Which squash racket is right for you?

Weight: quoted against ready to play

Almost every racket is sold by a quoted frame weight, usually unstrung and usually rounded. A racket sold as 120g is not 120g when you play with it.

Strings, a grip, an overgrip and any protective tape all add weight, and most of it sits where you feel it most. A finished racket commonly weighs noticeably more than the number on the throat.

Use the quoted weight to compare rackets with each other, not to predict how the racket will feel in your hand. Two frames quoted at the same weight can feel very different once balance is taken into account.

Balance: head-light, even and head-heavy

Balance describes where the weight sits along the racket. It changes how quickly the head moves and how much the racket does for you at contact.

• Head-light: the racket head moves quickly, which helps on the volley and around the front of the court. You supply more of the pace yourself.
• Even: a compromise, and a sensible default if you are not sure what you prefer.
• Head-heavy: more mass behind the ball, which can help with depth and with a shorter swing. It can feel slower to manoeuvre in fast exchanges.

Head shape: traditional, teardrop and hybrid

The shape of the hoop changes the string bed and the sweet spot.

• Traditional: shorter main strings and a closed throat. Often described as more predictable and better suited to precise front-court play.
• Teardrop: an open throat with longer main strings and a larger sweet spot, usually associated with easier depth and more forgiveness on off-centre hits.
• Hybrid: somewhere between the two, which is why many all-round rackets use it.

Strings and tension

Strings change how a racket plays at least as much as the frame does, and they are far cheaper to change. A racket you already own may feel like a different racket once it is restrung.

As a broad rule, lower tension gives a livelier string bed and a little more help with depth, while higher tension gives a firmer feel and can suit players who already hit hard. Thinner strings tend to feel sharper and break sooner; thicker strings last longer.

Strings lose tension over time even when they do not break. If you play regularly and your racket feels dead, a restring is usually the first thing to try.

Grip and handle

Squash grips are much thinner than tennis grips, and the handle is nearly the same across brands. Most of the adjustment happens with the grip itself.

A grip that has gone hard or slippery makes you hold on more tightly than you need to, which is tiring and can feel harsh on the arm. Replacing a worn grip is cheap and makes an immediate difference.

Try a towelling grip if your hands sweat heavily, and a thin overgrip if you want a slightly larger handle without changing the racket.

Racket choice and Right Ball Squash

The ball matters more than the racket for most players, particularly early on. A cold, slow ball makes rallies short and frustrating no matter what you are holding.

A larger, bouncier ball suited to your level and to the court temperature gives you more time and more rallies. If you are choosing between spending on a racket and getting the ball right, get the ball right first.

Singles, doubles and Squash 57

These are different frames, not preferences. A Squash 57 or racketball racket is built for a bigger, livelier ball and is not a squash racket, and doubles rackets are made for a different court and a harder ball.

If you play more than one format, expect to own more than one racket rather than looking for a frame that covers everything.

Juniors and arm comfort

Juniors are usually better served by a shorter, lighter racket they can actually swing than by a heavier adult frame. A racket that is too much to control encourages a rushed, arm-led swing.

For anyone with arm discomfort, the cheapest things to try first are a fresh grip, a softer string at a lower tension, and a coaching look at technique. Frame choice is part of the picture, but it is rarely the whole of it.

This is general guidance rather than medical advice. Persistent pain is worth a conversation with a qualified clinician.

Why professional endorsements do not identify your racket

Professionals play with frames that are often customised, strung to their own specification, and chosen under a sponsorship arrangement. What the label says and what they are holding are not always the same thing.

They also generate pace and control that most players do not, which changes what a racket needs to do for them. A frame that rewards a professional swing can be hard work for a club player.

Endorsements are useful as a signal that a racket is a serious product. They are not evidence that it suits you.