Best Squash Equipment for Beginners 2026
Updated: Sep 16
Table of Contents
What Squash Equipment Beginners Actually Need
Best Squash Rackets for Beginners: Top Picks for 2026
Dunlop Blackstorm Titanium: Best All-Round Beginner Racket
HEAD Radical 120 Slimbody: Best for Players Prioritising Speed
Eye Rackets V.Lite 120 Control: Best for Touch and Feel
Key Features to Look for in a Beginner Squash Racket
Frame Weight, Balance, and Swing Speed
Racket Head Size, String Pattern, and Stiffness
Squash Ball Types for Beginners: Which Dot Colour to Choose
Best Indoor Court Shoes for Squash: Why Footwear Matters
Squash Protective Eyewear Requirements: What You Need to Know
Grip, Bags, and Other Gear Worth Adding
Should You Rent or Buy Equipment as a Beginner?
Last Updated: August 25, 2026
What Squash Equipment Beginners Actually Need
Picking up squash for the first time is exciting and immediately confusing. Walk into any sports retailer and you're faced with dozens of rackets, several types of balls, shoes marketed as "court shoes," and eyewear ranging from flimsy to fortress-grade. The best squash equipment for beginners is matched to where you actually are in your development.
This guide from Launceston Squash Centre breaks down every category you need to get started: rackets, balls, footwear, eyewear, grip, and bags.
Quick Picks:
Best All-Round Racket: Dunlop Blackstorm Titanium, forgiving, manoeuvrable, genuinely fun to swing
Best for Speed: HEAD Radical 120 Slimbody, aerodynamic frame, even balance, fast through the air
Best for Touch: Eye Rackets V.Lite 120 Control, generous sweet spot, excellent for drop shots
Right Ball for Beginners: Dunlop Intro Blue Dot, larger, bouncier, easier to keep in play
Footwear: Salming Kobra 3, non-marking outsole, lateral stability, solid cushioning
A common mistake is buying a double yellow dot ball because that's what professionals use. That ball barely bounces unless thoroughly warmed up by experienced players. Start with a blue dot instead, the difference is significant.
Category | Recommended Pick | Best For |
Racket (power) | Dunlop Blackstorm Titanium | All-round beginner play |
Racket (speed) | HEAD Radical 120 Slimbody | Fast swing, agile players |
Racket (touch) | Eye Rackets V.Lite 120 Control | Drop shots, control game |
Ball | Dunlop Intro Blue Dot | Absolute beginners |
Shoes | Salming Kobra 3 | Court grip and ankle support |
Eyewear | Dunlop I-Armour | Safety compliance |
Grip | Karakal PU Super Grip | Comfort and sweat absorption |
Bag | Head Base Racquet Backpack | Casual players |
Best Squash Rackets for Beginners: Top Picks for 2026
The single biggest factor in how quickly beginners improve is racket maneuverability. A heavy, head-heavy racket makes court movement exhausting and technical development slower.
Dunlop Blackstorm Titanium: Best All-Round Beginner Racket
The Dunlop Blackstorm Titanium is the safest recommendation for most beginners. Its head-light balance and 125g frame weight make it easy to swing quickly without sacrificing power. The carbon fibre construction keeps the frame stable on off-centre hits. The 78in² head size gives you a larger sweet spot than many intermediate frames, a genuinely forgiving feature when positioning isn't yet consistent.
Best for: Beginners who want a forgiving, manoeuvrable racket with genuine power potential.
HEAD Radical 120 Slimbody: Best for Players Prioritising Speed
At 120g with an even balance and aerodynamic slimbody frame, the HEAD Radical 120 is built for swing speed. The Hy-Bor technology adds perceived stability despite the ultra-light weight, and the thin beam cuts through air quickly when retrieving balls tight to the side wall.
The trade-off is a slightly smaller 74in² head size, meaning the sweet spot is less forgiving. For a beginner with decent athletic coordination who wants to develop a fast, technical game from the start, this racket rewards that ambition.
Best for: Agile beginners who prioritise speed and want a racket that grows with their technical development.
Eye Rackets V.Lite 120 Control: Best for Touch and Feel
The Eye Rackets V.Lite 120 Control shifts weight toward the top of the frame, generating racket head speed without requiring a fast swing. The result rewards touch shots, drop volleys, and accurate placement rather than raw power. The generous sweet spot makes it forgiving for beginners who gravitate toward finesse.
Best for: Beginners who want to develop a control-based game with excellent feel for drop shots and volleys.
Key Features to Look for in a Beginner Squash Racket
Two technical factors determine whether a racket helps or hinders your early development.
Frame Weight, Balance, and Swing Speed
Frame weight typically ranges between 110g and 170g. Beginner-friendly rackets sit in the 120g-135g range. Lighter frames are easier to swing quickly, enabling better court movement and less arm fatigue.
Balance describes where the weight sits. A head-light racket carries more weight toward the handle, making it faster and easier to manoeuvre. For beginners, head-light or even-balance frames are the right starting point. The ability to swing quickly and recover between shots matters far more than extracting maximum power.
Racket Head Size, String Pattern, and Stiffness
A larger racket head size (76-80in²) gives you a bigger sweet spot. Beginners benefit from this because positioning and timing are still developing.
String pattern affects how the ball interacts with the strings. The 14x18 pattern on the Dunlop Blackstorm is a good middle ground between power and control.
Racket stiffness influences vibration dampening and feel. For beginners, a mid-flex frame is ideal.
Pro Tip Vibration dampening is worth paying attention to if you're returning to squash after a break. Even a small rubber dampener fitted to the strings reduces the jarring sensation on mis-hits and protects your elbow over longer sessions.
Squash Ball Types for Beginners: Which Dot Colour to Choose
The right squash ball for beginners is the blue dot. The difference between using the correct ball and the wrong one is the difference between enjoying your first session and spending it frustrated.
Squash ball types are colour-coded by dot to indicate speed and bounce:
Dot Colour | Bounce Level | Who It's For |
Blue dot | High bounce | Absolute beginners |
Red dot | Medium-high bounce | Improvers and juniors |
Single yellow dot | Medium bounce | Club-level players |
Double yellow dot | Low bounce | Advanced and competitive players |
The Dunlop Intro Blue Dot is the standard recommendation for new players. It's 12% larger than a standard squash ball and maintains bounce without requiring extended warm-up. This means you can start hitting rallies within minutes rather than spending the first ten minutes trying to warm the ball up enough to bounce properly.
As your technique develops and rallies get longer, you'll generate enough heat through play to move to a red dot.
Watch Out Using a double yellow dot as a beginner is one of the most common equipment mistakes. The ball will barely bounce, rallies will be impossible to sustain, and you'll develop bad habits compensating for a ball that isn't working with your current skill level.
Best Indoor Court Shoes for Squash: Why Footwear Matters
Running shoes do not work on a squash court. This footwear mistake causes most beginner ankle injuries and is entirely avoidable.
Squash demands rapid lateral movement, sudden stops, and explosive direction changes on a smooth, polished court surface. Running shoes are designed for forward motion and can mark and damage court floors. Court-specific squash shoes have a non-marking outsole engineered for the lateral stability and grip that squash movement requires.
The Salming Kobra 3 is a strong option. Its HexaGrip outsole pattern provides reliable traction, while the Recoil ERF and SoftFOAM midsole combination delivers cushioning and energy return on hard stops. The LMS Torsion unit adds ankle stability, important when still developing movement patterns.
Breathability matters too. Squash is intense in an enclosed space. Shoes with ventilated uppers keep your feet cooler across longer sessions, reducing fatigue and discomfort.
According to Sports Medicine Australia's guidance on court sport footwear, wearing sport-specific footwear significantly reduces the risk of ankle and knee injuries in court sports.
What to look for in squash shoes:
Non-marking outsole (required on most courts)
Lateral stability support to prevent ankle rolling
Cushioning for hard court surfaces
Breathability for temperature regulation
Snug fit through the midfoot to prevent sliding
Squash Protective Eyewear Requirements: What You Need to Know
Squash protective eyewear is not optional. The enclosed court, high-speed ball, and racket swings in close proximity to other players create genuine risk of eye injury. Many courts and competitions require eyewear.
The standard that matters is World Squash Federation approval. WSF-approved eyewear is tested to withstand the impact of a squash ball at playing speed, with polycarbonate lenses that resist shattering.
The Dunlop I-Armour is a practical choice for beginners. It's WSF-approved, lightweight, and features a contoured lens shape that maximises peripheral vision. The rubberised arms grip securely during intense movement.
According to Squash Australia's safety guidelines, polycarbonate lenses are the minimum acceptable standard for squash eyewear, as they are impact-resistant and will not shatter on contact with a ball or racket.
A common mistake is buying cheap eyewear from a general sports retailer without checking for WSF approval.
Key Takeaway Protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses and WSF approval is the only type worth buying for squash. The cost difference between approved and non-approved eyewear is small. The difference in protection is not.
Grip, Bags, and Other Gear Worth Adding
Once you have a racket, ball, shoes, and eyewear, you're ready to play. A few additional items make a real difference to comfort and convenience.
Grip replacement is something most beginners overlook until their racket starts slipping. The Karakal PU Super Grip is the standard recommendation. Its polyurethane construction provides a tacky feel that holds through sweaty conditions and absorbs impact well.
Grip thickness affects how the racket sits in your hand. The right grip size allows your fingers to wrap around the handle with a small gap between your fingertips and your palm.
Bags depend on how much gear you're carrying. The Head Base Racquet Backpack suits casual players making quick trips to the court. It's lightweight, has a dedicated shoe compartment, and holds one or two rackets comfortably.
Should You Rent or Buy Equipment as a Beginner?
The honest answer: rent first, buy once you know you'll stick with it.
Most squash facilities offer racket hire. Using hire equipment for your first two or three sessions is sensible. You'll quickly learn what frame weight feels comfortable and whether you prefer a head-light or head-heavy balance.
The case for buying early is also real. Hire rackets are often older and worn. If you're playing more than once a fortnight, the cost of hire adds up quickly compared to owning a racket in the $100-$200 range.
A practical framework for the decision:
Playing once or twice as a trial: Rent everything.
Playing monthly but casually: Buy your own racket and ball. Hire shoes if available, or invest in a pair if you plan to continue.
Playing weekly or more: Buy the full kit. The performance and hygiene benefits are worth it at that frequency.
On sustainability and durability: Carbon fibre and graphite composite rackets last significantly longer than aluminium or alloy frames. Spending slightly more on a quality beginner racket means it remains usable as your game develops.
At Launceston Squash Centre, courts are available from 6am to 11pm daily with online booking, making it straightforward to trial different equipment at times that suit your schedule. The Australian Institute of Sport's sport participation resources note that accessible facilities and flexible scheduling are among the key factors that help adults sustain new sport habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best squash racket for a beginner?
For most beginners, a head-light or even-balance racket weighing between 120g and 130g gives the best combination of maneuverability and control. The Dunlop Blackstorm Titanium is a strong starting point: its carbon fibre frame, 125g weight, and forgiving sweet spot suit players still developing their swing technique. Avoid very stiff or very heavy frames early on, as they make timing harder and increase the risk of arm fatigue during recreational play.
How do I choose the right squash ball for my skill level?
Squash balls are colour-coded by bounce level. Beginners should start with a blue dot ball, which is 12% larger than a standard ball and bounces significantly more, making it far easier to keep in play while you develop technique. As your game improves, move to a red dot, then a single yellow dot. The double yellow dot, used in competitive play, requires sustained hitting to warm up and is unsuitable for beginners during recreational play.
Do I need special shoes for squash?
Yes. Running shoes are unsafe on a squash court because they lack the lateral stability needed for the sharp side-to-side movements the game demands. Squash-specific indoor court shoes have a non-marking outsole for grip, reinforced sidewalls for lateral stability, and cushioning designed for court movement. Wearing the wrong footwear increases the risk of ankle injury and can damage the court surface, which most facilities prohibit under their conditions of entry.
Are expensive squash rackets worth it for beginners?
Generally, no. A mid-range graphite composite or carbon fibre racket in the A$100 to A$170 range gives beginners everything they need: adequate vibration dampening, a reasonable sweet spot, and light enough frame weight for developing swing speed. Spending more buys marginal gains in precision that only experienced players can detect. Focus your early budget on proper court shoes and protective eyewear, which have a more direct impact on safety and court performance.
Is protective eyewear compulsory for squash?
Squash Australia strongly recommends protective eyewear for all players, and many facilities and junior competitions mandate it. A squash ball travelling at speed poses a serious risk of eye injury, particularly in the confined space of a squash court. Look for eyewear with polycarbonate lenses that meets the World Squash Federation standard. The Dunlop I-Armour is one widely available option that meets this standard and includes rubberised arms for a secure fit during intense rallies.
Starting squash with the right equipment removes a lot of the early frustration that causes beginners to give up before the game clicks. A beginner-friendly racket, a blue dot ball, proper court shoes, and approved eyewear are the four non-negotiables. Everything else builds from there. Book a court at Launceston Squash Centre through the online booking system, show up with the right gear, and focus on the part that actually matters: learning to play.
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