An Interview With Phillip Romm, Inventor Of The Amazing Air Squash Court
by Ted Gross for DailySquashReport.com
Published August 5, 2011
See Related Story Here
DSR: How did you get the idea for the court?
PR: My parents have a squash center with 3 squash courts. But they also have a "leisure business" with which they sell and rent out inflatables.
I started playing squash when I was 10 and have been working with inflatables all my young life.
The AirSquash Court is a symbiosis of both.
DSR: How did you initially design it?
PR: Open entrance, with backwall, without windows.
It all started with a pencil drawing and some calculations for the design and weight of the frame. I did that together with my dad.
DSR: What is your design background?
PR: I don't have a design background.
DSR: What was the process of constructing the protoype?
PR: Well, it is like sewing a really big dress. Just bigger sewing machines and a lot more material to put together. but the stitching is the same, basically. You can compare it to the sailing cloth business.
After the court was finished, we painted the red markings on the inside walls and my webpage´s address on the tin.
And then we tested different balls of different weights and rebound abilities on the court. The AirSquash Softball that you will find on my page worked out the best.
DSR: How long did it take to produce the finished court that is available today?
PR: Around 8 weeks.
DSR: What problems did you encounter in the process?
PR: There were no problems, only challenges.
My main focus was on the rebound behaviour of the softball on the front wall and also on the side walls.
We applied a few technical tricks that brought us to where we are right now. Super good rebound!
Other then that, no major challenges. The planning was good.
DSR: How would you describe the court to someone who has never seen it?
PR: The AirSquash Court is a mobile, 4-wall squash court with an inflatable frame and highly tensioned layers on the inside to guarantee a flat surface and excellent rebound abilities off the front and side walls.
DSR: How large is the court compared to a standard court?
PR: It is 2/3 of the standard size. so 66%.
Except for the back wall. That is 2.20m, just like in a standard squash court.
DSR: How did you get the front wall firm enough to provide an acceptable rebound?
PR: Haha, that is the big trick.
DSR: What surfaces can you set the court up on?
PR: Any surface. the court doesn't care what surface you put it on. It is the bouncing of the softball that only allows rather solid surfaces. But even a firm sand on the beach is possible, or really short grass.
DSR: How much does the court weigh when it is un-inflated?
PR: 300 pounds. It can be handled by 2 people. Last week I inflated and dismantled it all by myself. Even got it back into my trunk myself. But I know how to handle this material.
DSR: How compact is the court when it is un-inflated?
PR: It fits into a car trunk.
DSR: What is your squash background?
PR: I play a lot and also am a kids' coach. Added to that, I am a board member of our squash federation. It is the federation of North Rhine Westfalia, a state of Germany. I am responsible for all the youth players in my state.
DSR: What is your job or career?
PR: I am a Diplom Mining Engineer and I am currently finishing my doctorate degree in mineral processing at the RWTH Aachen University.
DSR: Where do you live?
PR: Aachen, West of Germany.
DSR: Where and how did you learn squash?
PR: At the squash center that my parents own, starting when I was ten.
DSR: What level do you play at?
PR: I became 2nd in our State in 2010. My best position in Germany was close to the national Top 20. I've dropped down now because I don't have the time any more to play all the tournaments.
DSR: What is your vision for the future of the court?
PR: To have federations use the court for their members/clubs. My vision is that with the AirSquash Court, clubs can gain new members, especially kids, and draw attention to our sport.
Squash´s problem (or challenge) is and has always been that we were not able to really show the sport to people as long as they don´t come to the squash center.
Since squash is not really present on television, there is hardly a chance to attract new people to the sport.
The AirSquash Court shall be used as a tool to attract attention and kids.
DSR: What feedback have you gotten so far?
PR: Incredibly good feedback.
Everybody who was on the court was really surprised by how well you can actually play on it. And the inflation and dismantling is a piece of cake.
WISPA tested the court in London a few weeks ago, and Wael El Hindi tested the court at the Pioneer Cup and they were pretty stunned, in a positive way of course.
Recently I traveled to the UK again to show it to lots of people: WSF, English Squash and Racketball federation, PSA, Scottish Squash and Racketball, Elite Squash.
DSR: What do people like most about the court?
PR: The nice and shiny white inside and the easy handling.
Some people have in the past already experienced mobile squash court solutions and were really unhappy with either the performance or the handling of the court.
The AirSquash Court works perfectly in both disciplines
DSR: Is there anything people don't like about the court, that you might re-design?
PR: Some customers want a better view to the inside of the court.
There is a solution for everything. You could either make the back wall out of transparent material, or you enlarge the entrance, or you completely take out the backwall.
But we also experienced that a rather bad view to the inside creates curiosity. Kids approach the court, because they want to see what is inside.
DSR: How are you promoting the court?
PR: On the Internet, and I have done a UK tour with the court.
DSR: How old are you?
PR: 28
DSR: Do you have any future design ideas for other products?
PR: Yes, to create an inflatable squash court in standard squash court dimensions.
More about the Air Squash Court is at Phillip's website: air-squash.de
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