SQUASH PLAYER MUST-HAVES
You do not have to spend a lot of money or effort before you start to play in the squash court. Here is our squash gear guide with everything you must have before you can start playing.
Squash rackets
A squash racket is a first and most evident necessity when starting to play squash. Although you can borrow a racket or take one out from the back of the cupboard, the best option is to buy a good quality starter racket without spending a lot. The shape and structure of squash rackets have changed significantly over the past 10-20 years and you are likely to get a lot more pleasure from playing with a modern-day style of the racket.
Beginners can opt to buy a ‘teardrop’ shaped squash racket as these rackets tend to be more lenient, easier to use, and more powerful than the more ‘classic’ head-shaped rackets.
Some wonderful and inexpensive examples include Wilson Hammer 110 or 120, HEAD Nano Ti 110/115, and the Dunlop Black storm Titanium squash rackets. For £35-50 you can purchase a racket which is graphite or titanium construction, and which should last as your standard of play continues to improve. Rackets costing less than £30 are available in more generalist sports shops but may turn out to be false market as they are more likely to be a much more basic construction e.g. aluminum and they are also heavier, harder to use and will need upgrading relatively quickly.
Squash rackets are supplied pre-strung but will require re-stringing from time. The factory strings supplied in the rackets will be adequate for any beginner
Squash shoes
Squash shoes need to be created exclusively for use on indoor courts. Anything like fashion, casual, running, or tennis trainers are not suitable.
If you are buying a new pair of squash shoes it is essential to look for shoes that offer good grip or footing together with padding and backing to help keep you safe from injury. Breathability and resilience are other factors to keep in mind. White uppers are not necessary, mostly shoes in the market are now vibrantly colored.
It is possible to purchase a pair of squash shoes for £30-50 which will suit the needs of any recreational player. Recommended are the HEAD Grid and ASICS Gel-Rocket squash shoes for beginners and recreational club players.
Squash kit
Most clubs no longer emphasize on ‘all-white’ kit so a t-shirt, shorts/skort/skirt, and a pair of sports socks is everything you need. There is a lot of reasonably priced kits accessible from sports merchants. If you want to stay cool and more comfortable on court recommended is the ‘performance’ fabrics which are designed to taper away moisture and help to control your body temperature as well.
Squash bags
There is a vast range of bags to choose from and while a standard sports bag or hold all will be enough you may choose to purchase a racket bag that is specifically designed for racket sports players. These are accessible in different sizes and made to hold 3-12 rackets plus kit. Most beginners will choose a 6 or 9 racket bag which will have 2-3 partitions so that rackets, kit, and shoes can all be stored individually. It is suitable to keep your squash rackets in a different section to damp kit and sweaty shoes to extend the life of your squash strings which may get damaged by moisture. You need to look for bags with backpack style handles as they will be easier to carry.
Many beginners also use racket sports-specific backpacks as these have racket compartments and are lightweight enough for learning players.
Protective eyewear or squash spectacles
Now obligatory for all junior players competing in authorized events, protective eyewear is worth pondering even as an adult. If you choose to reduce the risk of injury to your eyes by investing in safety glasses, recommended is a pair with anti-fog lenses. These are available for £10-20 from all specialist squash merchants.
Squash balls
Squash balls come in various sizes and different colors, they are all designed to help you choose the right ball to suit your level of play and fitness and eventually, to help you level up your play game.
In squash, the different colored balls (whether totally different in color or just using different colored dots) are designed to bounce differently and behave differently in particular circumstances.
Squash balls are unique as one of the most truly unique elements in the worldwide domain of sport. At room temperature, a professional-grade squash ball hardly bounces, but once warmed, whether, through mechanical or physical means, they bounce a lot, over twice as much as in their original state.
There is a huge range of squash balls in the market and everyone chose them according to their needs and ease.
- formerly Max (blue dot) – aimed at beginners and young juniors
- Progress (red dot) – improver, recreational players
- Competition (single yellow dot) – intermediate players or for use on very cool courts
- Pro (double yellow dot) aimed at good club players up to advanced/professional level
Squash grips
All squash rackets are provided with a grip on the handle so you don’t need to buy a new one before you start playing. Over time, however, your racket will need re-gripping. A ‘replacement’ grip is most appropriate for squash rackets and can be applied in place of or over the top of the existing grip depending on the thickness which you prefer according to your requirements. The successful squash replacement grip is the Karakal PU grip which is available in a variety of colors. Other grips with distinctive characteristics are also available e.g. tacky, breathable, and padded so you can choose a squash grip that best fits your ease.
Other
- As your interest in the game grows you can expand your kitbag to include other items such as sweatbands, court towels, massage balls, resistance bands, hydration tablets, and much more.