Wow just looking at this thread, it is ten years old.  Squash doubles will become more popular over time i believe.  When the old centres get demolished and new sports complex are built there is a tendency to add a doubles court, as it is wider than the singles court, and not so likely to intimidate the players with the extra room to move and swing.  Doubles has always been played for fun at the end of a training day, using the singles court, and never for "beers".  Personally i would want to only be on a singles court playing doubles with players who had exceptional skill!! Sorry.

 

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Thanks Rippa Rit

I think the concept of jumbo doubles came about when a mistake was made in the construction of the court in Singapore leading to an oversized doubles court but in true style they said what the hell we'll use it and it works well. It went down so well they built another jumbo court in Bagkok and Surabaya and they are looking at building a few more. Many of the players of jumbo doubles in SE Asia are close to big money so they get want they get. The first all comers tournament was about 5 years ago. The court is 4 foot wider than a standard singles but at least another 3/4 of a court added onto length. The court lines are very high extending well past the room of most singles courts coming directly out in a straight line and dropping at the half way point of the court. In all other ways its a standard court with an open glass back. Games in the tournament are point per rally to 9, best of three games. The opening rally of the final went for 120 shots! so at the top end the standard is pretty good with junior champs from malaysia, india, singapore, tokyo, hong kong etc. I'll post some photos when I get back to show scale of the court

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Lethal - welcome to the forum.  Would be good if you had a photo to put into the post.
That is very interesting and it seems the doubles/jumbo concept can really take off by the sound of that.
How did the jumbo idea come about?
So are the rules the same as doubles squash?
Do you have the exact court measurements, or maybe 3 singles courts make 2 doubles courts, idea?
Does the word Jumbo come from the fact that the court is doubles + a bit more?
Is the construction glass, concrete, adjustable walls, etc.
Yep, I want to know everything 'cos I am a sticky-beak.
Hope to hear more when you get time.

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There is a non professional  doubles circuit in S.E Asia. In Jan 2006 a few mates and myself will be giving it a bash in Singapore at a jumbo doubles tournament. Jumbo doubles is growing in popularity with courts in Singapore, Surabaya, Bangkok. Entry is free ( pay your own way of course with discount accomodation and lavish spreads at the courts and free luncheon ) and they have over 80 doubles pairings. Entrants come from Perth, Bangkok, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Africa etc. There is a real sense that the doubles game is used to network business contacts etc, something of a different world to the blue collar club i play at.The jumbo doubles court is longer and wider than the standard doubles court , trying to hit a ball out is an achievement in itself! I found it a great experience last time I played. It was fantastic to see youngsters paired up with 50-60 year olds who patrolled the back of the court with great skill. The game was great fun , my only concern being the use of deliberate strokes towards opponents in the line to draw a point rather than electing to ask for a stroke, an issue in singles as well.

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Viper - thanks for the link.  It sure looks impressive.
Maybe doubles will be something for the future.  It is hard to envisage private enterprise taking on such an expensive venture.
There has never really been any push for doubles by clubs, coaches etc so who knows.  How long is a piece of string. 
It would promote skill as opposed to fitness too.
I am backing Robyn Cooper (who has given up trying to survive in squash and has now become a Police Officer), Sarah Fitzgerald has basically retired, to do very well in the doubles. 
Once skilful, always skilful.

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yeah my uni courts can move to form doubles courts which is good except that movable walls give HUGE nicks and it is easier to hit dead balls.  Have never actually seen them being used for doubles though.

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The courts in Melb are very impressive, they are on racks with motors and the walls can be moved along to form the bigger doubles courts, take a video tour here: http://www.msac.com.au/facility_tour.php?page_id=24

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"What do people think of doubles squash ?"
my few cents are:
1. I enjoy watching doubles as the "fun and show" game
2. I am afraid it's so easy to get injured if you're not good enough
3. Sometimes you can be hit hard with the ball (ask Nick Matthew for his experiences from English open exhibition double games)
4. On a local level – Hungary in my case – Top players do not treat it serious enough as I see it.
5. Definitely there are NO DOUBLE COURTS in Hungary (Needles to say - only one proffessional glass court (http://www.squashsite.co.uk/hungarian2005.htm) or http://www.squashsite.co.uk/budapest_gallery.htm

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Viper - I like to watch the top players in doubles having fun.
I would only be on the court with people like David Palmer, sorry.
There are only a couple of doubles courts in Australia so we are unlikely to really experience the real thing - so that says something without saying anything!!
To me doubles is sort of like playing another game on the squash court in many ways.
There is an urgent  need for squash to have a step down from singles when injury, wear and tear, and age creeps in, or the players are lost to the sport forever.
Racket ball did not seem to be the answer either.
Problem - how do we adapt a singles court to a doubles court - impossible? How do we adapt a doubles court to a singles court - impossible? 
The coaching accreditation scheme does not embrace doubles.
Viper I have not answered your question I know that - is there a short answer.

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