It wouldn’t make sense to use a cheap racquet on a game you play a lot, especially when you pay a hefty gym membership fee already! You want the best squash racquet available for your game. And a lot has changed since this guy played the game!
Choosing the best squash racket to match your skill-level and gameplay can be a difficult process, especially for players just starting out. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you – let’s see what we have.
Best Squash Racquets
| Racquet Name | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Harrow Vapor (Editor's Choice) | Both | 140 |
| Harrow M-140 (Doubles Choice) | Both | 145 |
| Technifibre Carboflex 125 | Singles | 125 |
| Harrow Bancroft Executive | Doubles | 155 |
| Black Knight Ion Cannon | Both | 135 |
| Head Extreme 120 | Singles | 120 |
| Head Graphene Touch Radical | Singles | 135 |
| Karakal SN-90 FF | Singles | 90 |
There are a lot of racquet makers who are very good and have there own specialties depending on the type of squash you are playing, specifically if you are playing singles or doubles squash. Considering that there are differences in singles and doubles squash racquets, some coaches and professionals insist that the racquet you use does not matter, as a “pure” squash player can play with any racquet. While that generalization may be true for playing leisurely, playing at a consistently competitive level requires an optimized racquet for your game and style.
Harrow Vapor – Best of Both Worlds, Premium Racquet
The Harrow Vapor is a top-rated racquet for the intermediate players and its qualities come at a top-end price. It gives the ability to deliver great power, control, and responsiveness on the court.
The one negative with the racquet is concerns over its durability. It is susceptible to breaking and seems to be a little fragile. Many players do complain that for the price, they expect the racquet not to break as it gets expensive to replace.
Overall, this squash racquet has an amazing feel, great control and a top-end option for squash players.
- Large sweet spot
- Stiff shaft for more control
- Little to no vibration
- Expensive
- Brittle racquet with durability concerns
Harrow M-140 – Editors choice for doubles, best doubles squash racquet
The larger head size provides a larger sweet spot for off-center hits. While perfectly suitable for a bigger hitting singles player as well, the new graphics on the Harrow M-140
This racquet is evenly-balanced which provides great touch on when playing. It is on the lighter end of doubles racquets, which provides power through your forehand or backhand swing.
One thing that some players may have some adjusting too, especially when playing hardball doubles for the first time, is the speed of play, and thus the control from this racquet. If you need more control, a heavier racquet may be more suitable for beginning doubles players.
John Russell here spotted using the Harrow M-140 in 2018
- Versatile racquet for singles or doubles play
- Large head for a greater sweet spot and power
- Nice blend of power and control
- Lighter doubles racquet which offers less control
- Rather than a traditional “square” handle, this racquet is more “rectangular” which can feel different in your hands.
Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 – Best for Singles Squash
The Carboflex 125 is especially ideal for players who favor long volleys and aggressive play styles, but it can be utilized for all sorts of strategies. With excellent precision and control, the Tecnifibre Carboflex is a great racquet for making precise and deadly shots from any place on the court.
The Carboflex is heavy enough to provide powerful and controlled shots while remaining light enough to ensure that you don’t get worn out too quickly into the match. The head weight on the Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 is perfectly balanced for both control and power, which is why it is an excellent racquet for players whose play style leans towards longer volleys.
The Carboflex boasts a strong sweet spot, and if you figure out how to consistently make contact with it, you’ll be sure to hit explosive shots time and time again. This racquet also has an Isomorph Shaft, which increases power by around 25% as compared to the standard mono shaft.
The Carboflex does have a bit more vibration to it compared to some other racquets of similar caliber, but not nearly enough to cause any real damage to your game. Taken in combination with the balanced weight, you’ll hardly even notice.
- Large sweet spot
- Head-light weighting for quick racquet head speed through the ball
- Great factory strings included
- Slightly more vibration than other comparable racquets
- Head-light weighting may take some getting used to if you play with a balanced or head-heavy racquet
Harrow Bancroft Executive Racquet – Doubles only, heavy weight
The #1 female squash player in the US, Natalie Grainger. You don’t get to that level without a great racquet. Not only does Grainger use the racquet, she actually helped design it. This is the kind of racquet fit for a professional.
The Harrow Bancroft Executive racquet is heavy enough to pack a punch, and while still remaining light enough where you won’t wear yourself out too quickly into the match. With that being said, this racquet has fantastic precision and control. The Harrow Bancroft Executive Racquet will keep your opponent running back and forth across the court, game after game.
While this racquet can surely be used by all types of players, it is worth considering that this racquet may not be exactly what you are looking for, especially if you play a lot of singles squash. Weighing in at 155 grams, this racquet is heavy for singles play. Most singles racquets are 140 grams or less.
- Strong and sturdy to handle hardball doubles play
- Head-heavy which provides greater power
- No vibration
- Great control across the racquet no matter your grip preference
- Heavy for singles play
- The head-heavy aspect of the racquet may take some getting used to, which some players may not like
Black Knight Ion Cannon – versatile racquet, moderate price
The Black Knight Ion Cannon is well balanced and maneuverable with its large hitting surface, moderate stiffness, and lightweight construction. Plus, the weight is just about right – not too heavy, not too light. Black Knight racquets are known for their durability. This racquet will be a weapon for battle for many years.
The factory grip on this racket is fantastic, although it is different than most because of it’s distinct ridges. It is very grippy and comfortable which is less likely to lead to minor blisters after a long game.
A negative with this racquet is the teardrop design for doubles play. Typically doubles racquets sport a shorter, but wider head. Using this racquet for doubles play is possible due to the weighting and durability, but the teardrop design lends itself to a smaller sweet spot.
- Awesome design
- Durability – Black Knight racquets don’t break often
- Factory grip is fantastic
- Long-lasting racquet at a great price
- Teardrop design for doubles play means a smaller sweet spot
- Factory grip has ridges, which is different than most racquets
Head Extreme 120 – singles only, best price
The EXTREME 120 provides stable power and maneuverability for the front court club player.
This squash racquet is particularly good for players that like to play a lot of drops and volleys. It is easy to handle because of its lightweight construction at just 120 grams. Plus, this racket is able to give a stiff performance with little to no vibration.
The negative of this racquet is that it isn’t a great two-way option. This racquet is definitely made for singles squash. Another point of concern for some players is the construction of the handle and grip. Rather than a traditional “square” handle, this racquet is more “rectangular” which can feel different in your hands.
- Great for attacking players who are great at drop shots and lobs
- Lightweight
- Durable and stiff
- MicroGel technology leads to no vibration in softball singles squash
- Not great for doubles squash as a lot of times the racquet felt like it would break hitting the ball hard
- Handle and grip. Rather than a traditional “square” handle, this racquet is more “rectangular” which can feel different in your hands.
Head Graphene Touch – Large Sweet Spot
Weighing in at only 4.76oz the Graphene Touch is a light and lethal machine that will help you step your game up to the next level. Not only is it light, the Graphene Touch is weighted unlike most other racquets.
The Head Graphene Touch Squash Racquet is head heavy, which may take some players some getting used to, but once you’re comfortable with the weighting and balance, you’ll see the true power of this racquet.
All in all, the Head Graphene Touch Squash Racquet is a great racquet for players all across the spectrum. There are some aspects of it that some players may not find to their liking but, hey, everyone is different, especially when it comes to squash. If you’re looking for a great gift or are just looking for an affordable way to step up your squash game, look no further than the Head Graphene Radical racquet.
- Lightweight
- Unique weighting
- Little to no vibration
- Stronger and less brittle than other similar racquet
- Though it has a lot of power for such a light racquet, some stronger players may prefer a heavier weight for even more power
- The head-heavy aspect of the racquet may take some getting used to, which some players may not like
Karakal SN-90 FF Squash Racquet – Singles Power Player
The racquet is constructed with Fast Fibre Carbon Gel. The addition of Fast Fibre to this already super light racket allows you to create more head speed and generate even more power.
This racquet is definitely a singles-focused racquet and many reviews on the web note the brittleness of the frame, as it is susceptible to breaking. Just don’t hit the wall!
- Ultra-lightweight for more power
- Head-heavy for more power
- Because it is so lightweight, it requires excellent shot control
- Not ideal for doubles and somewhat brittle frame
Best Squash Racquet – Buyers Guide & FAQ
Some players may look to buy a low-cost racket while others will look to spend a significant sum to get the highest quality equipment possible. Also, there are many brands – Tecnifibre, Head, Dunlop and Prince – that offer a wide range of squash gear.
How We Chose Our Selection Of The Best Squash Racquets
Here are a few things to consider in the process of deciding on the best squash racket:
Squash Racquet Price
A great place to start is the price range of the squash racket. They vary in price from the very cheap to the extremely expensive. Simply base your decision on how much you can comfortably afford to invest in your gear. While it benefits to go a little above the most basic options, there is no need to start out with the most expensive or highest quality racket.
A beginner can easily invest $30-$50 on a starter racket, but the best value is going to be a racquet around $100-$150 if you are serious about the game. The most expensive racquets are over $200.
Squash Racquet Quality
There are plenty of factors that can impact the characteristics and behavior of the squash racket, including the material, shape of head, size, balance, and weight. Try out and handle a few rackets to see which is most effective for your gameplay.
Always go with the squash racket that matches your skill level. Also, the highest quality racquet is built with better qualities and will last longer.
Racquet Construction
There are two primary types of composition in a squash racquet, the Open throat design, and the Closed throat construction.
- An open throat will help provide control and stability due to the shorter main strings.
- A closed throat has a larger sweet spot and normally generates more power.
Racquet Balance
In Squash there are three different categories of balance in a racquet. Headlight racquets, head-heavy racquets, and evenly balanced racquets. Each plays very differently and has different benefits to the player.
- Head Light: Having less weight in the head and more weight in the handle make these racquets feel lighter and more maneuverable.
- Head Heavy: With the majority of weight in the head, these racquets give more power with less effort.
- Even: Evenly distributed weight will make these racquets provide maneuverability (faster swing) while still generating power.
Racquet Weight
Squash racquets range in weight from 110 grams to 170 grams. The appropriate weight of the racquet typically depends on personal preference. With that being said, there are advantages to both a lighter racquet and a heavier racquet.
- Lightweight (110G – 145G): A light racquet allows for quick wrist movement, quicker movement of the head, allows you to have a soft touch and good feel, aid in deception in front of the court, easier control.
- Heavyweight (145G – 170G): A heavier racquet aid in adding more power to your shots, offers stability and a smooth impact through the ball.
Grip Shape
Squash racquets come with a standard handle size, but the handle shape can change among manufacturers. The shape that you decide to use is going to come down to personal preference.
- Rounded Handle: Think of this as feeling like a baseball bat
- Rectangular Handle: Think of this feeling much more like a tennis racquet
Replacing
When should I restring my squash racket?
What consistently needs updating is your squash racquet strings, which should be replaced on an annual basis.
Squash Racquet FAQ
What is a good weight for a squash racquet?
Racquets come in ranges from 90kg to 180kg. You want a lighter racquet if you a more aggressive, strong hitting player. A heavier racquet will help players with a slow or weak swing generate more power with the heavier squash racquet weight.
Can you play with a broken squash racquet?
Playing with a broken squash racquet is a bad move. You may be tempted to try and tape it back together. The best bet is to just throw the racquet away. At a club in my city, they hang broken racquets on the wall for nostalgia!
When I break my frame, I know it. I can feel the weight is off on a swing follow through and know that it is time to grab my backup racquet (always have at least 2 squash racquets)!
What if I break the racquet strings?
If you break your strings, you will want to get your racquet restrung. This will run you roughly $30 due to the cost of materials and labor. If your club restrings racquets, just drop the racquet off. Most tennis shops will also string squash racquets and are familiar with how to string them, even if they do not sell squash racquets in their tennis store.
What are the recommended strings for a squash racquet?
We like the Ashway Supernick XL or the Tecnifibre 305+. For stringing your racquet, it depends on if you are playing singles or dobules squash. You will need about 10 meters of string to restring your squash racquet strings. You can strings individually or in bulk.
- Singles Racquet String Tension: String your tension at 26-28 pounds (more power at lower tensions)
- Doubles Racquet String Tension: String your racquet tension at 27-29 pounds (more control at higher tensions)
What are squash racquets made of?
Graphite is the dominant material squash racquets are made of. This allows the racquet to be lightweight but durable. Aluminum is another material used to make squash racquets. We do not recommend using an aluminum squash racquet.
Squash Racquet Conclusion
As you can see, there are several factors that go into making a racquet “best” for you as an individual player. As a result of your play style and physical attributes, one racquet may suit you better than the next player.
If you are just starting out, the Black Knight C2C nXS
While picking the right squash racquet is skill-specific, picking the right shoes comes down to personal preference and comfort. Picking the right shoe can be critical to longevity in playing because of the constant work your legs and joints take in playing squash.
4 Comments
I have Head Graphene XT Cyano 110. It is super light. This racquet delivers both power and control for an intermediate to advanced player. I’ve played with Head racquets for the past 5 years and this is by far the best one I’ve owned to date.
I think if you consider durability, harrow would not have a place on any top list. They are the most expensive racket, and they break more than 2-3 times as frequentlyi as any similarly priced models…
I’ve been coaching squash Tor 15 years and have used and seen hundreds of individual rackets (even used harrow for a few years in the 00s) and it is really a shame how easily they break. If durability and value was considered, harrow would be the worst brand in squash by far!
I’ve been playing squash for over 30 years now and have played with several squash racquets from different brands. I recently purchased the Tecnifibre CarboFlex 125 racquet and I’m impressed. Immediately I could feel more shot power and have played with it for a while thought it allowed for a controlled swing too.
Thanks for your article. I had used factory strings, although I will swap them out and hopefully it will play even better!