《福布斯杂志》在其月刊专栏文章上推荐的十项最有益的健康运动中，壁球运动是其首推项目。
一、壁球是一项怎样的运动
What is the Sport of Squash
Squash is a racket sport played in an enclosed room, known as a court, by either two or four people. It is a recreational game that’s played all over the world, though it is widely believed to have originated in private prep schools in England in the 1800s.
壁球是一项室内球拍类运动，玩法多样，可以单打也可以双打，并且是一项国际性娱乐和竞技体育项目。人们普遍认为壁球是起源于19世纪英国贵族私立学校——哈罗公学。
It is similar to tennis and an older sport known simply as “rackets,” but has its own unique sets of rules and equipment. The game is typically played with a hollow rubber ball and players take turns hitting it off of any of the “playable” walls in the room.
壁球作为一项有着百年历史的运动，其类似于网球运动，但是有着自己独特的规则和装备。壁球使用的是空心橡胶球，球内充满了惰性气体。球员在壁球场馆内轮流击打球，球一定要触碰到前墙墙壁。
There are usually a number of painted or otherwise understood boundaries, and also a “tin” beneath the main front wall that balls can fall into. A ball that falls into the tin is usually out of play, much like a ball that hits the net in tennis.
壁球场地内会有很多的界线，需要注意到的是击打出去的球是不能够跨越侧墙以及正面墙壁最上面的边线的，另外，球也不可以触碰到前墙下面的响板，否则视为出界。
There are some variations between countries and organizations, both in terms of scoring and in terms of things like court specifications and measurements. The game is highly competitive in many places, but is still largely emerging as a serious sport at the professional level. In most regions its primary popularity is amongst student athletes and casual players.
壁球场地规格、得分等在各国和各个组织之间的测量和评判都有区别，现行主要以世界壁球公开赛的评判标准为主。这项运动很有竞争力，在职业比赛中其竞技性、观赏性能够得到充分的展示。在大多数地区，这项运动受到学生运动员和休闲运动员的喜爱。
壁球运动俨然能够成为城市主体运动之一。
二、壁球新手须知
Basics of Play
This game can be played either as “singles,” which is one on one, or as “doubles,” which involves dueling teams of two. Players gather in the center of the court, which is usually a small enclosed room with four walls of uniform height. In most cases there are lines painted on the walls to indicate height parameters and on the floor to mark boundaries, but in less formal matches players can also mutually agree to these things before beginning play. The courts are usually of fixed dimension, particularly in competitive tournaments.
壁球运动既是“个人运动”，也是“团队运动”，是少数能够个人和团队的复合型运动。球员站在球场中心，最先感受到的就是四面都是墙壁（现代工艺的进步，比赛场馆会使用特种玻璃，更具观赏性）。在有些情况下，场馆的规格会略有不同，在不太正式的比赛中，球员开始比赛前相互默许的情况下，也是可以比赛的。在国际性竞技比赛中，壁球场馆的规格是固定的，有着严格的标准。
One team or person will start play by serving the ball, typically bouncing it once, then hitting it off of any of the four walls. Then it is the opponent’s turn to return the ball. Under most rules of play the ball can bounce once before being struck by the racket, but not after. A player who fails to return the ball — usually by hitting it into the ground, hitting it into the tin, or hitting it above the “out” lines — usually either surrenders his turn to serve and thus control the ball or loses a point; sometimes both.
在壁球比赛时，回球只能击打一次，球可以直接触及前墙也可以通过接触侧墙、后墙再触及前墙，然后就是对手击球了。壁球规则中，球只能接触地面一次，也就是在击球之前球无论是接触侧墙、后墙，球在地面的接触次数只有一次。失败的回球有：球直接打到地面、前墙的响板、越过边线等，这样对手加一分并获得发球权。
三、怎样才能得分
Scoring Principles
Scoring can take slightly different forms in different places, and sometimes there are different rules for play in school leagues versus more casual settings. In general, though, players only earn points when they are serving. For example, player A serves the ball to player B. If player B hits the ball out, then one point goes to player A. If player A hits the ball out, however, B earn a point; rather, service switches to B. Now B has a chance to earn a point by serving the ball in such a way that A will hit it out or otherwise play a problematic shot. Volleying under a single player’s serve can go on for a long time, and points can be scored at any time — they aren’t limited to the initial serving hit.
壁球在不同的地方，得分形式会有些不同，在学校联赛中的规则也会略有不同。一般来说，壁球是可以通过发球直接得分的。例如，球员A发球，球员B未接到球或者将球打出界外，球员A获得1分。如果球员A发球将球打出界外或者打到响板，那么球员B直接得分，并获得发球权。得分不仅限于发球，比赛中还可以通过小球、吊球、截击等多种方式得分。
In most situations, the game ends once one player earns eleven points. Many league rules require that winners lead by at least two points, though, which means that a game tied 10-10 will usually extend to 12 points; if there is another tie there, things will usually go to 13. A lot of this depends on the locality and, in more casual games, the players themselves.
在大多数情况下，一旦一个球员的得分达到11分，比赛就结束了。当比赛得分为10：10的情况下，需要净胜分两分，也就意味着得分达到12分；如果得分再次平局（11:11），那么得分将达到13分。
四、壁球场地标准
Setting Up the Court
There are various court dimensions for different circumstances, namely singles or doubles games; there are also some differences based on geographic region and local custom. In nearly all cases, though, the official court size for singles matches is 32 feet (9.75 m) long, 21 feet (6.4 m) wide, and 15 feet (4.57 m) tall at the front wall. The tin is located at the base of the front wall and typically reaches 19 inches (48 cm) high.
在不同的情况下，壁球场地的规格是有所不同的，如单打和双打。不同的地理位置和当地的风俗，也会有一些差异。国际官方单打比赛的场地长度为32英尺（9.75米），宽21英尺（6.40米），高15英尺（4.57米）。响板在前墙的底部，通常高度为19英尺（48厘米）。
五、必要的设备
Essential Equipment
Aside from the court, there are typically two essential tools needed for play. First is the rackets; second is the ball. Rackets tend to be slightly rounded and with a handle that is often a bit longer than it would be in tennis. Different manufacturers make different dimensions and most leagues have general rules when it comes to specific sizing, but a lot of the decision comes down to player comfort. The most essential attributes are usually control and precision. Players want rackets that have a wide enough surface area to maximize contact with the ball, but also are small enough to allow a lot of control when it comes to giving direction and precision to hits.
除去壁球场地外，还需要壁球和球拍。球拍在现代工艺的改造下，通常使用水滴形球拍，壁球拍的手柄长度通常比网球要长一些。不同的制造商会有不同的尺寸，但在具体规格上有一般的规则，一般都是由球员自己来选择和决定的。球拍最基本的要求就是控制和精确。球员需要有足够大的表面积来接触球，而且最大限度地控制球的方向，保证精确度。
An official squash ball is about 1.5 inches (4 cm) in diameter and is made of rubber. It’s typically hollow and may feel somewhat “squashy,” which is where the sport likely gets its name. The traditional English sport of rackets was played much like modern day squash but with a firm, hard ball, and some of the first accounts of the variation were called “squash rackets.”
官方壁球的直径约为1.5英寸（4厘米），是由橡胶制成的。壁球是空心的，里面充满惰性气体，当壁球被打击的时候，气体因摩擦受热膨胀，其飞行速度可达致时速约150米，速度仅次于速度之王羽毛球，成为一项快速且剧烈的运动。这项运动的名字是由球撞击墙体发出的声音命名的。18世纪传统的英式球拍运动很像现代壁球，使用的是硬球，这也是最原始的“壁球”，并称它为“拍子球”。
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