Your choice of squash racquet should reflect the level of your gameplay. Many players wonder why they can get a grip on how to perform a skill during a game. It’s mostly tied to the racquet they use.

Advanced professional squash players generally prefer to use light racquets. The telling difference is usually the construction and shape and string pattern. There are hits they would be able to make using these that a regular racquet won’t quite get.

However, as a beginner or intermediate player, you can use less exquisite products to build your skills. Using slightly heavier options helps develop your grip, power, stroke, and other fundamental techniques. And they also fall within the budget range.

Now that we have that settled let’s dive straight into things to watch for in a squash racquet.

Weight

You must have caught a drift of me hinting about the weight of a racquet. Here’s to break it to you, weight is everything when it comes to squash racquets. A few grams added on can cause you to lose your gameplay style.

Like I’ve slipped in before, lighter racquets have been so designed to sacrifice power for shots’ technicality. This is mainly for racquets weighing 125g and less. 

For a more balanced blend of power and skill, the medium category weight ranging 130g to 140g is most appropriate. This group of squash racquets has more products belonging there. These can conveniently serve any level of squash players. 

The last group of squash play gears is the 145g and above category. This set appears to be the cheapest available on the market, with a fair tilt towards power strokes. They can, however, take a heavy toll on the hand and produce fewer finesse shots.

Head Shape

A racquet is divided into the head region and the shaft. The shaft is more or less designed to deliver a good grip and a comfy feel. However, attention is paid into the head region; the shape, the string type, the dimension, and the material used all determine your gameplay.

The head shape of a squash racquet controls the ball’s response and how much power your hits have. Certain regions hit the ball best on the oval surface of racquet heads, called the sweet spot—the more significant this surface area, the better the racquet.

There are three types of head shapes used in racquets, each with its peculiarities. We have the teardrop, open throat, and the elongated teardrop. The teardrop and elongated teardrop have more significant sweet spots than the open throat.

On the other hand, open throat racquet heads deliver better ball control. The large surface area of the teardrop models makes them a go-to option for skill moves. The elongated teardrop has the broadest sweet spot but suffers on the control front. This means it’s more suited for players who can be deliberate with ball control.

Racquet Balance

This is a feature that has to do with where the bulk of a racquet’s weight bends towards. This means the pressure can either tilt towards the shaft, the head, or be in a balance. 

What does this mean for your gameplay? The heavier the head, the more strain this puts on the wrist, and the more power required to make hits. This means lighter heads and weightier shafts are more desirable in a squash racquet.

For categorization purposes, racquets are grouped into head heavy, even or head light. The head light and evenly balanced options give a more natural feel while handling.

Durability

As with other squash gears, long-lasting is a quality desirable in any product. This is what mostly gives one a sense of satisfaction. Knowing this well that the lighter the racquet, the lower its durability. 

How then do you balance technicality with durability? That is where brand reputation comes in. The material employed by a sporting gear manufacturer defines how lasting their product would be. Generally, Dunlop has a reputation for producing durable products.

String Pattern

Being much affiliated with the head shape, a racquet’s string pattern also plays a significant role in the power and control it offers. The sweet spot is dependent on the string pattern of the racquet.

String patterns are measured in dimensions of the net on the racquet. We have 14 x 18, 16 x 16, 16 x 17, and 18 x 17; which are the best quality options. Whereas smaller options like the 12 x 17 and 14 x 15 are dimensions to be wary of; these are lacking in sweet spots and, by extension, quality control.