Pro Counter+ guide

Squash scoring: PAR to 11 and hand-in hand-out

Learn today's PAR scoring to 11, what happens at 10-all, and how it differs from traditional hand-in hand-out scoring.

PAR: every rally earns a point

PAR means point-a-rally. Whoever wins the rally scores a point, whether they served or received. The winner of the rally also serves next. Under current World Squash singles rules, a game is played to 11, but the winner must lead by two. At 10–10, play continues until one player leads by two, such as 12–10 or 15–13. There is no fixed cap in the standard rule. This makes each rally count directly toward the game score.

Service changes hands with the rally

At the start of a game, the first server chooses a service box. If the server wins the rally, they score and serve again, usually from the other box. If the receiver wins, they score and become the server; they choose the service box for the next serve. The score is called with the server's score first, then the receiver's. In PAR, the side serving does not have a special chance to score: the winner of every rally gets the point.

Games and matches

A match is commonly best of five games, so the first player to win three games wins the match. Clubs and events can set another match format, so check before starting. Scores are written with the server's score first, separated by a hyphen: 8–6 means the server has eight and the receiver six. At game point, a player needs to reach 11 with a two-point margin. When the score is 10–10, the game is not over; continue the same rally-by-rally scoring until the margin is two.

What hand-in hand-out means

Hand-in hand-out is a traditional scoring method, not the current standard WSF singles scoring system. In that format, only the server can score. A receiver who wins the rally earns the serve, called a hand-out, but no point. The server then tries to score while serving. Older versions often used games to nine, with a deciding point at eight-all depending on the match rules. If a club still uses this format, agree on its exact target and deciding-point rule first; do not mix it with PAR to 11.

Compare the two systems

Imagine the receiver wins a rally while the score is 6–4. In PAR, the receiver adds a point and becomes the server, so the score becomes 6–5. In hand-in hand-out, the receiver wins the serve but the score remains unchanged. That difference explains why an old scoreboard can seem not to move after a rally. Make sure the scoring mode matches the event before tracking a game. The current WSF rules describe PAR; hand-in hand-out is useful to understand when reading older notes or playing a club's agreed variant.

Avoid mixing score calls

Before play, say whether you are using PAR or a house-agreed hand-in hand-out format. Write “PAR 11” on a scorecard if there is any chance another group will use the court later. In PAR, the number moves after every rally. In hand-in hand-out, it moves only when the server wins a rally. A referee or marker can help keep the call consistent; whoever calls the score should state the server's points first. At 10-all in PAR, announce the score and continue until someone leads by two. Do not end the game at 11–10 unless an event's published rules explicitly specify another format. If you join a game already in progress, ask the players which scoring method they chose and the current score before taking over service. This is especially helpful when the scoreboard is blank or when a club uses a familiar local variation for social play.

Common questions

Can a game finish 11–10? No. At 10–10, a player needs a two-point lead.

Does the receiver score in PAR? Yes, the winner of every rally scores.

Is hand-in hand-out the current WSF standard? No. The current standard is PAR scoring to 11 with a two-point margin.

Use Pro Counter+ to keep the score or household list close at hand. See Pro Counter+.