Squash: Verrückte Fakten, die du garantiert noch nicht kanntest

We all know the feeling: your pulse is racing at 180, sweat is dripping, and your legs are burning after an intense match. You love playing squash with passion and have made plenty of opponents sweat with your OLIVER racket. As racket experts at OLIVER, we dug deep and gathered the absolute best "useless" squash trivia for you—perfect for showing off over your next post-match drink!

1. How Did the Sport of Squash Begin?

Squash originated in the 1830s in London when students discovered that a broken, soft ball made the game tactically and physically far more demanding.

In detail, the sport traces its roots back to the elite Harrow School. Students originally played "Rackets" using a hard ball. One day, they realized that a damaged ball, which got "squashed" against the wall, resulted in significantly longer rallies and an immense amount of footwork. The rest is history!

2. Was There Really a Squash Court on the Titanic?

Yes, aboard the legendary RMS Titanic in 1912, there was a real, fully equipped squash court exclusively for first-class passengers.

Pure luxury at sea: the ship's amenities featured unprecedented recreational activities for its time.

• Cost: For 50 cents (a substantial sum back then), passengers could play for half an hour.
• Service: The professional onboard instructor, Frederick Wright, even offered coaching lessons before the ship sank.

3. How Fast Does a Squash Ball Fly?

The official world record for the fastest recorded speed of a squash ball stands at an incredible 281.6 km/h (175 mph).

Think your drive has power? This unbelievable record was set by Australian pro Cameron Pilley. That makes a squash ball at top speed significantly faster than many Formula 1 cars rounding a bend!

4. Why Is Squash the Healthiest Sport in the World According to Forbes?

Forbes Magazine ranked squash #1 among the healthiest sports because a one-hour workout burns up to 1,000 calories while maximizing cardiovascular fitness.

For this comprehensive study, a wide range of sports were rigorously evaluated. Criteria included:

• Calorie Burn
• Injury Risk
• Cardiovascular Load

The clear winner in the end was squash, as the constant sprints, stops, and lunges on the court deliver the ultimate High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).

5. Why Do You Need to Warm Up a Squash Ball Before Playing?

Squash balls are made of a special rubber compound that heats up through hard impacts and kinetic energy to unleash its required bounce.

Ever wondered why beginners play with balls featuring a blue or red dot, while pros use the double yellow dot?

• Kinetic Energy: At room temperature, these balls barely bounce at all. The air inside must first be heated through friction and fast hits.
• The Pro Ball: The double yellow dot ball has the lowest baseline bounce and literally needs to be "hit hot" to become properly playable.

So the next time you step onto the court, you're not just breaking a sweat during the healthiest sport in the world, you'll also have the ultimate trivia ready to leave your opponents amazed.