Rackets or racquets is an indoor racket sport played in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. It is infrequently called "hard rackets" to distinguish it from the related sport of squash.
R. P. Keigwin (right) with AEJ Collins the college's rackets team at Clifton College c. 1902
Boys hitting up outside the Harrow Old School, c. 1795
A Toff playing with the rabble in prison
Rackets being played at a prison—where the game developed
Squash, sometimes called squash rackets, is a racket-and-ball sport played by two (singles) or four players (doubles) in a four-walled court with a small, hollow, rubber ball. The players alternate in striking the ball with their rackets onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court. The objective of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return. There are about 20 million people who play squash regularly world-wide in over 185 countries. The governing body of squash, the World Squash Federation (WSF), is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the sport is included in the Olympic Games, after a number of applications. Squash has been added for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The Professional Squash Association (PSA) organizes the pro tour.
A squash player prepares to strike the ball with his racket
Squash played at the Pyramids of Egypt.
Old and new style squash rackets
A squash ball