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Avatar of Kiefer Waite (Coach)

by Kiefer Waite (Coach)

Squash Racquet Review: Harrow Vapour vs. Tecnifibre Dynergy Tour 125 vs. Dunlop Biomimetic Pro GT-X 140

January 13, 2013 in Squash Equipment

Tecnifibre Dynergy Tour 125 Squash Racquet

Tecnifibre Dynergy Tour 125

Experimenting with different racquets can have interesting effect on the mental side of the game. It’s hard to tell if the racquet is actually improving your game physically or if it’s giving you a confidence boost. A racquet that feels good to play with is important to enjoying the game, and a good player needs a good reliable partner in a racquet to build the confidence necessary to improve at squash. While these reviews reveal my opinion on these racquets, there is no substituting the actual racquet in your hand so get out there and DEMO DEMO DEMO.

First up, I was eager to test the Harrow Vapour. I have seen some top players use Harrow gear, but my impression of Harrow has always been one of mediocrity; neither particularly good nor bad. And my experience with this racquet confirmed this. It was okay, but I felt like it didn’t add anything to my game. The handle of the racquet had a nice square feeling in my hand, but other than that, I was unimpressed. I also question the durability of this racquet, since, in my experience, Harrow racquets seem to be somewhat on the fragile side. The addition of a quality Ashaway string make this racquet an alright choice for an inexperienced player purchasing their first “good” racquet, but I can’t help but think that a good Manta or Tecnifibre racquet might be a better choice for a beginner due to potential reliability issues. This racquet might be a good control subject, one to test how other racquets perform against it.

Harrow Vapour Squash Racquet

Harrow Vapour Squash Racquet

The next racquet I tried was the Tecnifibre Dynergy Tour 125. I was absolutely blown away by the amount of power I could get from this racquet. I felt myself being able to slow down my swing and concentrate on the trajectory of the shot while using the incredible power of this racquet to get it there. This sharpened up my ball control a little compared to the others, but the compromise being made here is in touch. I found many drop shots finding the tin or being too high and loose. Maybe a different string type or tension would fix this, but string can only do so much to correct flaws. It’s nice and light, evenly balanced, and it even has killer tribal style graphics for an extra amount of on court swagger. I’m fairly new to the Tecnifibre product line, but the more I use them the more I am impressed.

Finally, there was the Dunlop Biomimetic Pro GT-X 140. I know Brent has recently reviewed this one, and our opinions definitely differ. This racquet is an update of the racquet that I used to play with (the Aerogel 4D Pro GT-X), and I have to say it feels like Dunlop is headed in the wrong direction on this one. I prefer a head light or balanced racquet, and this racquet was probably one of the most head heavy I’ve ever played with. It gave me a bit of the control and touch I’d expect from a racquet of this price point, but the added weight in the head made my shots feel sluggish and clunky. And a big question with Dunlop is always durability.

Dunlop Biomimetic Pro GT-X 140 Squash Racquet

Dunlop Biomimetic Pro GT-X 140 Squash Racquet

In the past, it has frustrated me the lack of consistency in the durability of Dunlop racquets. Some have lasted months, and some have lasted only a few hours. But they are such good racquets, that I kept buying them anyways. But this racquet does seem sturdier than previous models, and evidently more material has been added in the head to increase durability. Dunlop’s are also notorious for having poor quality factory string, so be prepared to pay for a restringing right off the bat to get the full experience. Maybe with a new set of strings this racquet might come close to the performance of the others, but today I was just not feeling it.

In a racquet, I generally look for the one with the fewest compromises. Every racquet will sacrifice something for something else, weather it be power for control, weight for durability, or what have you. These compromises can be used to pad weaknesses in your game, or accentuate strengths. For a player like myself that lacks the power that my opponents often have, a racquet that can bump my power up a little is something to consider. Today, the Dynergy 125 Tour stood above the rest for me. I don’t know if it was the cool tribal graphics that made me feel extra stylish on court, but it was above all the most fun to play with. While it slightly faltered compared to the touch of the other racquets, the power I was able to get from a low swing speed boosted my control and accuracy, which are the the two most important things in my game.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Christmas Gift Ideas for Squash Players

November 8, 2012 in Squash Equipment

Squash Bag

Tecnifibre VO2 Max 9 Racquet Squash BagEvery squash player needs a new bag. Unless they’ve just bought one, the bag they are lugging around probably has a torn liner or a broken zipper or some other nagging issue that makes it replaceable.

In general, bigger is better when it comes to squash bags. In addition to two or three racquets, most players also carry protective eyewear, a pair of shoes, a water bottle and a towel. Some will even carry a change of clothes and/or a jacket.

Occasionally, players will have special circumstances in which a smaller bag is a requirement. Players who take public transit to and from their matches, for example, may want a smaller bag. The same is true for members who play at clubs or facilities with smaller lockers.

Balls by the Dozen

Contrary to popular belief, squash balls do wear out. After four or five matches, the coating wears off and the ball becomes shiny. At this point, the ball is done.

Frequent squash players will go through two or more boxes of squash balls per season. So it is never a bad idea to give these guys boxes of balls for Christmas and/or birthdays. Double yellow dot balls are most popular with frequent male players. Single yellow dot balls are for juniors and recreational squash players.

Shoes/Apparel

Asics Gel - Domain Men's Indoor Court ShoeAs with other sports, there has been a revolution in squash shoes and apparel over the past ten years. Shirts, shorts, socks and shoes have all been re-engineered to stay drier and last longer.

Frequent squash players will usually go through one or more pairs of shoes per season. So even if they don’t actually need shoes on the day you give them, you can be certain that it won’t be long until they do. And technical squash socks always make great stocking stuffers.

Apparel is little trickier. Colour, styles and sizes are a matter of personal preference. But as long as the store you are buying from is nearby and has a reasonable exchange policy, the risk is low and the gift will surely be appreciated.

Training Tools

Polar FT7 Training MonitorOne of the hottest Christmas gifts for squash players (again) this year will be Polar watches with built in training diagnostics. Depending on the price point, these devices will do a variety of things including monitoring the player’s heart rate, counting the calories they are burning and even counting the number of steps they are taking.

Many of these watches, especially those at the high end, also offer GSP functionality. This feature is great if the squash player in your life is also jogger or marathoner. But your squash player is not also a runner, then there is probably no need to pay extra for GPS tracking features.

Gift Certificates

Failing all else, there are always gift cards and gift certificates. Racquet Network gift certificates do not expire. We honor them all year round and we carry a large selection of racquets and accessories for squash players at all levels. Come in an see us at 4 10015 Oakfield Dr SW in Calgary or shop online in our Pro Shop.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Squash Racquet Grip Size

June 26, 2009 in Squash Equipment

Squash Racquet Grip Size

Squash Racquet Grip Size

Unlike tennis racquets for which grip size is critically important, squash racquets are not manufactured with different grip sizes. That is to say while there are differences between adult, junior and children’s squash racquets, one cannot purchase an adult racquet with a particular grip size.

Instead, squash players all start with the same grip size and then build their racquet handles up to the size they want by using a combination of grip and overgrip.

Many players are satisfied with a single grip. Some, with larger hands, will add an additional layer or two of overgrip while players with extremely large hands will often begin with two layers of grip followed by one or more layers of overgrip.

Only the highest quality squash racquets come outfitted with proper grip when you bring them home from the store. Most racquets, in fact, come with a very thin rubber wrapping that looks like grip. This is not a grip and should be replaced immediately. Even good quality racquets will usually require the installation of grip and string before you can play squash with them.

So how much grip and/or overgrip should you wrap around the handle of your new squash racquet?

To find out, hold the racquet in your hand as you would when you play. The squeeze the handle as tightly as you would if you were about to make contact with the ball.

The tips of your fingers should be barely touching your palm below your thumb. If they are pressing into your palm, the grip is too small. If they are unable to reach your palm, the grip is too large. Add or remove a combination of grip and/or over grip until it is the perfect size for your hand.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Should I Buy a Used Squash Racquet?

January 29, 2009 in Squash Equipment

Dunlop Biomimetic Ultimate Squash Racquet

Dunlop Biomimetic Ultimate Squash Racquet

In tight economic times like these, everybody wants to save money where they can. Buying used squash racquets, instead of new squash racquets, is one way to do that.

But you have to be careful if you want to go this route. Saving money is one possibility, but getting ripped off is another. So here are some things to consider when shopping for a used racquet.

E-Bay

It is certainly possible to get a good used squash racquet on E-Bay and other websites. However it is also possible to buy cheap knock-offs and once-broken-now-repaired frames.

Buyer beware. I won’t buy a racquet unless I can check the entire frame for tell-tale swelling, bulging or other signs of repair. I also need to examine every sticker or label on the racquet in order to prove to myself that it is not a knock off.

Used Goods Stores

While it is possible to hold a racquet in your hands and examine it carefully in a used sporting goods store, it is not always possible to determine how old the racquet is. As a result, I have seen more than one intermediate player show up to play with a “new” racquet that is, in fact, ten years old.

It is advisable, therefore, to stop at a new racquet store and have a good long look at what is on the shelf this year before going to the used racquet store to buy last year’s model. Do this and you will increase your chances of spotting really old frames when you get to the used racquet store.

Hand-me-downs

Buying used racquets from friends and other players in your network can be tricky. Generally, you should pay no more than $40 for the frame, $40 for the string and $10 for the grip. In other words, a quality used racquet shouldn’t cost more than $90.

If the frame is a mid-range frame (not a high-end frame), deduct at least $20. If the strings have more than 50 games on them, deduct $20. If the grip needs to be replaced, deduct another $10.

Slightly Used Demos

Pros and sponsored players often get their racquets for free. Occasionally, they will play with them a few times and then put them away for good. In most cases, they will play with them until the manufacturer’s rep gives them another new model.

Since pros, sponsored players and other frequent players treat their racquets with respect, you are not buying junk. In most cases, you are buying slightly-used, high-end racquets that are in near-pristine condition.

Check for wear on the grip and marks on the strings. If it’s a factory grip with very little wear and the strings are relatively clean with few black marks, you will know that the racquet hasn’t been used very much.

Price Ranges

New, low-end squash racquets are pre-strung and are priced in the $40 to $60 range.

New mid-range squash racquets are usually pre-strung and are priced in the $70 to $100 range.

New high-end squash racquets cost more than $150 and come unstrung. Stringing costs another $25 to $50, depending on the type of string you like.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Learning to Hit with Touch

January 6, 2009 in Squash Equipment, Squash Tips

Everybody hits hard. Most adult men can hit the ball really hard. But that’s about all they can do, unfortunately.

Most self-taught (or friend-taught) squash players are very good at hitting low, hard drives and pounding the ball cross-court. But their drop shots are generally terrible and few have acceptable lobs.

Advanced players, on the other hand, understand that hitting hard is only one dimension of the game. They understand the importance of touch and precision. They can hit hard when they want to, but they can also hit shots with low and medium pace as well.

A big part of the problem for intermediate players is their choice of balls. Ask them what they have in their bags and most will pull out a handful of shiny double dot balls.

For those of you who don’t know, double dot squash balls are tournament balls developed for elite level players. They are the wrong ball for intermediate players. They have very little bounce, so in order to get them to go anywhere, you have to hit them really hard.

For some reason which I will never understand, most self-taught intermediate club players believe that the double dot ball is the ball they should be playing with.

They don’t understand that elite level players have rallies that last 30 strokes or more. They don’t understand that the ball heats up during these rallies and becomes much bouncier than it will ever be during the four to eight stroke rallies typical at the self-taught intermediate level.

The result is that most self-taught players end up playing with a ball that has the qualities of a stone. It never really heats up, so it never really starts to bounce. The only way to get it to go anywhere is to hit it as hard as you can.

In order to develop touch, players must begin by choosing the proper ball. Dunlop Competition balls (a.k.a. single yellow dot balls), for example, will bounce as much for intermediate level players during six stroke rallies as the double dot balls do for the pros during 30 stroke rallies.

When practicing solo, it’s best to use the liveliest ball you can find. Dunlop’s MAX Progress Ball is the choice of many players, but my personal preference is the Wilson Blue Dot ball.

It has about the same bounce cold as a double dot does after a long rally. This makes it possible to approximate game ball conditions even on cold, Canadian squash courts.

Choose whichever ball you like. They key is to pick one that you can hit to the back of the court with something substantially less than all-out power. Once you find this ball, you will have what you need to begin developing the touch and precision of high level squash players.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Head Serves and Body Serves

December 27, 2008 in Squash 101, Squash Equipment, Squash Etiquette, Squash Safety, Squash Tips

Head Serve

Head Serve

Questions about head and body serves come up a few times every season. Usually, I get the question: “What do I do about a guy who constantly serves at my head?”. However sometimes I am asked: “Am I allowed to serve at somebody’s head?”

The head serve is a dangerous variation on a completely legitimate squash serve known as the body serve. In a body serve, the server directs a hard, flat, drive serve directly at an opponent’s body.

The best place to aim a body serve is the area between the hip and the elbow. A serve delivered to this area can be difficult to return, especially if it is delivered to the non-racquet hand on the forehand side.

The head serve is the same shot, except that it is aimed at an opponent’s head.

When this is done deliberately at the recreational level, it demonstrates a complete lack of class on the server’s part. It also indicates that the server is a reckless and dangerous person — not somebody you want to share a squash court with.

Head serves have no place at the recreational level. Nor do they have any place at the recreational-competitive level. No point, at these levels, is so important that a head serve is justifiable.

So how should players approach the subject of body serves?

First, servers must think about their opponents carefully before even considering whether or not to attempt a body serve. Is the receiver wearing goggles? If the answer is no, then body serves are out of the question. The chances of missing a body serve and hitting the receiver in the head are too high to be acceptable.

Is the receiver a C-level-plus player who has been trained to handle body serves? If not, then there is a very real possibility of the ball glancing off of his racquet frame up into his face on the serve return. Therefore body serves are best left off of the menu for these players too.

Generally speaking, body serves should not be used in a squash match unless both players have discussed the issue (and possible negative outcomes) before the first game begins. The exception to this rule of thumb are coached players in a competitive situation who are properly equipped and who have been adequately trained by a professional coach.

So what should you do when somebody serves at your head?

The first thing you need to do is duck. Do not return the serve. Let your opponent have the point.

Wait for a moment after the serve to see if your opponent apologizes. If he apologizes, accept his apology and then take a minute to discuss the issue of body serves in general.

If the server does not apologize and, instead, plays on as though nothing has happened, stop the game.

If you are not wearing goggles, point that out. If you have not been taught how to receive body serves, point that out too. Then ask if the rest of the match can be played without body serves.

If the answer is yes, play on. If not, then thank him for the game, shake his hand and leave the court immediately.

There are hundreds of squash players in our network who will gladly play squash without once feeling the need to put you in danger by serving at your head.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Improve Your Squash Fitness

December 27, 2008 in Squash 101, Squash Drills, Squash Equipment

Dunlop Single Yellow Dot Squash Ball

Dunlop Single Yellow Dot Squash Ball

About a third of the people who play squash in Racquet Network tell me that they are focussed primarily on burning calories and increasing their cardio fitness. They keep score when they play only because squash is a game and keeping score is part of the game’s culture.

Truth be told, though, they don’t really care about the number of points they or their opponents are getting. They don’t really care about wins or losses. What matters more to them are games played or minutes played. Equally important are the number of times they lunge or squat during a match.

For players like this, squash is a fun substitute for the treadmill or the elliptical trainer. When they come out to the squash court, they are looking for a workout. They are looking for long rallies and close games. The last thing they want is to end up on the court with a bash-and-dasher who tries to kill the ball and end the rally every time he swings at the ball.

Three Ways to Ensure Longer Matches

Option 1: Play with a friendly ball

Choosing the right squash ball is absolutely essential if you want to increase the average length of your rallies.

If you play with the wrong ball, you will end up playing with a cold ball. Be sure to play with a ball that bounces enough for you and your partner to sustain a rally. Leave the low-bounce, double dot balls for the pros and tournament players.

Option 2: Play a modified game

Start the rally with Player A serving to Player B. Each player must hit the ball five times before anybody can end the rally and score a point.

If five times is beyond your fitness level, try starting at three or four. If five is below your fitness level, challenge yourself by setting a higher number like 10 or 12.

Option 3: Aim higher on the front wall

The lower you aim on the front wall, the more likely you are to play short rallies with few cardio benefits. Change this by forcing both players to hit the ball higher than the serve line. Any ball that hits above the serve line is good. Anything below that is out. It will feel funny at first, but it will lead to longer rallies — guaranteed.

Update Your Profile

As a member of Racquet Network you also have the option of choosing who you want to play with. If fitness matters more to you than scorekeeping, be sure to say that in your profile. Doing so will help people with similar interests find you.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Choosing Squash Shoes

December 27, 2008 in Squash Equipment, Squash Etiquette

Gum Rubber Outer Soles

Gum Rubber Outer Soles

Whether or not you choose to have a designated pair of shoes just for squash (squash shoes) or a general pair of shoes that you use for multiple indoor racquet sports (indoor court shoes) is entirely up to you. The principles remain the same regardless of the decision you make.

Squash Etiquette

Squash etiquette (which is backed up by rules in most facilities) requires players to wear clean shoes with non-marking soles. This means that the shoes you play in should not be the shoes you wear while traveling to or from the squash court.

Outdoor shoes are not squash shoes; they are not squash shoes because they are dirty. Dirty shoes make dirty courts. Dirty courts become slippery courts and slippery courts are dangerous courts to play on.

Not Suitable for Squash

Basketball shoes are not squash shoes either. Nor are cross-trainers or running shoes. Almost without exception, black-soled shoes are not suitable for squash.

In a pinch, badminton shoes or racquetball shoes can be substituted for squash shoes. However, tennis shoes are not squash shoes and should not be used for squash under any circumstances.

Gum Rubber Outer Soles

Squash shoes and indoor courts shoes typically have outer soles made of gum rubber. Gum rubber is usually blonde to light brown in colour and soft to the touch. This is the first thing you should be looking for when shopping for indoor court shoes of any kind. If the shoes you are looking at have gum rubber on their outer soles, they are made for use on indoor courts.

Things to watch for:

Shoes that are too short may cause you to lose a toenail. The repeated pounding of your toenail against the end of the shoe will damage the nail bed. Eventually, the nail will loosen and fall off.

Shoes that are too tight will cause pain when your feet swell. Keep this in mind when trying shoes on in the store. Remember that your feet swell during a typical squash match.

Shoes that are worn out on the inside will cause your feet to hurt the next day. If your feet hurt signficantly the day after you play squash, check the inside of your shoes for wear.

Rule of Thumb

Serious squash players replace their shoes in a season as many times as they play per week on average. In other words, squash players who play squash three times per week will replace their shoes three times per season.

Of course, not every player wears shoes out at an equal rate. Players who toe drag, for example, will replace their squash shoes more often than players who do not drag their toes.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Squash Racquets for Beginners

December 27, 2008 in Squash 101, Squash Equipment, Squash Lessons

Head Squash Racquet

Head Squash Racquet

I give the same advice to squash beginners that I give to tennis beginners who join our network.

Don’t spend $200 on your first racquet. As a beginner, you should take that $200 and divide it into two parts. Spend $50 to $75 on a basic racquet and spend the rest on lessons.

Racquets are not lifetime investments. They are disposable tools with parts that wear out. Within a few years of purchasing it, chances are excellent that you will not be able to replace the bumper guards or other important parts when you take your racquet in to replace the strings.

Racquet technology is also changing. Like personal computers, squash racquets quickly become obsolete. One year they are shiny and new and everybody wants one. Three years later you can’t give them away and nobody at the repair shop wants to touch them.

Most importantly, though, racquets break. And the more you pay for them, the easier they are to break. This is because high-end racquets are extremely light. Many, in fact, are in the 120-130 gram range. It doesn’t take much; return a tight shot, clip the wall and SNAP! You’re on the way to the store for a new squash racquet.

Beginner racquets are much sturdier. Manufacturers know that beginners will be over-running the ball and smashing their racquets into the walls. They understand that this part of the learning process. So they design beginner racquets to take more punishment.

The money saved by purchasing a lower-priced racquet should be invested in lessons. Lessons will help beginners move quickly to the intermediate level. Since intermediate level players are less likely to over-run the ball and crash into the walls, most are ready to start shopping for a higher quality racquet.

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Avatar of Brent Johner (Owner)

by Brent Johner (Owner)

Protect Your Eyes with Squash Goggles

December 27, 2008 in Squash 101, Squash Equipment, Squash Safety

I-Mask

I-Mask

Racquet sports, believe it or not, are the No. 1 cause of serious eye injuries world-wide. In squash, it is estimated that one-in-four players will suffer an eye injury at some point if they choose not to protect themselves.

While it is possible to get hit in the eye with the ball during a squash match, the greatest danger, by far, comes from your opponent’s racquet. This is especially true when your opponent is hitting a backhand in the vicinity of the tee.

Protect yourself with certified eye protection. If you don’t normally wear glasses, look for squash or safety goggles with plenty of venting on the sides and out the top of the frame. This will prevent condensation from forming on the inside of the lenses.

If you do wear glasses, consider buying an I-Mask. I have played with one for years. I haven’t won any beauty contests while wearing it, but I haven’t suffered any eye injuries either.

Remember that goggles get scratched and need to be replaced from time to time. So keep that in mind when purchasing a new pair. I hate to see players spend a hundred dollars on a pair of designer glasses that get scratched up the first time they throw them in their squash bag.

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