Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Squash String Review

Today I am going to talk about squash string. I am constantly asked what type of string someone should play with and what tension they should string their racquet at. For any serious squash player I always recommend experimenting with all the different types until you find one that has the best feel and power combined. For a serious competitive squash player, durability is secondary to these other characteristics.

String Tension 
Generally speaking the lower the tension the more power but less feel. The strings become like a trampoline and the ball explodes off the racquet. Of course if you string your racquet too loose your strings will move around a lot and this seems to really bother some people. How much does a strong out of place really affect your next shot? Properly negligible at best. An average squash tension is 27-28 pounds. I normally don't go more than 1 or 2 pounds higher or lower from this range, but it does make a big difference.

Another important thing to know about string tension is that factory strung racquets normally come strung quite high. The racquets normally have a 'ping' sound to them and I usually cut out the factory string. But I have the luxury of having my own stringing machine so it doesn't cost too much money. A racquet strung too high is dangerous for people that don't have proper and efficient swing biomechanics. If you have any elbow or shoulder issues you shouldn't get your racquet string too high. I would recommend 27 at the highest, or better yet some lessons to correct your stroke!

It's important to remember that string loosens up as you play with it. If you're a hard hitter or you don't break strings very often you may want to get the racquet strung a pound or 2 higher as it will slowly become your ideal tension.

Another important factor about string tension is the size of the racquet head. Mostly this has to do with the length of the main strings. The longer the main strings, for example on an open throat racquet I string the racquet a little higher. Whereas the old school, small head squash racquets had a small radius and could be strung at a lower tension, but would feel much tighter. Depending on the length of your main strings and also the number of them, you should increase or lower the tension accordingly. If you only have 12 main strings on anon throated racquet you are probably better stringing your racquet closer to 29 or 30 pounds. Unless of course you have a history of tennis elbow.

Different strings have different structural qualities and because of this they should also be strung at slightly different tensions. Ashaway Powernick 18 for example recommends striking their string 10% lower than other strings. Meanwhile Tecnifibre recommends stretching their string before stringing it, so again you don't have to string the racquet quite as tight as a racquet that didn't have a pre-stretched string.

Hardball doubles racquets are normally strung quite a bit higher. I don't get to play much doubles anymore, but when I did I would string my racquet at 40 pounds or even slightly higher. The ball is much harder than a softball and you will have too little control and your strings will move all over the place if you use a racquet string at 27 pounds. You will also find that you break a lot more strings playing with a hardball.

Types Of Strings
The main characteristics you are looking for in a squash string depend on your level, your style of play and the cost of the string. Most average club players could use any string and not notice much of a difference. For these players you want durability. For more advanced players who notice the difference in feel with their strings will be looking for a more advanced product. There are many on the market and I will cover the most popular ones now.

Ashaway 
Supernick XL
This string has been around since I was a little kid. It's a good basic string. I find it has average durability and power with a low amount of feel. I recommend this string to any average club player who doesn't care much for the feel and wants to have a basic cheap set of strings. This string is a step above most cheap factory string, but I don't see many advanced players using it these days. There is also the Supernick Titanium which lasts sightly longer, but again has a low amount of feel.


Powernick 18
This is one of the more popular choices I see at the club. This string is one of the best for overall durability, feel and power. It costs a little more than the basic Supernick, but is well worth the investment.  


Ultranick 18
This string is similar the the above Powernick 18. It's the same gauge and made of the same material, but I would say has slightly more feel or touch. Some kids also just prefer blue string! 


 Ultranick 17 
This string is not very popular from what I see in Canada, but I like this the best of all the Ashaway strings. It has a little more texture and feel to the string. The string is slightly thicker, but it doesn't really last any longer because of the texture. If you like to slice the ball and already use Powernick 18 or Ultranick 18, give this one a try. 


Tecnifibre
X-One Biphase 1.18
This string has the most power of any Technifibre string. Because this string still has the same multifilament as the other classic green string it still has good feel to it. The durability is average, but pretty good for a Tecnifibre string. If you are looking for more power and don't want to loose your feel, give this one a try!

305 Gauge 17/ 1.20
This string is another top of the line choice. It doesn't have quite as much power with as the X-One, but has slightly more feel. This is a great choice for someone that likes to slice the ball. 


305 Gauge 18/ 1.10
This string is the same as the one above, but is a thinner gauge. This is my string of choice. Because it is thinner, it is actually slightly lighter and I feel it has more tough. The only issue with this string is that is has poor durability. On average I break 1 set of strings per week, but I also have the luxury of owning a stringing machine. I only recommend this to 3 types of people. Those who have multiple racquets, as you need at least 3 to go to a tournament with. Those that have their own stringing machine (as it will get expensive). And finally those that are highly competitive and play at advanced level as you will notice the difference (because it's just the best!).


I know Tecnifibre has the 305+. I've only tried it once and I didn't care for it much. I haven't had enough experience with it to give a more thorough review. 

I know there are lots of other companies that make string. There are probably even some very good products out there that I have never even heard of, but I cannot review them because I'm unfamiliar with the. If you want to ensure you are playing with a high quality string, try out an Ashaway or Tecnifibre model. 

I'm always interested in hearing what types of string people like to use? Do you have another make or model that you really like? I'm always looks for suggestions. I'm not sponsored by any companies so there is no conflict of interest in any of my reviews. 

Also, if you are a squash family and go through a lot of strings, you may want to invest in a squash stringer. My dad did when I was about 10 years old and I've strung well over a thousand racquets an still use the same stringer to this day. You can always start with a cheap tabletop stringer which should only cost a few hundred dollars. These tabletop string machines do the trick, but if you're doing a lot of stringing you'll eventually want something more study. If you do this, just makes you you don't start undercutting your squash club's string service. That's part of the way squash clubs and coaches make a living. 

Play around with the types of string and the tension. You may just find something that suits your game better. If you're not sure what you're looking for, ask yourself what characteristics are you looking for in a string? Durability, power, control/feel, or just the colour? 



25 comments:

  1. Great information. Im about to order some Ashaway Ultanick 17. Looking forward to trying it!

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  2. Excellent write up - Thank You

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  3. Any comment on the powernick 19 (black) string ??

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  4. I've never tried it. When I first started using a thinner gauge I loved the Technifibre 305 1.10 gauge and I've never looked back!

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  5. Hi, I m from India and i started playing Squash pretty late, in my 30's. Now i m 41 and still play squash regularly. i picked up this game nice and proper and m enjoying it very much. i do participate in club tournaments too. i have 02 problems: 1. I m playing with Prince Air Stick 130 for the last 4-5 years and now that raquet has cracked at the neck (reverse ring joint). i am not getting the same raquet anymore. So is it ok to go for Prince Air stick pro 550? i tried other make i.e. head and wilson, but it didn,t suit me. 2. is it of any help to use shock observer in squash raquets?

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    Replies
    1. For anyone who still has this question .. 1 the Prince Textreme Pro Warrior 600 is the successor to the Airstick 130. 2 No.

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    2. Be willing to try different rackets. I have 5 rackets now. The Head Nano Ti110 is as great as my technifibre el shorbagy racket. Both give great power and control. Whilst the Ti110 I found even better for control.

      I use both technifibre & ashaway 17s strings. They compliment the game tremendously. I do not recommend the shock absorber. It won’t save your racket. That happens after hard hits on the wall.

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  6. can you use the square tennis strings in a squash racket for more spin

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  7. useful writeup! maybe you can do an update and add 305+, sup[ernick zx

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  8. Ashaway PowerNick 19(black) is my string of choice. Think it has a lot more feel and just as much power as the PN 18(red). Durability is just fine with me. Can get a few months of play. Strings move around a lot during play which can be a distraction

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  9. is it ok to use a prince racket with a 305 Gauge 17/ 1.20 string ??

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  10. Interesting to hear you like the ultranick 17 strings. These are far and away my favourite Ashaway strings. I haven't used 305 in a long time, but when I did I found them a little bit dead feeling. I have used 305+ that came in a Techifibre racket. They were ok but nothing special. The Ultranick 17 is a lot better for my game.

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  11. I have the UltraNick 17 and 18, both about 25-26 lbs in the same stick from prince. I like the 17 at the start of a match assuming the ball is colder, heavier and when/if it feels right switch to the 18 for more touch. Both have good power at 25-27 lbs. The 18 gauge also gives the better grip and touch being thinner. I used to use the PowerNick but feels too stiff these days and the description of Ultra being softer really is true for me.

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  12. First of all I would like to say awesome blog! I had a quick question that I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing. I've had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there. I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Thank you! yahoo mail login

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  13. I really liked Harrow's Barrage pro 18, it happened that when the Vapor racket came it should have its 29 -30 pounds (I use 25 pounds) and I had to change it (I put Multinick 18 with 26 pounds but it was a disaster it's very hard that trembles and the noise it makes).
    Now there is no more Barrage Pro in Latin America.
    Can you please tell me what a similar string would be like?

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  14. Can you recommend tension for stringing a Harrow Vapor with the green technifibre 1.1mm string?

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