Squash balls. You can’t play squash without ’em.
In fact, you might even say squash balls are what make squash squash. They’re just so… squashy. But seriously, the advent of the mass-produced small rubber ball is a significant development in the history of squash. They’re not quite as bouncy as racquetballs or topspin-y as tennis balls. They’re just perfect, okay?
Best Squash Balls
In the world of squash balls, the 600-pound gorilla is Dunlop squash balls They’re the official balls of just about everything. It’s not that they’re necessarily the BEST squash ball out there. They well might be, but nobody would know, because they’re just the ball everybody uses.
Besides Dunlop, other brands include Artengo, Black Knight, Eye, Head, Karakal, Oliver Prince, Tecnifibre, Victor, and Wilson. Now, I have used some of these other brands before. Honestly, I can’t really tell the difference between Dunlop balls and these other brands. I doubt I could tell them apart in a blind test. Can you even do a blind test of squash balls? Anyway it doesn’t matter — my point is Dunlop is the boss.
Doubles Squash Balls
When it comes to squash doubles, meaning North American hardball squash doubles, the ball of choice is the Dunlop doubles ball.
Yeah, it’s just Dunlop runnin’ shit all over again. These are the official ball of the SDA Pro Tour, which is the pro doubles tour in North America.
Singles Hardballs
Because America is so special, we invented our own version of squash with a different-sized court and a harder ball. We named this sport…squash. And it’s what a lot of us old guys used to play exclusively. It was fun, and though most people have switched over to softball squash, there are still a few hardball squash enthusiasts around. They use the fuchsia Dunlop elite singles hardball.
Kids squash balls
Yay, a category not dominated by Dunlop! These are big, squishy orange kids’ squash balls. They’re spongy, large, and really easy to hit. Unlike regular squash balls, these don’t need to be warmed up. And here’s the thing about these that I find most cool — you can hit them hard, and it feels quite satisfying.
Greg says
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The reason why most other balls feel the same, e.g. Victor, Eye, Black Knight etc. is because they are made in the same factory in Taiwan. They are OEM brands and they do not have their own research and development. They basically just buy what is available on the market and stamp a name on it.
Dunlop is having a unique mix of rubber, produced at their factory in the Philippines, so that will feel different to the other squash balls.
Gabriel Viégas says
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Does squash balls have expiration date? In my opinion when I buy some balls from someone who is no longer playing squash for a year, it seems that the balls stick very easily and bounce less than new ones.
Pierre says
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I never heard of an expiration date for squash balls!
hany says
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Dunlop dyd balls take time to warm up during winter. So if its winter and your court token allows you to play for 40 min only in London municipality squash courts for example, then go for dyd Wilson or tecnifibre balls. If court walls are covered with snow from the outside then there’s no way you can warm up the ball by hitting it into this frozen wall if i might say. So put the ball in hot water or bring a small flask full of hot water and dip the ball in for few seconds.
Kiwis and Aussies this might work for you nowadays.
az says
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Imo since aproxx. 1-1,5 years the dunlop yellow double does not bounce as they used to do in earlier years. In addition the durability is very poor currently. 2 hours playing hard and the ball is dead. Way better are Prince, Karakal, Oliver and Victor. And yes, in Germany Victor ist the official ball. It bounces better than Dunlop > more fun, especially at not so warm conditions.
Jan says
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I have recently switched to double yellows from Victor and am happy with the decision.
Beforehands I went through 12 piece boxes of Dunlops and felt they took temperatur badly and became dull quickly.
While with the Dunlops my mates and I more and more frequently had to sort out balls that had lost all their bounce, the Victors still play decently even when they have been tortured long enough to have lost all paint marking the two little dots.
So while the Victors are slightly more expensive than the Dunlops I feel they offer a better value in the long run.
Iqbal says
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Totally agree with Jan here. I recently bought a few Dunlop double yellow dots and they are dull as a tomato (not sure what the right proverb is 😉 ). Having never tried Victor, Karakal also is a much better option.
Dane says
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Same here, Dunlops feeling very flat and popping often. Have changed to Wilson, there balls seem softer when you hit them and sound better.
I saw a guy at my club who keeps a count of how many games he has played with each ball, I didn’t ask why, interesting..
Eddie says
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Hi Squash fans. According to this article below 90% of squash players should be using single yellow dot balls. I play at a good level in my county leagues and have always played with the double yellow dot.
http://squashmad.com/breaking-news/nick-taylor-choose-right-ball-help-players-learn-enjoy-game/
I have been playing recently with the single yellow dot and my team mates and I all agree that the single yellow dot definitely makes for a much more enjoyable game.
Try for yourself and see.
We are now hoping that our League administrators allow for the single yellow dot ball to be used as the standard ball in competition.
Pierre says
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I have a single dot in my bag and enjoy hitting with it, especially when I am doing reviews and want the ball to stay warm. Never though about using it to practice making the ball sit down.
Paul says
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The Dunlop white ball that is used on the dark glass courts is a single yellow dot ball. Does this mean the pros, when playing on SquashTV are playing with the slightly bouncier ball? If anyone has knowledge of this, I’d love to know.
Nick says
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The single dot white ball is more like the double dot black ball than the single dot black ball.
Check out these Reddit threads for information 🙂
https://www.reddit.com/r/squash/comments/6ji94q/the_white_ball_experiment/
https://www.reddit.com/r/squash/comments/6ftenk/the_truth_about_white_squash_balls/
Paul says
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Thanks, Nick! I’d seen the first thread, but not the second. So, buried deep in the middle, was a response from World Squash stating the white ball (with it’s single yellow dot) is equivalent to the double dot black Dunlop.
BTW, I’m in agreement that most club players would have a better experience using the single yellow dot ball. It’s a tough sell, though.
Andrew says
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Totally agree,we play with single yellow at our club in Victoria,Australia and single white sometimes in winter if court and air is very cool.
Double yellow I have always believed is a pro ball only.
The average club players will not be able to generate enough consistent power to get this ball into its operating range.
It’s just delusional for a club player to think otherwise.
Single yellow is all you need for an amazing game!
Manuel says
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Since July 1st 2014, the official tournament ball in germany and austria is the double yellow ball from victor. ( http://www.victor-international.com/index.php?page=product&id=48 )
Before that, the german association used the dunlop for 20 years. No clue why, but I don’t feel a lot of difference. Maybe the victor is a little bit more bouncy when played soft…
Brent says
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IMO, Head, Wilson, and Prince balls all bounce a bit more than the Dunlops. I feel like Black Knight are closer in play.
Carole Becker says
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I bought three packs of Dunlop double spot and single spot last autumn. Two of the single spots were less bouncy than a double spot normally is so no use at all on cold courts. One of the double spots wouldn’t bounce either. I have played for thirty years so I know what I am talking about. If this rubbish quality continues I think we will all be looking for other makes of ball. Balls bought from Sports Direct, don’t know if thats relevant
Rod Foster says
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i’ve not been happy w/ my dunlop double dots for a while…i keep buying them on amazon prime cause they’re 39.99 for 12 and that’s a steal.
i recently say that Eye is making a ball
i’m keeping my eye on them and will try them when i get them for a reasonable price…i think they’re something like 6 bucks but they’re over seas so the shipping is outrageous…like 26 bucks
here’s a link to the eye site:
http://www.eyerackets.co.uk/categories/balls
i’ve tried wilson squash balls…they’re decent enough
Chanyoung Kim says
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Recently I was notified that new version (so-called 2016-year version) of Dunlop ball was put on the market. (Actually I am not well-informed about the situation in other countries but here in Korea online retailers “claimed” so) Is there any difference between old and version? (I doubt that it is just repackaged and is the same as the old one.)