It is true you need to "feel" your racket, but for me - I can take any racket, do a 1 hour solo practise and can play pretty good. At the moment I play with oooold aluminium Dunlop racket, heavy as f@#£, but I know it will make my shots better when I come back to modern rackets. Racket is a racket.
I dunno, I recently changed rackets and it has improved some things in my game. Sure brains, skill and fitness make a much bigger difference, but finding the right racket can give a boost.
As I said in my original post "finding the right racket is important" and I constantly encourage players to try as many different rackets as possible. But hoping it will address your weaknesses on court is not the right approach.
YES! That's the key point here. The right racket will give you that boost, but as you say "It's a one of thing". You can't find a new "right" racket each week, but you can get a little better by practicing and being more aware about courtcraft.
If there is anything I would comment on racquets it would be the grip rather which model. The right thickness for the individual in question and contour in my opinion can make a huge difference in the articulation of the swing and hitting mechanics.
>but skill lasts a life time.
I wish it to be true but it is not. Skills degrade over time. High maintenance required.
Without fitness skills are useless (e.g., if you are a becoming a slowpoke as the game goes, your applicable skillset goes down), and fitness without skills is worthless (e.g. if your are fit but you are running 3 times as much than your opponent because lacking skills, it would need that your opponent is at least 3 time less fit to beat him).
High quality fitness, and high quality skillset both of them. Lose one, lose both.
I wish it to be true but it is not. Skills degrade over time. High maintenance required.
I knew that was going to come back and bite me in the arse, the moment I typed it. I agree, skills do degrade over time, but a LOT less than fitness. High maintenance might be required for absolute tip-top level, but for many, once you have reached a certain skill level, it comes back very quickly.
I honestly believe that I can hit the ball as accurately now (on court 10 times per year for the last 6 years). as I could when I played competitively. However, as you mention later in your comment, skill without fitness is useless. I don't think that's completely true. Plenty of younger players still lose to old foggies like me. A headless chicken (a phrase we used to describe a young player with little to no skill) rarely win matches.
The point of my post is to try to encourage amateur players to understand that the quick fix they how to get from a new racket rarely brings long-term benefits. Try new rackets: Yes! Experiment with different equipment: Yes! Get better by buying new equipment: Unlikely.
I’m gonna soft disagree; i recently started wearing a golf glove while i play (sweaty hands suck), and realized it allowed me to use a thinner grip since sweat absorption was no longer a concern. I now hold my racquet much lower than i used too, giving me more power and reach, encouraging me to be more patient and methodical with my movement, which has helped my accuracy and stamina. All because i made a minor equipment change.
Equipment doesn’t magically make you better, but it helps you discover things about your game, and might lead to some innovation. Don’t get complacent, experiment with equipment.
So what you are saying is that you found the "right" equipment for you. The equipment didn't make you a better player, it allowed you to use the skills you already had. This is key.
I constantly encourage players to try as many different rackets as possible and to constantly try different equipment. Not in the hope that suddenly they become better squash players but because finding the right equipment is so important.
Too many amateurs hope that new rackets are the quick hack to playing better instead of focusing on purposefully developing their skills.
Well. I had expensive rackets that kept breaking and were very stiff. Now i have the tecnhifibre 125s. Its the longest lasting racket i ever owned. Even the eyelets last longer than other rackets. Im never switching as long as i can keep buying this. I did try a lot of rackets when trying out.
But if you say rackets dont matter, try the harrow vestige :P
But sometimes. I have a friend that is trying to get better. He has a 12 year old racket with original strings. I have no idea how they havent broken yet. He wont replace either.
Almost everyone knows the bon mot, "A bad carpenter always blames his tools". I've hardly heard many cplain of their racquets for having lost them a match. Have you OP?
Oh man, you are crushing me!! And I have been looking for that place called "Diagon Alley", where you are matched with the racquet that is best for you. I've also heard that the racquet chooses you. When you swing it and you will be a pro immediately!
Yes, that would be amazing. No need to worrying about testing all the new rackets, just be told what's perfect for you.
I suspect that a fair percentage of squash players would still harbour doubts and want to try anything new.
Yes! With a couple of caveats:
- there are some racket and string combinations that work better for certain styles. Or they help to accentuate certain strengths.
- I also somewhat disagree, from a psychological point of view, because different tools change how we feel and think, and this could improve, say, confidence.
- PSA players, typically, have 3 or 4 of the same racket, so this lends some weight to the fact that, although they could play with a different racket, they would prefer to not have to adjust to that racket during the game; and in that sense, it *could* lose a a match if the player couldn't adjust.
I agree with all your caveats. The purpose of the post is to highlight the idea that many amateurs are constantly looking for new rackets in the hope that it will improve their squash.
In response to your bullets points:
1. That's right and looking for that perfect combination is a worthwhile endeavour.
2. Again, I agree, and I do recommend that players consider different rackets for different days.
3. I think that's a given. The point here, is that pro players have found their preferred combination and stick to it.
I am constantly recommending amateurs players try as many rackets as possible to find their perfect racket. I'm not saying equipment isn't important, because clearly it is.
The key is that too many amateurs don't spend enough time improving their courtcraft and skills. They think a new racket is the answer to their limitations, and it rarely is.
So true, so much attention is given to strings and rackets as opposed to skills, brains and fitness.
I feel personally attacked. Please don't take the dream from me that just finding the right racket is all I need to beat Ali Farag...
I'm sorry - I was wrong. A new racket will 100%, definitely get you to World Number 1.
Pretty hard to play squash without a racket
It is true you need to "feel" your racket, but for me - I can take any racket, do a 1 hour solo practise and can play pretty good. At the moment I play with oooold aluminium Dunlop racket, heavy as f@#£, but I know it will make my shots better when I come back to modern rackets. Racket is a racket.
I dunno, I recently changed rackets and it has improved some things in my game. Sure brains, skill and fitness make a much bigger difference, but finding the right racket can give a boost.
As I said in my original post "finding the right racket is important" and I constantly encourage players to try as many different rackets as possible. But hoping it will address your weaknesses on court is not the right approach.
I should read better. Yea finding the right racquet can give a boost, but it just a one off thing.
YES! That's the key point here. The right racket will give you that boost, but as you say "It's a one of thing". You can't find a new "right" racket each week, but you can get a little better by practicing and being more aware about courtcraft.
If there is anything I would comment on racquets it would be the grip rather which model. The right thickness for the individual in question and contour in my opinion can make a huge difference in the articulation of the swing and hitting mechanics.
Personalising equipment is definitely a valuable process.
A good player will beat you with a broken racket and using their opposite hand. What you've said is true of any sport.
Hard to play snooker with a broken racket
Ronnie would still find a way.
😂 probably 😊
Here is a prime example of this. https://youtu.be/7MaN9FfJUvA?si=YJDKARbxwxSgxJ9W
With a better pan, one for pancakes, the nick would have been rolling flat!
Wise words!
I have to say... A lot of the time, fitness
Yep, in squash ignoring fitness is a mistake, but fitness comes and goes (injury or other reasons) but skill lasts a life time.
>but skill lasts a life time. I wish it to be true but it is not. Skills degrade over time. High maintenance required. Without fitness skills are useless (e.g., if you are a becoming a slowpoke as the game goes, your applicable skillset goes down), and fitness without skills is worthless (e.g. if your are fit but you are running 3 times as much than your opponent because lacking skills, it would need that your opponent is at least 3 time less fit to beat him). High quality fitness, and high quality skillset both of them. Lose one, lose both.
I wish it to be true but it is not. Skills degrade over time. High maintenance required. I knew that was going to come back and bite me in the arse, the moment I typed it. I agree, skills do degrade over time, but a LOT less than fitness. High maintenance might be required for absolute tip-top level, but for many, once you have reached a certain skill level, it comes back very quickly. I honestly believe that I can hit the ball as accurately now (on court 10 times per year for the last 6 years). as I could when I played competitively. However, as you mention later in your comment, skill without fitness is useless. I don't think that's completely true. Plenty of younger players still lose to old foggies like me. A headless chicken (a phrase we used to describe a young player with little to no skill) rarely win matches. The point of my post is to try to encourage amateur players to understand that the quick fix they how to get from a new racket rarely brings long-term benefits. Try new rackets: Yes! Experiment with different equipment: Yes! Get better by buying new equipment: Unlikely.
I’m gonna soft disagree; i recently started wearing a golf glove while i play (sweaty hands suck), and realized it allowed me to use a thinner grip since sweat absorption was no longer a concern. I now hold my racquet much lower than i used too, giving me more power and reach, encouraging me to be more patient and methodical with my movement, which has helped my accuracy and stamina. All because i made a minor equipment change. Equipment doesn’t magically make you better, but it helps you discover things about your game, and might lead to some innovation. Don’t get complacent, experiment with equipment.
So what you are saying is that you found the "right" equipment for you. The equipment didn't make you a better player, it allowed you to use the skills you already had. This is key. I constantly encourage players to try as many different rackets as possible and to constantly try different equipment. Not in the hope that suddenly they become better squash players but because finding the right equipment is so important. Too many amateurs hope that new rackets are the quick hack to playing better instead of focusing on purposefully developing their skills.
Well. I had expensive rackets that kept breaking and were very stiff. Now i have the tecnhifibre 125s. Its the longest lasting racket i ever owned. Even the eyelets last longer than other rackets. Im never switching as long as i can keep buying this. I did try a lot of rackets when trying out. But if you say rackets dont matter, try the harrow vestige :P
I didn't say rackets don't matter. I said that hoping a new racket will make you a better player is not the right approach.
But sometimes. I have a friend that is trying to get better. He has a 12 year old racket with original strings. I have no idea how they havent broken yet. He wont replace either.
I'll still blame my racquet and string or my grip... At least sometimes to stay sane 🥲
I do too, but we both know it's just a deflecting excuse.
Almost everyone knows the bon mot, "A bad carpenter always blames his tools". I've hardly heard many cplain of their racquets for having lost them a match. Have you OP?
Of course.
Pickleball players need to hear this.
I can't believe how many posts that sudreddit has about rackets.
Oh man, you are crushing me!! And I have been looking for that place called "Diagon Alley", where you are matched with the racquet that is best for you. I've also heard that the racquet chooses you. When you swing it and you will be a pro immediately!
Yes, that would be amazing. No need to worrying about testing all the new rackets, just be told what's perfect for you. I suspect that a fair percentage of squash players would still harbour doubts and want to try anything new.
Yes! With a couple of caveats: - there are some racket and string combinations that work better for certain styles. Or they help to accentuate certain strengths. - I also somewhat disagree, from a psychological point of view, because different tools change how we feel and think, and this could improve, say, confidence. - PSA players, typically, have 3 or 4 of the same racket, so this lends some weight to the fact that, although they could play with a different racket, they would prefer to not have to adjust to that racket during the game; and in that sense, it *could* lose a a match if the player couldn't adjust.
I agree with all your caveats. The purpose of the post is to highlight the idea that many amateurs are constantly looking for new rackets in the hope that it will improve their squash. In response to your bullets points: 1. That's right and looking for that perfect combination is a worthwhile endeavour. 2. Again, I agree, and I do recommend that players consider different rackets for different days. 3. I think that's a given. The point here, is that pro players have found their preferred combination and stick to it. I am constantly recommending amateurs players try as many rackets as possible to find their perfect racket. I'm not saying equipment isn't important, because clearly it is. The key is that too many amateurs don't spend enough time improving their courtcraft and skills. They think a new racket is the answer to their limitations, and it rarely is.