If you've played squash for more than a few years, you've probably left your fair share of broken racquets in the club garbage cans. I know I have. You probably have a pretty good ideas of what you really like in a squash racquet as well. I know I have my favourites.
If your a beginner, or average club player, any racquet in the 0 or so price range will serve you well. The better racquet brands like Black Knight, Head, Prince, or Dunlop make some very solid and reliable racquets. Unless you plan on spending time on the pro tour, the 0 or more racquets are not really worth the money.
Usually, I worry more about getting a racquet with a weight and stiffness that I feel comfortable with. After enduring several elbow and shoulder injuries over the years, I do favour a lighter racquet. Usually in the 130 to 140 gram weight. A stiffer racquet will help keep vibration to a minimum as well. That's another injury prevention.
It's a good idea to have at least a couple of racquets of whatever your favourite brand and model is these days. There's nothing worse, than being in the club championship match tied 6-6 in the fifth game, blow a string, and have pull a racquet out of your bag that's got a different feel than the one you've been playing with.
Typically, I have more racquets in my bag then I really need to have. I guess I'm just a bit of a pack rat that way. You never know, when your going to need another racquet. I sometimes think some people should have an extra racquet on court with them just for smashing on walls. Maybe one that's got a hairline fracture just on the verge of breaking. Better than ruining a perfectly good one.
Everyone's probably got an old racquet they keep just for sedimental value. I've got an old Slazenger in my bag, that I never use, and have had for well over 10 years now. It's a real junker. It's good actually, for loaning to opponents I playing to improve my chances ;)
As far as racquet strings go, I'm partial to the Ashaway strings these days. Either the PowerNick or the SuperNick. The SuperNicks have a nicer touch, but don't seem to last as long as the PowerNicks. Either one works pretty well, it's more a question of getting used to one or the other.
I have been playing with a pair of Wilson N145's this season, but think I will switch to something else next year. I liked a Dunlop I had last year, but they seem a bit too brittle. I went through two of them in less than a month. It may be time to do a little racquet shopping in fall.
