Do You Need a Squash Helmet?

When you think about some sports you immediately know that a helmet is essential, football, baseball, cycling, ski-ing to name but a few, but when you think about squash you might not think that it’s really necessary.

Take a look at this and see

Why You Need a Squash Helmet

Right, we’ve established that it’s a good idea to wear a helmet while playing squash, but what kind of helmet should you buy and where should you get it from? Well, you can buy your squash helmet online, there are plenty to choose from whatever your budget,  but you’re probably better off going to a good sports store first of all, so that you can make sure that you get one that fits well and does the job.

The Game of Squash

Now, one very important piece of advice if you are thinking of playing squash is this – you do not play squash to get fit, you get fit to play squash! I’m talking from experience here. Many years ago I worked with my local town ladies squash champion, she was about 4’8″ tall, couldn’t have weighed more than 90 pounds wet through, and although I hadn’t played squash before I was a pretty mean badminton player. Needless to say I accepted the invitation of a “friendly” game, and within 5 minutes was collapsed in a corner with a face reminiscent of a tomato. Shamelessly resorting to underhand tactics I had to tease her about her “bionic arm”, well, she did have over-developed muscles to one side.

Right, now that you’ve been warned let’s take a look at how you actually play the game of squash, supposing that you manage to last for more than 5 minutes! I’m shattered just thinking about it.

Basics of The Game of Squash

Squash can be played in either singles or doubles, and the court is a box room which utilizes all four walls (yes, it comes at you from behind as well). Only the person serving can score points, and games are usually played to 9, but if it gets to 8-8 you can decide whether to play to 9 or to 10. The server continues serving until the opponent wins the point, then it’s their turn.

The Game of Squash – Serving

A good service must have:

• the server with at least a part of one foot in contact with the floor when the ball is struck, inside the service box.
• the server has a good strike of the ball before it hits the floor, the wall or anything else
• the ball hits the front wall, somewhere between the service lines and the out lines
• the first bounce of the ball must be in the opposite quarter side of the court, not touching the court line or the short line

And for the return:

• you must hit the ball back before it can bounce twice on the floor
• the ball must hit the front wall above the out line, either directly or bouncing from the back and side walls, but it must not touch the floor until after it has hit the front wall

And that’s basically it, how you get going and how you play the game of squash. Now, as you can imagine, it’s pretty easy to get in each others way when you’re both charging about a little box room chasing a very bouncy ball, but it’s very important that you don’t obstruct your opponent, they’ve got to be able to see the ball and get a good swing at it without you being in the way.

Improving Your Game of Squash

One good thing about squash is that (unlike in tennis or badminton) you can practice against yourself. The ball will keep bouncing back to you so that’s brilliant.  If you see someone on their own on a squash court don’t immediately imagine that they’re “Billy No Mates”, they might be doing a big of sneaky practice on their own and prefer it that way.

If you want to get better, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition suggests various ways of improving your core strength such as a medicine ball workout.

To play squash well you have to be fit, agile, co-ordinated and balanced as well as having a strong right arm.

S – solo sessions are good for practice.

Q – quick speeds of both body and mind are essential.

U – understand your opponent and exploit their weaknesses.

A – alternate your training between high and low impact. Doing too much will just burn you out and cause injuries.

S – skipping is great exercise not just for boxers, but for “squashers” too.

H – hard opposition will improve your game. Try to practice againt players who are better than you (not difficult for some of us).

Why not take a look at how it should be done!