What to bring to your first squash game

Squash is fast, and a few simple things make the first session safer and more fun. You do not need to buy much: shoes and water are the only essentials, and everything else can be rented with the court.

Checklist

• Non-marking indoor shoes with good grip. Most venues do not allow black soles, which leave marks on the floor.
• Protective eyewear. Recommended for everyone and required for juniors at most clubs.
• A beginner ball. Blue or single-yellow-dot balls bounce more than the double-yellow-dot competition ball.
• Water and a towel. A 45-minute session is harder work than it looks.
• A spare shirt: you will sweat more than in most racket sports.

Shoes

Squash is all short sprints, lunges and quick turns, so shoes matter more than the racket. Indoor court shoes (the kind made for badminton, squash or volleyball) have a flat gum sole that grips without leaving marks. Running shoes have a raised heel and a soft, curved sole that make it easy to roll an ankle when you change direction.

Eyewear

A squash ball is small enough to fit into an eye socket, and in a closed court it can come back at you off the walls at speed. Proper squash goggles are cheap insurance, and many clubs require them for juniors and doubles. If you wear glasses, ask for goggles that fit over them, or wear contact lenses.

The ball

Squash balls are marked with dots that show how much they bounce. The double-yellow-dot ball used by good players barely bounces until it is warm, which makes rallies very short for beginners. Ask for a blue-dot or single-yellow-dot ball: it stays in play longer and lets you actually rally.

What you can rent

You can add a racket, balls and eyewear to your booking and collect them from the desk. That way you can try the game before buying anything. Rental rackets are pre-strung and light, which suits beginners.

When you buy your own racket

Play a few sessions with rental rackets first. When you buy, most adult squash rackets weigh roughly 120 to 150 grams without strings. Beginners usually do best with a racket that is not too light and has a larger, more forgiving head, which gives power without a big swing. Ask the coach or the desk staff to let you try a couple before you choose, and replace the grip when it gets slippery.

The basics in two minutes

• Serve from a service box with one foot inside it. The ball must hit the front wall above the service line and land in the opposite back quarter.
• In a rally, the ball must reach the front wall before it bounces on the floor, and stay above the tin.
• You may let it bounce once, and it can hit the side and back walls on the way.
• Games go to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Every rally scores a point.
• If you might hit your opponent with the ball or the racket, stop and ask for a let. Safety comes before the point.

Warm up the ball

Squash balls bounce very little when cold. Hit the ball against the front wall for a few minutes before you start counting points, and warm yourself up too: squash is hard on calves and hamstrings.

Court manners

• Knock or wait for a break in play before opening the court door.
• Finish on time: the next players may be waiting outside.
• Wipe sweat off the floor at the T if you slip; a wet floor is dangerous for everyone.

Beginner mistakes to avoid

• Standing still after your shot. Go back to the T, the middle of the court where the lines cross, after every shot.
• Swinging like a tennis player. Keep the swing compact and the racket head up; a big follow-through is dangerous in a small court.
• Hitting everything hard. A soft, high ball to the back corner is often the best shot in squash.
• Playing too close to your opponent. Give them a clear path to the ball, and ask for a let when they block yours.

A serious workout

A squash rally is a series of short sprints, lunges and turns, so even a relaxed game is tiring. Drink water before you start, take short breaks between games, and stop if you feel dizzy: indoor courts can be warm, and some are not air-conditioned. Many players book squash twice a week as their main cardio, and a regular slot with the same partner is the easiest way to keep that habit.

Your first session

Book 45 minutes, the standard squash slot, and consider a lesson with a coach for your first time: 45 minutes with a coach teaches you the grip, the basic swing and the rules faster than an hour of guessing. If you play with a friend, rally cooperatively for the first half and only then play points. Squash courts are fewer than badminton courts, so book evening slots a few days ahead.