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Cold ball bounced like a scone

Published: 18 Jun 2007 - 11:14 by rippa rit

Updated: 25 Sep 2008 - 20:29

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Yesterday I witnessed a Masters Event which, incidentally, had 147 entrants ranging in age from over 35 to over 80 years.  A great atmosphere too and some really good squash.

As I walked into the centre I glanced at this court where the O80 was happening, and it was a male v female match; so the lady serves a high lob serve, plop was the reply right into the middle of the court, followed by a boast, and that was the end of that.

So I went away scratching my head, "why, in this cold weather, do they use a double yellow dot ball"?   I said to the officials "have you ever heard of a RED dot ball"? and I was deadly serious.   Nobody really cared too much except to keep the schedule on time, get the players on court, record the results, and have the presentation.

There is nothing more demoralising or frustrating for a player than a cold ball, a lob serve, followed by a boast or a drop shot.  This is how injuries happen during a tournament when everything is cold, including the body/legs, and then sudden scrambling movements to the front of the court.

This is a good reason why players drop out and our numbers go down.

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From rippa rit - 19 Jun 2007 - 17:17

Mike - no it was not in Rocky - and if it had been the ball may have got a bit warmer.

The ball did not sound like a stone at all, as it is not heavy enough I guess.  It sounded like a hollow scone type substance. 

I have heard this stuff for many years, but if you cannot get the ball past the short line, never take your trac shirt off, have to run the ball under the hot water between games, something is amis.

We have the same problem in junior squash too where parents think their little Johnny should use Dad's racket and Dad's yellow dot ball and have heaps of fun - boring.  That also partially explains why we have few kids playing.

It is something for the sport to address.  Years ago in comp the D grade downwards played with a green dot to try to overcome this ball problem. It is not so good to pay your money and not get a workout.

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From keithderham - 19 Jun 2007 - 14:38   -   Updated: 19 Jun 2007 - 14:41

I also attended the Masters tournament 16-17 june.Whatever ball you use has to be across the board.The dunlop yellow spot is universally accepted,and allowing different matches to use different speeds would open up a whole new can of worms.I also witnessed older players struggling to reach the ball,whilst younger( 50)players had got the same ball up to normal temperature and bounce.What comes next,two bounces if you are over 70?I know many septegenerians who would not thank you for a red dot ball or any other special consideration so lets leave things exactly the way they are.We are only just emerging from the nightmare of Head squashballs,so once again,let it be Dunlop double yellow,winter summer and always. regards Keith

ps.You say "bounces like a scone"Either this is a misprint or you have tried my wife's pastries.

 

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From mike - 18 Jun 2007 - 15:36

Was this in Rockhampton by any chance?

I think a lot of time organizers use the same type of ball year round, regardless. Using the double yellow in cold weather certainly favours a certain type of player.

I heard a story recently of a wily old player with a great lob serve. He once, during fixtures, took the ball off court between games to run under cold water. Naturally he one the first serve of the game when the ball acted like a stone.

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From kenny117 - 18 Jun 2007 - 13:31   -   Updated: 18 Jun 2007 - 13:31

My english is not good, hope you don't mind.

Really, the squash ball is sensitive to the temperature.  Recently, my country is undergone some environment protection improvement, most of the squash court's temperature have been adjusted higher than before, the ball becomes so bouncy that easily serving out of court especially during this hot summer.

On the other hand, some children or beginners will find it hard to make the ball bounce when they don't know using a right ball.

I do wonder if the material of squash ball could be improved into a minimum of temperature sensitivity, so that beginner and advance player could use the same ball (like tennis).

 

  

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