might use: a false claim of a broken ball costs the rally, and anything a player drops, other than the racket, costs it too. Bad bounces are excluded because the walls and floor are the same for both.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ball breaks | Let | WSF Rule 11.1 |
| Object falls from a player | Opponent wins the rally | WSF Rule 12.2.4.1 |
| Object falls from elsewhere | Let | WSF Rule 12.2.4.3 |
| Events allowing crowd reactions | Players play on through sudden noise | WSF Rule 12.1.4 |
| Receiver not ready | Let, unless the serve was a fault | WSF Rule 5.10 |
From the rule book
World Squash Federation, Rules of Singles Squash (version 1.2.2, effective 1 September 2025), Rules 5.10, 11 and 12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Squash Singles Rules 2025 (PDF).