# 7 Best Squash Racquets for Competition in 2026 Pro-level racquets, what World Squash rules allow, how to set up and match your tournament pair, and what the pros use. Updated on 10/07/2026 To compete in squash, you need a professional-spec racquet that fits within World Squash rules and, more importantly, two identical units, set up with the same string and the same tension. The best squash racquets for competition below were chosen by that criterion: tour-level models, available in stores so you can buy the pair, and with different profiles for each way of playing tournaments. ## What the World Squash rules allow Every racquet sold by the major brands already respects these limits, but knowing the rule helps you understand what you can and can't change later. The numbers are in the racquet specification appendix of the [World Squash squash rules](https://www.worldsquash.sport/rackets-balls/racket-specs/): | Item | Official limit | | --- | --- | | Maximum length | 686 mm | | Maximum width (perpendicular to the handle) | 215 mm | | Maximum string length | 390 mm | | Maximum strung area | 500 cm² | | Maximum weight | 255 g | | Maximum frame depth | 26 mm | | Minimum width of any part of the frame | 7 mm | The rule also says the strings can be gut, nylon, or a substitute material, but not metal; that the frame and bumper can't mark walls or floor; that the stringing must have only two layers of interlaced strings; and that accessories attached to the strings, such as vibration dampeners, can't sit inside the hitting area. World Squash decides whether or not a model meets the specification. Notice two numbers. The 255 g maximum weight is far above any modern racquet, so weight is never a rules problem. The 500 cm² area, on the other hand, is the ceiling that almost every power racquet touches, which is why the difference between tournament models is in shape, balance, and setup, not in size. ## The best squash racquets for competition ### 7 best squash racquets for competition in 2026 - 1 Used on the pro tour [Speed 135 SB 2025 HEAD](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/head/speed-135-sb-2025/) - Weight: 135 g - Head: 77.5 in² - Strings: 12x17 RR Score 72 out of 100, Good 135 g, a 500 cm² head, slightly head-light balance, and a thin Slimbody frame. The adaptable pattern lets you string it 12x17 for power or 16x17 for control. Head says it is used by pros such as Hania El Hammamy and Georgina Kennedy. - [SquashGear.comSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8S9JS2TRBS49GQSE9X4) - 2 Slim handle [Carboflex 125 NS X-Top V2 Tecnifibre](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/carboflex-125-ns-x-top-v2/) - Weight: 125 g - Head: 77.5 in² - Strings: 14x18 RR Score 67 out of 100, RR Score The narrow shaft version of the Carboflex 125 X-Top V2, presented as Nour El Sherbini's racquet. It keeps 125 g, 500 cm², a 350 mm balance, and 14x18, with a smaller-circumference handle for players who rotate the wrist a lot. Available at more than one store, which makes it easier to buy the pair. - [SquashGear.comSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SNHX6X0Y54GBX2ENMF) - 3 Maximum control [CX 132 2025 Dunlop](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/dunlop/cx-132-2025/) - Weight: 132 g - Head: 77.5 in² - Strings: 16x19 RR Score 72 out of 100, Good The maximum-control racquet of the CX line: 132 g, a traditional 500 cm² head, a dense 16x19 pattern, and slightly head-light balance. More strings in contact with the ball keep the trajectory predictable over long play, and the Flex Touch with Sonic Core Infinergy reduces vibration. - [Holabird SportsSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8RM3KMRSBK9512KSXPV) - 4 Mass for long rallies [Carboflex 130 X-Top 2022 Tecnifibre](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/carboflex-130-x-top-2022/) - Weight: 130 g - Head: 77.5 in² - Strings: 14x18 RR Score 75 out of 100, Good The generation before the V2 and still on sale: 130 g, a 500 cm² teardrop head, neutral balance, and 14x18, with X-Arms and Airshaft in the throat. The 130 g gives stability on the heavy balls from the back, typical of long tournament matches. - [SquashGear.comSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SP86KNQT7PP628G76Z) - 5 Lightness with weight in the head [Vapor 115 2023 Harrow](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/harrow/vapor-115-2023/) - Weight: 115 g RR Score 61 out of 100, RR Score 115 g for the frame and 140 g strung, with a balance at 380 mm, slightly head-heavy, and an open throat. Harrow says it is used by PSA pros and it comes strung with Barrage Pro at 28 pounds. Hand speed without losing pop. - [AmazonSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M49QVSGNFAN0G49BJ6397B0D) - [SquashGear.comSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8S1ZHK54F2HGEYPPCES) ## Which to choose if you compete... | If your tournament game is... | Look first at | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | High pace, lots of balls on the wall | Head Speed 135 SB | Thin frame with 135 g, adjustable pattern | | Active wrist, lots of spin and deception | Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 NS | Slim handle lets the wrist work | | Patience and precision in long matches | Dunlop CX 132 | 16x19 and 500 cm², predictable trajectory | | Attack and heavy ball | Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation Pro | Heavy head and open throat | | Physical game from the back of the court | Tecnifibre Carboflex 130 X-Top | Stable 130 g with neutral balance | | Touch and hand speed | Head Radical 120 SB or Harrow Vapor 115 | Low weight, compact or loaded head | If you're still choosing your style, the guide to [squash racquets for advanced players](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-advanced-players/) separates the options by playing profile in more detail. ## Why a competitor needs two identical racquets The rule gives a maximum of 2 minutes to replace damaged equipment, including eyewear, according to the [World Squash singles rules](https://www.worldsquash.sport/rules-of-squash-2/). Squash strings break often, and a frame can crack on a scrape against the wall. If the spare isn't at the edge of the court, ready, you lose the match on the clock. And having another racquet isn't enough. If the spare has a different weight, a different balance, or a different tension, you switch racquets in the middle of a deciding game and spend the following points adapting. That's why the standard for competitors is: - **Same model and same generation.** Versions from different years can change construction, color, and sometimes the specs. - **Same string, same tension, strung together.** Strings lose tension over time, even sitting unused. If one racquet was strung a month before the other, they're no longer equal. - **Same grip and same overgrip.** Handle thickness changes the feel of the balance. - **Rotation in training.** Use both racquets during the week. A spare that stays in the bag becomes a strange racquet on match day. ## Tolerance between units: how to match your pair Two racquets of the same model leave the factory with small differences in weight and balance, and the manufacturer lists only the nominal value. For the club player, that doesn't matter. For someone who competes, the difference shows. The process to match them is simple: - **Weigh both strung, with grip.** A kitchen scale accurate to 1 g does the job. Write down the values. - **Measure the balance.** Rest the racquet on a thin edge and find the balance point. Measure the distance to the butt of the handle and compare the two. - **Match to the heavier one.** You can't take weight off a frame, only add it. Use lead tape, in a small amount and in symmetrical positions, to bring the lighter one closer to the heavier one. - **Adjust the balance through the handle, if needed.** An extra overgrip moves a little weight toward the hand, without touching the head. - **Test both in the same practice session.** If you can't tell which one is in your hand, the pair is ready. Tip When buying the pair, prefer both units from the same store and the same batch. Models with more stores in the catalog, such as the Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 NS X-Top V2, make it easier to replace a broken unit with the same generation. ## What you can and can't customize | Customization | Allowed? | Note | | --- | --- | --- | | Change string and tension | Yes | Free choice of material, except metal | | Grip, overgrip, and cushion | Yes | They change handle thickness and perceived balance | | Lead tape on the frame | Yes, within the rule | The 255 g maximum weight is far from any current racquet | | Vibration dampener on the strings | Only outside the hitting area | The rule prohibits accessories attached to the strings where they cross | | Bumper or paint that marks the wall | No | The frame and bumper can't leave marks on the court | | Stringing with a third layer or irregular pattern | No | Only two layers of strings, uniform pattern | For choosing string and tension, which is the customization that changes your game the most, the guide to [squash racquet strings and tension](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/squash-racquet-string-and-tension/) covers gauges, materials, and the step-by-step on tension. ## What the pros use We only list here what the manufacturer itself, or the product's official description, states. Sponsorships change, and the racquet in a pro's hand usually has customized string, tension, grip, and sometimes weight. | Player | Racquet or line | What the brand says | | --- | --- | --- | | Hania El Hammamy, Georgina Kennedy | Head Speed 135 SB 2025 | Used and endorsed by them | | Nour El Sherbini | Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 NS X-Top V2 | Presented as her racquet | | Mostafa Asal | Tecnifibre Slash line | Line developed with him | | Joel Makin | Karakal Raw Pro line | Oval handle designed to his preference | | Diego Gobbi | Unsquashable Diego Gobbi Autograph | Racquet signed by Brazil's number 1 | The practical lesson isn't to copy the racquet, it's to copy the criteria. Notice that the list runs from a 135 g racquet with a thin frame to lines of 120 to 125 g: at the top of the sport, each player chooses by their own style. ## Tournament ball and eyewear In adult competition, the ball is the double-yellow-dot one, 40 mm in diameter. It bounces little and needs to be warmed up, and it's the one you should train with in the weeks before the tournament, so the racquet and string are tuned to the right ball. The blue-dot, red-dot, and single-yellow-dot balls appear in the guide to [squash racquets for beginners](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-beginners/). Protective eyewear is mandatory in the junior and doubles events that World Squash sanctions, and recommended in any match. The federation keeps a list of certified eyewear. Check the rules of the tournament you're going to play: in Brazil, the Brazilian Squash Confederation organizes the Brazilian Championship and the interclub competitions, and each stage has its own registration rules. ## Tournament week checklist - **String both racquets together**, a few days ahead, to give the string time to settle and give you time to train with it. - **Change the grip on both** on the same day, with the same material. - **Check the bumper and the top of the head.** A cracked bumper leaves the frame exposed to scrapes; racquets without a bumper, such as the Tecnifibre X-Top, call for inspecting the top. - **Bring a spare grip, overgrip, and an extra pair of eyewear.** The rule counts the same 2 minutes for any replacement. - **Don't debut anything.** A new racquet, string, or grip on match day is too many variables. ## Where to compare and buy The [squash comparison tool](https://racquetrank.com/us/compare/squash/) puts any racquet on this list side by side, and the [squash catalog](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/) shows the offers from stores so you can buy the pair. To see a brand's whole line, use the pages for [Tecnifibre in squash](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/) and [Dunlop in squash](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/dunlop/). How we build our scores is explained in the [methodology](https://racquetrank.com/us/methodology/). ### Squash racquets for competition: Speed 135 SB, Carboflex 125 NS, CX 132, Revelation Pro, Carboflex 130, Radical 120 SB | Racquet | Speed 135 SB 2025 HEAD RR Score 72 out of 100, Good | Carboflex 125 NS X-Top V2 Tecnifibre RR Score 67 out of 100, RR Score | CX 132 2025 Dunlop RR Score 72 out of 100, Good | Carboflex 130 X-Top 2022 Tecnifibre RR Score 75 out of 100, Good | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Best price | See price at SquashGear.com | See price at SquashGear.com | See price at Holabird Sports | See price at SquashGear.com | | RR Score | 72 | 67 | 72 | 75 | | Weight unstrung | 135 g | 125 g | 132 g | 130 g | | Head size | 77.5 in² | 77.5 in² | 77.5 in² | 77.5 in² | | Balance point | Lighter head | Even balance | Lighter head | Even balance | | Length | – | 27 in | 27 in | – | | String pattern | 12x17 | 14x18 | 16x19 | 14x18 | | Frame thickness | – | 13-18 mm | – | – | | Material | Graphite with graphene and Auxetic 2.0 | Graphite | Carbon fiber | Graphite with X-Arms and Airshaft | Highlighted: what differs between the racquets. In bold: the best value in the row. What is the maximum weight of a squash racquet under the rules? 255 g, according to the World Squash specification. Current racquets come in far below that, around 115 to 135 g unstrung, so weight is never a rules problem. How many racquets should I bring to a squash tournament? At least two, of the same model, strung together with the same string and tension. The rule gives a maximum of 2 minutes to replace damaged equipment, so the spare needs to be ready at the edge of the court. Can I use a vibration dampener on my squash racquet in a tournament? Only outside the hitting area. The World Squash rule prohibits accessories attached to the strings in the area where they cross; outside it, devices to reduce wear or vibration are allowed if they are of reasonable size. Is protective eyewear mandatory in squash? It is mandatory in the junior and doubles events sanctioned by World Squash and recommended in any match. Check the rules of the tournament you're going to play. ## Where to buy the racquets in this guide - [Speed 135 SB 2025 HEAD](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/head/speed-135-sb-2025/)135 g · 77.5 in² · 12x17 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8S9JS2TRBS49GQSE9X4)SquashGear.com - [Carboflex 125 NS X-Top V2 Tecnifibre](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/carboflex-125-ns-x-top-v2/)125 g · 77.5 in² · 14x18 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SNHX6X0Y54GBX2ENMF)SquashGear.com - [CX 132 2025 Dunlop](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/dunlop/cx-132-2025/)132 g · 77.5 in² · 16x19 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8RM3KMRSBK9512KSXPV)Holabird Sports - [Carboflex 130 X-Top 2022 Tecnifibre](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/carboflex-130-x-top-2022/)130 g · 77.5 in² · 14x18 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SP86KNQT7PP628G76Z)SquashGear.com - [Vapor 115 2023 Harrow](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/harrow/vapor-115-2023/)115 g [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M49QVSGNFAN0G49BJ6397B0D)Amazon The prices above are checked automatically at each store and may have changed since the last check. The price that counts is the one shown on the store's website at checkout. We may earn a commission on purchases made through store links, at no extra cost to you. ## More squash guides - [Best Squash Racquets 2026: The Best Picks by Playing Style](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets/) - [7 Best Squash Racquets for Beginners in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-beginners/) - [10 Best Squash Racquets for Intermediate Players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-intermediate-players/) - [How to Choose a Squash Racquet: Complete Buying Guide](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/how-to-choose-a-squash-racquet/) - [Squash Racquet: Open or Closed Throat?](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/open-vs-closed-throat-squash-racquet/) - [5 lightweight squash racquets for quick volleys and fast reactions at the T](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/5-lightweight-squash-racquets/) - [Squash racquet string and tension: gauge, material and restringing](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/squash-racquet-string-and-tension/) - [7 Best Squash Racquets for Advanced Players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-advanced-players/) [All squash guides →](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/squash/) --- Fonte: https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-competition/