Yesterday I did something I hadn’t done for 20 years, I played squash. If you don’t know squash, it is a racket sport played in an enclosed room. Players take turns hitting a small rubber ball against the front wall. Just like tennis, if the ball bounces twice, the point is over. It is a game that takes speed, strategy, and stamina. I had none of these things yesterday, so my body is very tired today.

Here is the court. The game starts with one player in each service box. The serve has to hit the wall in front, above the service line, and bounce into the other player’s square. After that, players can use any of the walls to hit the ball, as long as it hits the front wall above the tin.

One important thing is choosing the right ball. Squash balls have different color dots, which show how much “bounce” they have. For beginners, choosing a ball with more bounce is more fun. It makes the game easier to play because you have more time to think.

There are a couple places in Wakayama to play squash, but they are fitness gyms which need a full membership. In Osaka there is a squash club which is much more reasonable. If you are interested, ask me about it and I will tell you the spot. Maybe we can challenge each other to a game!

Have a good week.