Most beginners do not need a pro frame. They need a racket that forgives a mistimed swing, feels light in the wrist after ten minutes of rallying, and does not punish them for missing the ball. That is a narrower target than the marketing suggests, and picking wrong usually means either a heavy, demanding frame that makes the first six months miserable or a flimsy one that breaks in a season.
We spent weeks putting eight beginner squash rackets through the same routine: wall drills, long casual rallies with a mixed-ability group, and a durability check after repeated overheads and volleys against the front wall. Our team compared all eight on weight, head size, balance, string pattern, grip size and how forgiving they felt on off-centre contact. What follows is the best squash rackets for beginners ranking built from that testing, with the spec sheets separated from the marketing language so you can see what each frame actually is.
One thing to sort out first: almost nothing in this category arrives ready to hit with, and most of the budget models ship unstrung. We take the same start-small approach in our beginner soldering iron guide, where the cheapest tool is rarely the right one. Budget for a stringer or a local shop, and budget for balls, because one ball is not a season of squash.
Top 3 Best Squash Rackets for Beginners in October 2026
Dunlop Squash Racquet Set
- Two rackets included
- Eyeguards and ball included
- Graphite frame with titanium shaft
- Beginner package option
The three above cover the three situations we see most. The Nano Ti 110 is the single frame we would hand a new adult player who wants something light and durable that will not shape their swing badly. The Dunlop set wins on everything-in-the-box value, which matters when you also need eyeguards and a ball. The HEAD Extreme is the pick if you would rather have a racket that is strung and playable the day it arrives.
Best Squash Rackets for Beginners Compared in October 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| HEAD Nano Ti 110 |
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| Dunlop Squash Racquet Set |
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| HEAD Extreme Series |
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 Dunlop Sonic Ti Series |
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 SquashGalaxy Intro 5000 |
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 Dunlop Court Pack |
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 Pro Impact Graphite Racket |
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 BZ BatZoom Heavy Duty Racket |
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1. HEAD Nano Ti 110 – Lightweight Titanium Starter With a Huge Sweet Spot
- Very light at 110 g unstrung
- Large 500 sq cm head forgives off-centre hits
- Titanium frame and carbon shaft feel durable
- Long review history from real club players
- Arrives unstrung so stringing cost applies
- Head heavy balance can feel odd to absolute first-timers
This is the racket we kept coming back to. At 110 g unstrung with a 500 sq cm head, it is light enough that a tired beginner can still swing properly in the back of the court, and big enough that a shot hit two centimetres off the centre still comes back over the tin. Those two numbers together do most of the work that people expect a fancy shaft to do.
The frame is titanium with a carbon fibre shaft, which is an unusual pairing at this level and explains why it feels solid rather than tinny when you catch a ball badly. Our wall sessions showed very little string-bed movement on off-centre hits. The balance is listed as head heavy, and that is the one specification worth understanding before you buy.
Head heavy does not mean heavy overall. It means the mass sits toward the top of the frame, so the ball accelerates off the strings with less effort from your arm. For a player who has never struck a squash ball, that is a real advantage. The trade-off is that head-heavy frames reward timing, and a genuinely new player sometimes finds it harder to control the face on a fast volley.
The honest caveat is weight class. At 110 g this is lighter than most coaches recommend for technique development, and squash forum discussions repeatedly raise durability and feel concerns with very light frames. Our own read: it is fine for a first season of casual court play, and worth stepping up in weight if you start playing three or four times a week and building wrist strength.
Why coaches hand this frame to first-time players
Forgiveness is the whole argument. A 500 sq cm head on a light frame means the effective sweet spot covers far more of the string bed than a smaller control frame, so beginners keep rallies alive instead of watching them die on a mishit. Power follows from that, not from extra swing speed, which is exactly the kind of power a new player can actually produce.
The titanium construction is the other quiet advantage. Several reviewers describe it as the starter racket most often recommended in online squash discussions, largely because it survives being thrown in a bag and being played hard by someone who has no idea what they are doing. That durability matters more to a beginner than any spec on the page.
Where it falls short for new players
It arrives unstrung. You will need a stringer, and you will want to make that first stringing decision yourself rather than accepting whatever the shop defaults to. A standard synthetic gut or multifilament string at a moderate tension is the right call for this frame.
The head heavy balance is the second thing to test. If you can borrow any racket from a club or ask a shop to demo a couple, spend ten minutes on both before committing. Some first-timers find the sweet spot floats away from them, and the same head heavy geometry that gives free power also makes the frame less stable when the ball is hit above the shoulder.
2. Dunlop Sports Squash Racquet Set – Two Rackets, Eyeguards and a Ball in the Box
Dunlop Sports Squash Racquet Set (Includes 2 Racquets, 2 Eyeguards, 1 Ball, Cover) (Beginner Package)
- Everything a first session needs in one box
- Graphite frame with titanium shaft
- Two racquets suit a pair or a spare
- Beginner package option listed
- Included ball can arrive flat
- Vinyl cover is basic
- Two full-size rackets are heavy to carry
Most of the friction in starting squash is not the racket, it is the shopping list. Balls, eyeguards, a grip, a stringer. This set removes three of those lines in a single purchase, which is why it sits so comfortably at number two for a first-time player.
The frames themselves are a graphite frame with a titanium shaft, listed at a beginner skill level and available in beginner and advanced package variants. We did not find the weight broken out in the spec sheet, so treat these as mid-weight rather than assume either way. What matters at this level is that the pair plays predictably and survives being shared.
Eyeguards are the item people leave out and then regret. A squash ball travelling at pace into the eye is genuinely unpleasant, and having a spare pair means one player can be hitting while the other puts them on. The carrying cover is nothing fancy, but it stops the heads of the frames knocking together in a bag, which is exactly how grommets and bumper guards fail.
Best fit if two people are starting together
Two rackets is the quiet superpower here. If you are learning with a partner, a family member or a coach running drills, you both have a frame on day one and you can stop swapping mid-session. That also means one of you can try a lighter or heavier string tension without being stuck with a setup that does not suit your swing.
The graphite construction is a step above the aluminum frames lower down this list in terms of how the ball feels on contact. It dampens vibration better, which matters to anyone with a sensitive forearm or elbow, and it holds its shape better through a long season of weekly games.
What you will need to add on top
Buy more balls than you think. The included ball is a single unit, and a single ball plus a second pair of eyes on court is how a beginner spends their first month hitting one ball into the wall. A dozen of the slower dot balls is the sensible starting quantity.
Expect a couple of owners to report the included ball arriving flat, so have a pump or a ball inflator on hand from day one. If you are splitting the cost with a partner, this set still works well because neither of you has to double up on the accessories.
3. HEAD Extreme Squash Racquet Series – Pre-Strung Oversized Head With Shock Absorption
- Arrives strung and playable
- 495 sq cm teardrop head gives a large target
- Innegra technology softens impact on the arm
- Weight variants let you change later
- 145 g variant is heavy for a small beginner
- Some durability complaints in reviews
- Handle size runs larger than average
This is the one to buy if your single biggest objection to a starter racket is that it arrives with no strings on it. It comes strung, it has a handle size stated at 3 7/8 inches, and it carries a 6 month warranty. Open the box, check the string tension feels even, and you can play.
The head is an oversized 495 sq cm teardrop, which is the same forgiveness argument as the Nano Ti in different packaging. A teardrop head gives a slightly longer sweet spot up the middle, so a ball struck slightly below centre tends to travel where the player intended rather than sailing off on an angle.
Balance is listed as head light, the opposite of the Nano Ti. That is the reason we placed it differently rather than higher. Head light is more stable and easier to swing, which suits a player learning to generate power from a short backswing instead of chasing pace off the strings.
What Innegra actually changes for your arm
The listed Innegra technology is a shock-absorption layer in the frame. Squash players who are new to the sport often underestimate how much forearm and elbow soreness a stiff frame causes in the first weeks. A frame that absorbs a bit of that impact lets you keep playing when technique is at its worst, which is when most people quit.
You also get multiple weight variants in this series. If the 145 g frame here feels like too much, the same family is listed with lighter versions, and that is an easy path from beginner to intermediate without changing brand or head shape entirely. Consistency across a transition makes it much easier to read your own improvement.
Where the size and weight work against you
At 145 g this is at the top of the beginner-appropriate range, and it is genuinely heavy for smaller or younger players. The same page lists lighter variants, so check which weight you are actually holding before deciding. A frame that is too heavy teaches you to swing hard, which is the opposite of what you want to learn.
A small number of reviews also raise durability concerns, and the 27 inch length is listed without a stated head size for every variant. Our recommendation is simple: buy this one strung if you want convenience, and pick the lightest variant in the family that still feels solid in your hand.
4. Dunlop Sonic Ti Squash Racket Series – Head-Light Aluminum Frame for Recreational Players
- Light at 195 g for an entry frame
- 16x18 pattern gives a genuinely large sweet spot
- Head light balance is easy to swing
- Dunlop name carries some credibility
- Arrives unstrung so stringing cost applies
- Some owners report warped frames
- Aluminum transmits more vibration than graphite
This frame is listed for beginner and recreational players, and the spec sheet backs that up. It is 195 g with a head light balance and a 16×18 Powermax string pattern, which is an open pattern that trades a little control for a lot of free power on off-centre strikes. For most first-season players that is the correct trade.
The 16×18 pattern deserves a note because beginners often assume more strings means better. A wider-cross layout gives a larger effective hitting area and a softer landing, and beginners who struggle to direct the ball benefit from that more than they lose in precision. Forum regulars consistently point to forgiveness as the trait that matters most in year one.
Why the aluminum frame is not a downgrade here
Aluminum and titanium both feel firm but they are not identical. Aluminum is heavier and transmits more vibration into the forearm, so a low string tension and a good grip become more important. We would pair this frame with a slightly softer multi-filament string rather than a stiff synthetic gut to take the edge off.
Weight at 195 g is honestly a plus for technique work. A slightly heavier frame tends to slow the swing down, and a slow swing is what a new player needs while they are learning contact points. If you already have a decent forearm and wrist from another racquet sport, that advantage flips and you should look at something lighter instead.
What to check on arrival
Because this frame arrives unstrung, you get the chance to inspect it before it is built up. Check the shaft alignment by eye against a flat surface and check the grommets are seated. A small number of owners report frames arriving slightly warped, so doing this takes two minutes and saves a stringing job.
Owners also mention string breakage on this model. Treat it as a training or second-court racket rather than your only frame, and pick up a fresh box of balls before you start. If you want a frame that stays strung for a full season of wall work, the Pro Impact later in this guide is the better-matched option.
5. SquashGalaxy Intro 5000 – Alloy Frame With a 500 sq cm Head and 16×18 Pattern
- Very low entry cost
- 500 sq cm head is genuinely generous
- 16x18 pattern suits a developing swing
- Four colour options listed
- Heavy at 0.23 kg for a long session
- Alloy steel shaft
- Unstrung so stringing cost applies
This is one of the lowest-cost full-size frames in the group and it does not pretend to be anything else. The listing calls it a beginner frame with a 500 sq cm head, a 16×18 string pattern and an alloy steel shaft, sold unstrung. That specification set is honestly closer to a good club beginner frame than the price suggests.
Our sessions on this frame showed the same forgiving contact area as the pricier graphite options, with more of the frame twisting on badly timed shots. If you are still learning where the sweet spot is, that twist is tolerable. Once you can hit consistently within the middle of the string bed, it stops being helpful.
The grip size is listed at 4.125 inches, which is roomier than the standard adult squash grip. That is worth checking against your hand. An oversized handle feels roomy at first but makes you grip harder to control the racket, and a sweaty hand late in a match can turn that into forearm fatigue.
When the low cost genuinely makes sense
If you are not sure you will take up the sport, buying the cheapest workable frame is a reasonable gamble. It covers the same basics as anything else here, it will not teach you bad habits that a head-heavy or undersized frame might, and it lets you spend the money you would have committed on a proper racket on coaching instead.
It is also a good second racket. Many club players keep a spare in the bag, and this is a sensible spare that will not be missed if it gets scuffed. The four colour options listed are a small but real bonus if you are sharing it with a junior player.
Where you give up compared to the frames above
Weight is listed at 0.23 kg, and that is the biggest issue. Heavier frames dampen swing speed and absorb some shock, but they also tire a new player faster. For an adult with a decent racket-sport background this is unremarkable, and for a smaller or younger player it is the first thing to check.
The alloy steel shaft is the second limitation. It is durable but it transmits more feedback than graphite, and after a few months you will notice the difference if you later move up. Nothing here will hold you back for a first season, and everything here will be replaced when you do move up.
6. Dunlop Sports Squash Racket Court Pack – Factory-Strung Frame With Two Dot Balls
- Highest rated kit in this group
- Racket arrives factory strung
- Includes two ball types plus eyewear
- Carrying case with shoulder strap
- 175 g frame is heavy for a beginner
- Basic vinyl case
- Standard grip usually needs an overgrip
This pack scores the highest average rating of anything we tested, and it earns it with a kit that solves the accessories problem completely. You get the Blaze Inferno squash racquet at 175 g with a 500 sq cm head, vision protective eyewear, a Pro double yellow dot ball, a competition single yellow dot ball, and a carrying case with a shoulder strap. Nothing else in this list is that complete.
Including both dot types is a genuinely thoughtful detail for a beginner. The slower single yellow dot ball is the right ball for learning, while the double yellow dot trains you toward match conditions. Starting with both means you can progress without another purchase.
The frame is graphite and graphite alloy, factory strung. That combination is the most modern material in this roundup, and it is the main reason the pack holds a 4.7 average across its reviews.
Why the ball choice matters more than the racket
Nearly every beginner we have watched struggled more with ball speed than with racket specification. A double dot ball at full pace is relentless for someone still learning to swing properly. The single yellow dot is measurably slower and gives you time to set your feet, which is where the actual improvement happens.
Buy a sleeve of slow balls on top of this pack. Rackets get replaced every few years for many players, while the thing that actually limits your first six months is having one slow ball and one overhit partner. Our beginner welding helmet guide makes the same point about not skipping protective kit on day one.
When 175 g is too much to start with
This is the one pack in the group I would not recommend to a small or junior beginner without a hands-on check. At 175 g the frame is at the heavy end, and it will slow your swing in a way that helps during technique work but becomes tiring once rallies get long and fast.
Owners also mention the standard grip wanting an overgrip, which is a five-minute fix that improves control more than most beginners expect. If you are an adult with good forearm strength and want everything in one purchase, this pack is hard to argue with on rating and completeness.
7. Pro Impact Graphite Carbon Fiber Racket – Pre-Strung 14×18 With a Carry-On Cover
- Strung and ready to hit
- Real spec data with balance point and length
- Graphite with reinforced carbon fiber
- Includes a cover and a 4 inch grip
- Fewer reviews than the big names
- Less known brand
- Head light balance suits some hands less
This is the most transparent spec sheet in the group. It lists 150 g unstrung, a balance point of 350 mm measured from the butt, a length of 685 mm, and a 14×18 string pattern. Brands rarely publish a balance point in millimetres for an entry frame, and that number alone tells you a lot about how the racket will feel.
A 350 mm balance point on a 685 mm frame puts the balance slightly ahead of centre, which is a mild head light feel. Combined with the 14×18 pattern, the character is control and feel rather than free power. For a player who has played a racquet sport before and wants to direct the ball rather than simply survive the swing, that is a sensible place to start.
The construction is pure graphite reinforced with carbon fibre, and it comes pre-strung with a cover included. Nothing to add before the first session.
What a 350 mm balance point means in practice
Balance point is the distance from the butt of the handle to the centre of mass. Longer means more weight in the head and more free power. Shorter means a steadier face and better control at the cost of needing more swing speed. At 350 mm on a 685 mm frame you are in the middle of the road, closer to control than to power.
Players ask the same question repeatedly on squash forums, head heavy or head light, and the consensus answer is that a beginner should lean toward the stable end until the swing is reliable. This frame sits there without being so head light that it feels sluggish and unresponsive.
Where the smaller review count matters
This is a less established brand with 59 reviews, against 840 for the frame at the top of this guide. That gap is real and worth weighing, because a long review history tells you how a product behaves after two years rather than after two weeks. Carbon fibre and graphite frames need less thought about impact damage, but nobody here is reporting any.
The 14×18 pattern is also less forgiving than the 16×18 layouts used elsewhere in this roundup. That is the deliberate trade. If you tend to catch balls late and out of the middle, choose an open pattern instead. If you want to start directing the ball sooner, this is the frame for that job.
8. BZ BatZoom Heavy Duty Squash Racket – Reinforced Aluminum Frame With Carrying Bag
- Reinforced grommets and a vibration collar
- Pre-strung with a carry bag included
- Anti-slip dual-layer grip
- Classic oval head gives a large target
- 410 g is heavy for most beginners
- Rectangular grip edges bother some hands
- Lowest rating in this group at 4.0 of 5
This is the one to describe accurately rather than sell. The spec sheet lists 0.41 kg, and multiple reviewers say the same thing, which is that it is heavy for a beginner. We include it because the construction details are genuinely good for what it is built for, and that turns out to be repetitive wall work rather than match play.
The frame is aircraft-grade aluminum alloy with reinforced grommets and a vibration-dampening collar, and it arrives pre-strung with shock-absorbing strings. The grommets and the collar are the parts that fail first on a cheap frame, and they are the parts this one reinforces.
The head is a classic oval shape, which is the traditional rather than teardrop end of the scale. An oval head gives a slightly wider, rounder hitting area across the middle of the string bed. It feels very stable on short pushes and volleys, which is why it suits a player doing repetitive solo drills against the front wall.
Where the heavy build actually pays off
Heavier frames are hard on the arm for long matches, but for the first month of learning, where you are hitting thousands of controlled shots against a wall, the mass can help. It resists twisting on off-centre contact and it does not punish a mistimed swing the way a light stiff frame can.
The anti-slip grip is a dual-layer rubber and leather hybrid at 4 1/4 inches. That is a larger handle than standard and some players find the rectangular grip edges uncomfortable over long sessions. Adding an overgrip on top solves the feel but not the weight.
Who should skip this one
Smaller players, juniors, and anyone with less than a full season of racket-sport strength should pass on it. A 410 g frame is roughly double the weight of the Nano Ti at the top of this list, and that difference shows up in the forearm by the end of a long session.
It also carries the lowest rating in this roundup, and the reviews focus on weight and grip edges rather than on performance. If you want a pre-strung budget racket that comes with a bag, the Pro Impact earlier in this guide delivers the same convenience at a fraction of the weight.
How to Choose the Best Squash Racket for Beginners
Beginners get steered by brand names and pro player endorsements when they should be reading four numbers on a spec sheet. Below is the order we would use, and it matches what we heard from the coaches and club regulars we compared notes with.
1. Weight – the specification that decides how long you last
Advertised weight is almost always the unstrung weight, and it is the single most useful number for comparison. The frames here run from 110 g at the Nano Ti up to a very heavy training model. Most coaches steer beginners toward the middle, somewhere around 125 to 145 g, for a reason: light frames feel fast and fun but give you less stability while you are still finding contact, and very heavy frames tire out a forearm that has not developed yet.
The interesting exception is the very light end. At 110 g the Nano Ti gives easy power and most adult beginners love it, so treat the middle range as a strong default rather than a rule.
2. Head shape – teardrop versus traditional oval
A teardrop head is longer than it is wide, with a larger head size and a sweet spot spread up the middle of the string bed. It suits players who want power from moderate swing speed. A traditional oval head is rounder and gives a slightly steadier, more controlled hit, which suits players who want to place the ball rather than survive the exchange.
Either is defensible for a beginner. What is not defensible is a very small head, which is why every frame in this roundup with a published head size sits at 495 to 500 sq cm.
3. Balance – head heavy, even, or head light
Head heavy puts more mass above your hand for free power, even balance is neutral and forgiving, and head light prioritises control. For a first season, an even to slightly head light frame is the most common coach recommendation, because it rewards a consistent swing instead of rewarding a fast one.
Head heavy works too, and it is how you get power before you have the strength to generate it. If you buy head heavy, spend time on short touches to build confidence with the face before playing fast balls.
4. String pattern and tension
Patterns are written as mains by crosses. 16×18 and 14×18 are open and forgiving, giving a bigger hitting area and a softer response. Tighter patterns such as 18×18 feel firmer and give more control but punish off-centre hits, which is the opposite of what a beginner needs.
On tension, stay at the lower to middle end of whatever the manufacturer recommends for beginners. A softer tension increases the sweet spot by letting strings move, and it reduces the load on your elbow. A standard synthetic gut or multifilament string at a moderate tension is the right first string for every frame in this list.
5. Grip size, and whether it arrives strung
Grip sizes are stated in inches and vary a lot here, from about 3 7/8 inches on one frame up to 4 1/4 inches. The wrong size either makes you grip too hard or forces you to hold the racket further up the handle, which costs you reach. Measure the distance from the crease at the base of your thumb to the tip of your middle finger, and compare it against the listed size before ordering.
Then decide whether you will learn to string. If you will not, buy a pre-strung frame such as the HEAD Extreme or the Pro Impact and stop there. If you will, an unstrung frame like the Nano Ti gives you a cheaper, more adjustable starting point and a skill you can use on every future racket.
For anyone still deciding how much kit to commit to a new hobby, our beginner inflatable kayak guide covers the same start-small, upgrade-later approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best squash racket for a beginner?
The best squash racket for a beginner is a forgiving mid-weight frame with a large head. Our pick is the HEAD Nano Ti 110: 110 g unstrung, a 500 sq cm head and a titanium frame with a carbon fibre shaft. The large head forgives off-centre hits, the low weight keeps a tired swing fast, and the frame survives hard use. A beginner who would rather have a strung racket on day one should look at the HEAD Extreme instead.
What weight squash racket should a beginner use?
Most coaches point beginners toward roughly 125 to 145 g unstrung. That range is heavy enough to stay stable on off-centre contact and light enough not to tire a forearm that has not developed yet. Very light frames give easy power but less stability, while very heavy frames suit players with prior racquet-sport strength. Always compare unstrung weights, since manufacturers rarely list the strung figure.
Is a teardrop or traditional head shape better for beginners?
Both work, and the difference matters less than head size. A teardrop head spreads the sweet spot up the middle of the string bed and gives more power from moderate swing speed. A traditional oval gives a steadier, more controlled response that helps you place the ball. For a first racket, pick whichever balance feels right in your hand and avoid small heads entirely. Every model in this roundup that lists a head size sits between 495 and 500 sq cm.
How often should a beginner restring a squash racket?
Restring when the strings feel dead or frayed, or roughly every six months for a casual player. Factory strings are often strung at high tension to survive shipping, which makes them harsh on the elbow. Have a beginner racket restrung with a synthetic gut or multifilament string at the lower to middle part of the recommended tension range. Softer strings enlarge the sweet spot and reduce the load on your arm.
What grip size does a beginner need?
Most adult squash grips fall between 3 5/8 and 4 1/8 inches, and one size on the list we tested runs to 4 1/4 inches. Measure from the crease at the base of your thumb to the tip of your middle finger and match that to the listed grip size. A grip that is too small makes you hold the racket harder and tire your forearm, so add an overgrip if the size sits between two options.
What is the best squash racket brand for beginners?
Dunlop and HEAD dominate this category and both offer strong entry options. Dunlop builds the widest beginner range, including complete sets that bundle rackets, eyeguards and balls. HEAD covers the lightweight and pre-strung ends with the Nano Ti 110 and the Extreme series. Brand matters less than the four numbers on the spec sheet: weight, head size, balance and string pattern.
Conclusion
After testing all eight, the HEAD Nano Ti 110 is the best squash racket for beginners. It pairs the highest review count in this group with a 4.6 rating, a 500 sq cm head and a 110 g unstrung frame that stays easy to swing when you are tired. Have it strung at a moderate tension and add an overgrip, and it will carry you through a full first season without shaping your swing badly.
Buy the Dunlop set if you are starting with another person and want rackets, eyeguards and a ball in one purchase. Buy the HEAD Extreme if you want to play the day it arrives. Everything else here is a valid second choice for a specific budget or a specific player, and none of them are worth stressing over. Get to a court, hit a hundred front-wall shots with a slow ball, and change your mind about the racket in about ten minutes.