Squash Grip 1: Where to Grip the Squash Racket
There is no right or wrong, it depends on your preference.
Advantages of keeping the squash grip lower towards the end of the squash racket
You will have more reach with the squash racket. You will get more power due to the higher leverage. However, because the squash racket feels heavier, it can be difficult to set it up.
on time if you are under pressure; with little time to prepare the squash racket. It is most effective if you have time to do a full squash swing.
Advantages of holding the grip higher towards the head of the squash racket (choke)
You’ll get more control, especially for pitches. The higher grip makes it easier to handle the squash racket. You will be faster in preparing your squash racket. Due to the decreased leverage (= the racket feels lighter), you will be able to maneuver the racket head faster and more comfortably (= shorter turning radius). This is great for a quick volley and digging up deep back wall shots and shots in the middle of the squash court with time restrictions.
Squash Tip: The best titanium or graphite squash rackets will never improve your wrist or your power game unless you know how to do it yourself. Book a squash lesson with the local pro who can show you how!
Squash Grip Tip 2: How to Hold the Racket
Due to the speed and high precision required for the game of squash, good squash technique is very important. Important squash tip, technique starts with the correct grip on the squash racket! Without a proper squash grip, it will be difficult to achieve a good squash swing / hit. While unconventional squash grips can be successful in certain cases, you don’t need to hurt yourself. If you are just starting out, this is the perfect time to learn the proper grip (and the squash stroke). Squash Tip: It’s much harder to go back once you’ve developed bad habits. Although it can be frustrating at first, try to focus on gaining this critical skill. It is extremely important to master the correct squash grip from the start, otherwise you will hit the ball incorrectly and find it very difficult to play the full range of shots with ease. Also, your game will suffer for several months as you try to fix your squash grip after developing bad habits. Instinct would tell you to grip the squash racket with a closed fist. However, with that type of squash grip, the squash racket has no control in movement from front to back and side to side. Squash Tip: There is no one correct squash grip, but I think there are a variety of good squash grips. The vast majority of the best squash players hold their racket anywhere between the bottom and top of the handle. The thumb and forefinger come together to form a nice V shape around the squash grip. You want the index finger to extend a bit, that’s what gives you the control and feel of the squash racket. Squash Tip: You don’t want your index finger to be too close, which might give you a bit more power, but you will definitely lose control.
You can use your non-racket hand to see if your racket hand’s index finger is properly separated from its neighbors. Simply place one or two fingers of the non-racquet hand between the index finger and the middle finger of the racquet hand. When you push the head of the racket from front to back, you should feel the movement of the racket resisted by the extended index finger. Similarly, when you push your head from side to side, you should feel the palm of your lower hand resisting the movement. Hold the racket with a firm and pleasant grip, the head of the squash racket slightly open on the forehand side and backhand side by tilting the wrist. Squash Tip: An open racket face makes it easier to cut / cut shots and hit shots from behind your body. It also increases the chances that you can hit the ball towards the back of the squash court. Squash Tip: Squash grip remains the same for forehand and backhand, except in extreme situations. Squash game speed generally does not allow for squash grip changes. Keep your wrist firm when striking, but not too tight so as not to strain your hand or forearm. Squash Tip: Holding your squash racket with too tight a grip will greatly decrease your fine coordination ability. A common mistake is for people to reach to the side of the squash racket, which closes the face of the racket too much.
Squash Grip Tip 3: Details You Should Know About Grip
Contact point: the contact point is essential for a squash stroke and depends on your grip, especially on the backhand. For example, if your squash grip is wide open on the backhand, the point of contact is further forward than with a closed squash grip Squash Tip: As a coach, it is important to pay attention to how your student holds the squash racket in comparison with you as the point of contact may be different. A slightly open grip is a good starting point. Squash grip should definitely be in a range that does not vary too much from a slightly open grip to allow you to play a full range of shots from all parts of the court. The wrist: it should be lopsided, but not too much, and sufficiently relaxed. If you grip the squash racket too hard, fine coordination ability is greatly reduced. Playing delicate shots like a drop shot will be more difficult with a tight grip. Squash Tip: Having an open squash grip means you should see the squash strings of the racket on the right side and on the wrong side. Tilt your wrist by rotating your forearm on both forehand and backhand shots to get a slightly open racket face. Squash tip: don’t lean your wrist or you’ll end up with the closed face of a squash racket
Changing your grip on squash: As the game moves from side to side very quickly, sometimes in the air, it is not recommended to make a big change in your grip from forehand to backhand and vice versa. Your squash grip is unlikely to end up in the ideal position with time constraints. However, changing it slightly is very common for certain squash shots, such as recovering deep shots from the back corners. Squash Tip: A correct grip makes it easier to play difficult shots.
Adapt to the new squash grip
It is much easier to focus on your grip / swing if you are not under pressure. Spend some time hitting the ball yourself up and down the wall to familiarize yourself with the new grip. Even better, hold the racket with the correct grip by reading a book or other environments without pressure. It’s hard enough getting an idea of the correct grip when the ball is in play. Practicing the correct grip in these situations without pressure will increase correct muscle memory. Initially, you will need to check the correct squash grip after each rally. It will likely put it back in your usual grip that you have been using so far. Then move on to low pressure drills or matches focusing on maintaining the correct squash grip. Squash Tip: You may find it difficult to hold the racket tightly with the new grip. Try adding top grip (s) to increase the size of your squash grip to make it more comfortable to adjust to the new grip.