So what makes a squash racquet good for control? There are a lot of factors actually. The size of the head plays an important part. The style of head also plays a big part in what would normally be deemed a control racquet. The string tension also plays an important part in determining control. The individual playing with the racquet though is probably the most important part of the equation.
The size of the head is one of the first things to look at when looking for a control racquet. The larger the head the longer the strings are between the points it contacts with the frame. The longer the strings are the more give they will have which helps produce power. It helps produce power at the cost of control though. When the string flexes and then returns back to shape it does not do so perfectly and there will therefore be a loss of control. So when considering what racquet will be good for control getting one with a smaller overall head size makes sense.
A traditional head shape with a bridged throat is normally better for control. This is due to the more uniform length of the main and cross strings. In particular the main strings on a teardrop style of head are longer to help generate more power. They flex more to generate more pace but once again they do so at the cost of control. The bridge also helps provide some stability to the racquet which can assist in control. The more the frame twists the less accurate it will be. A racquet with a bridged throat will normally twist less and help with control.
String Tension
The tension of the strings will play an important part of how much control the racquet plays with. This is also one thing that can change after you have purchased the racquet which is nice. Overall the tighter the strings are the more control they will provide. This goes back to the amount of give, or flex the strings have. The tighter they are the less they will give upon contact with the ball. This will help control the ball while hurting power. So if you are trying to gain more control out of any racquet you can restring the racquet at a higher/tighter tension to help improve control.
The Player
Why does the player matter? There are a few very good reasons. It is safe to say that a professional player would be more accurate with a large teardrop head than a beginner would be with a smaller headed racquet that has a bridged throat. The reason is skill in this instance of course. More importantly though is the relative ability of the player. You need to be able to generate power when hitting the squash ball. Not on every shot of course but you need to be able to hit the ball hard, and accurately sometimes. If the player is unable to generate enough pace on the ball accurately they might be best served to look at a racquet that can assist with generating more power. This could actually aid in the players control! The reason for this is because they will be able to swing at a speed they can control and generate enough power. If this type of player gets too much of a control type racquet they will likely have to swing too hard to actually control the racquet and their shot quality will suffer. A player that has no problem generating pace might well benefit from a good control racquet. That same racquet could actually hurt the performance of a player that can't hit the ball very hard. It is important to consider the player when considering what racquet will help with control.
Want to learn more about squash racquet and which one might benefit you? Check out our guide to buying a squash racquet by clicking the "Download Now" button below.
