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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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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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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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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