# Squash racquet string and tension: gauge, material and restringing Everything about squash racquet string: gauge, material, surface, tension in pounds and kilos, signs of a dead string and when to restring. Updated on 10/07/2026 A squash racquet's string and tension change ball exit speed, control and comfort as much as the frame does. In short: most players use a 1.15 to 1.25 mm multifilament strung at around 24 to 28 pounds, and restring when the string breaks or loses its response, which usually happens sooner than you'd think. Below is what changes with each choice and how to get yours right. ## Quick reference: tension, gauge and profile | Profile | Starting tension | Typical gauge | Why | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Beginner or social play | 22 to 25 lb (10.0 to 11.3 kg) | 1.20 to 1.25 mm | More trampoline effect and a string that lasts | | Intermediate who plays every week | 24 to 27 lb (10.9 to 12.2 kg) | 1.18 to 1.20 mm | Balance between pop and control | | Advanced, fast swing | 26 to 30 lb (11.8 to 13.6 kg) | 1.10 to 1.20 mm | A firm string bed for placing the ball; thin string for feel | These are starting ranges, not rules. Manufacturers' spec sheets usually list something between 20 and 30 pounds, and many racquets leave the factory near 28 lb, like Harrow's. Always respect your racquet's range. To convert: 1 kg equals about 2.2 lb. In practice, 22 lb is close to 10 kg, 24 lb close to 10.9 kg, 26 lb close to 11.8 kg, 28 lb close to 12.7 kg and 30 lb close to 13.6 kg. Both units are common; confirm which one is being used on your order. ## Gauge: the thickness of a squash string Gauge is the string's diameter, in millimeters. In squash it is much smaller than in tennis, and a few tenths change the feel a lot. - **1.10 mm:** the thinnest common one. More feel, more "bite" on the ball and more pop. Lasts less. The Tecnifibre 305 is sold in this gauge (gauge 18). - **1.15 to 1.18 mm:** a middle ground for players who want touch without changing the string every week. - **1.20 mm:** the factory standard for many racquets. Unsquashable uses the Tour-Tec Pro 1.20, Karakal uses the Hot Zone 120 and the Tecnifibre 305 also comes in 1.20 mm (17L). - **1.25 mm or more:** focused on durability. The [Ashaway SuperNick XL Ti](https://www.ashawayusa.com/supernickXLTi.php) is 1.25 mm (gauge 17). Why does gauge matter so much? A squash ball is soft and stays on the strings only briefly. A thin string deforms more and "hugs" the ball, which gives control of spin and touch. A thick string is firmer and resists friction better, but returns less feel. If your string breaks every week, going up a step in gauge usually solves it before changing the tension. ## Material: what's inside the string ### Nylon or polyamide multifilament This is the squash standard. Hundreds of microfibers, braided or bundled, give elasticity and comfort, and it is the type of the benchmark strings, like the Tecnifibre 305, which the brand describes as 100% polyamide, and the Ashaway SuperNick XL Ti, a nylon multifilament. ### Basic synthetic gut A solid-core string with some coating, common on entry-level racquets. The Tecnifibre Carboflex Team 130 V2 and the Carboflex Team 2025, for example, come with synthetic gut. It works for getting started, but loses its response sooner and has less feel. When it breaks, it is a good time to switch to a multifilament. ### Natural gut and polyester Natural gut was once common in squash and is rare today. Polyester, ubiquitous in tennis, barely appears: it is too stiff for a soft ball like the squash ball, which needs an elastic string to get out. ## Surface and coating: smooth or textured Some strings have a smooth surface; others have texture or spiral wraps to grip the ball. The SuperNick XL Ti, for example, has a textured surface and a titanium coating, according to Ashaway. The Tecnifibre 305 uses an SPL coating to increase durability. In practice: - **A textured surface** helps control the cut on drops and sliced volleys. - **A coating** protects the string from friction between the strings and with the ball, and slows wear. The gain in spin is real, but small compared to what gauge and tension do. ## How to choose tension in 4 steps - **Start with your racquet's range.** It is on the spec sheet or printed on the frame. Never go over the maximum. - **Start in the middle.** If the spec sheet says 24 to 29 lb, for example, start around 26 to 27 lb. - **Adjust by symptom.** Ball coming out long and without direction: go up 1 or 2 pounds. Drives dying mid-court or a tired arm: go down 1 or 2 pounds. - **Change one thing at a time.** If you change string and tension at once, you won't know what worked. Lower tension makes the string bed more elastic: the ball comes out with less effort and the area that responds well grows. Higher tension firms up the string bed: the ball comes out "drier," on a more predictable trajectory, but only for players who generate speed with their own swing. The relationship with the string pattern (12x17, 14x18, 16x19) is in the guide to [how to choose a squash racquet](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/how-to-choose-a-squash-racquet/). In short: an open pattern already gives pop, and a closed pattern already gives control; tension adjusts what's left. Tip A light racquet and high tension is the combination that shortens the ball the most. If you use a 115 or 120 g racquet and miss the depth, try 1 or 2 pounds lower before thinking about changing frames. The racquet options from 90 to 120 g are in the guide to lightweight squash racquets. ## Why squash strings break so much A squash string is thin, and the game is abrasive. Three reasons explain most breaks: - **Friction between the strings.** On every impact, the mains slide over the crosses and wear at the crossing point. Over time, a "cut" appears that leads to a break, almost always in the center region, where the ball hits most. - **Contact with the wall and the floor.** Digging out balls hugging the wall and chasing low balls makes the top of the frame scrape. If the bumper or the grommets are worn, the string scrapes directly and breaks at the tip. Racquets without a bumper, like the Tecnifibre X-Top models, call for extra attention here. - **Thin string and high tension.** The thinner the string and the higher the tension, the less margin for this wear. ## Signs it's time to restring Many players only change the string when it breaks. But a squash string loses elasticity before that, and the racquet feels "dead." Watch for: - The ball stopped coming out at the same speed, even on a good stroke. - The mains move out of place and don't return on their own. - Loose strands or deep marks show up at the crossings. - The sound of impact has become muffled. - You feel more vibration in your arm than you used to. A practical rule of thumb, borrowed from tennis, is to restring per year as many times as you play per week: if you play three times a week, three times a year. In squash, the string usually breaks before that, but the rule works for players who use a thicker string and don't break it. ## The factory string makes a difference Racquets in the same weight range and with the same pattern can leave the factory with very different strings. The three below weigh 125 g and have a 14x18 pattern, and each comes with a different string: the Carboflex 125 X-Top V2 with the Dynamix VP, the Slash 125 with the Tecnifibre 305 and the Unsquashable Tour-Tec Pro 125 with the Tour-Tec Pro 1.20 DuraFibre. Other examples from the catalog: the Karakal SN-90FF 2.1 and the Raw Pro Lite 2.1 come with the braided Hot Zone 120; the Harrow models, like the Vapor 115 and the Response 120, come with Barrage at 28 lb; the Dunlop CX 125, CX 132 and Sonic Core Ultimate 132 use the Iconic Pro; the Head Extreme 145 comes with Head Reflex. When the racquet comes with a quality string, it's worth playing with it until it breaks before changing. When it comes with basic synthetic gut, the first change is already an improvement. ### Racquets that leave the factory with a listed string · Squash ### SN-90FF 2.1 Karakal RR Score 62 out of 100, RR Score 5.0 (2) - Weight: 90 g - Head: 70.5 in² - Strings: 14x19 - [SquashGear.comSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SB2FGE20S5NKFAJYT4) · Squash ### Response 120 2023 Harrow RR Score 64 out of 100, RR Score - Weight: 120 g - [SquashGear.comSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8RZTTA20JTQY7N2CDAG) · Squash ### CX 132 2025 Dunlop RR Score 72 out of 100, Good - Weight: 132 g - Head: 77.5 in² - Strings: 16x19 - [Holabird SportsSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8RM3KMRSBK9512KSXPV) · Squash ### Extreme 145 2025 HEAD RR Score 71 out of 100, Good - Weight: 145 g - Head: 76.7 in² - Strings: 12x17 - [HEADSee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8S43SPNZ84Z17HDADY2) ## Precautions when stringing - **Confirm the racquet's pattern.** Some Head racquets use an adaptable pattern: the Speed 135 SB can be strung 12x17 or 16x17, and the Radical 135 SB 14x17 or 18x17. Tell the stringer which one you want, because the difference in pop is big. - **Check the grommets and bumper.** A cracked grommet cuts the new string in a few matches. The Tecnifibre X-Top uses widened holes to loosen the stringing, and the Dunlop Tristorm Elite has Power Grommets that let the strings move more; the stringer needs to know this. - **Ask for the tension in the right unit.** "28" in pounds is very different from "28" in anything else. Write "28 lb" or "12.7 kg". - **Write down what you used.** String, gauge, tension and date. Without that, you can't repeat what worked or know how long the string lasted. What is the ideal tension for a squash racquet? For most players, something between 24 and 28 pounds (10.9 to 12.7 kg), always within the range on the racquet's spec sheet. Beginners tend to do better at the lower end, and advanced players with a fast swing at the higher end. What is the best string gauge for squash? 1.20 mm is the standard that balances feel and durability. 1.10 to 1.15 mm give more touch and pop, but last less. 1.25 mm or more is for players who break strings often. Does a tighter squash string give more power? No. Higher tension gives more control and a drier ball, but reduces pop. Players who want easier power should lower the tension, not raise it. How often should I restring a squash racquet? When the string breaks or when it loses its response, with the ball coming out without speed and the strings out of place. A rule of thumb borrowed from tennis is to restring per year as many times as you play per week. Can I use tennis string on a squash racquet? It isn't recommended. Tennis strings are thicker and, when polyester, too stiff for the squash ball. Use a string made for squash, a multifilament, in the gauge recommended by the string's manufacturer. To compare racquets by string pattern and weight, use the [squash catalog](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/) and the [squash comparison tool](https://racquetrank.com/us/compare/squash/). If you are still choosing the frame, [Find Your Racquet](https://racquetrank.com/us/racquet-finder/) matches level and style, and the guide to [lightweight squash racquets](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/5-lightweight-squash-racquets/) shows how string and weight combine. The cited models from [Tecnifibre](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/) and [Unsquashable](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/unsquashable/) have full spec sheets on the site. ## Where to buy the racquets in this guide - [Carboflex 125 X-Top V2 Tecnifibre](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/tecnifibre/carboflex-125-x-top-v2/)125 g · 77.5 in² · 14x18 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SN4E9Z2XHHW2J7DY1T)Holabird Sports - [SN-90FF 2.1 Karakal](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/karakal/sn-90ff-2-1/)90 g · 70.5 in² · 14x19 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8SB2FGE20S5NKFAJYT4)SquashGear.com - [Response 120 2023 Harrow](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/harrow/response-120-2023/)120 g [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8RZTTA20JTQY7N2CDAG)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 - [Extreme 145 2025 HEAD](https://racquetrank.com/us/squash/head/extreme-145-2025/)145 g · 76.7 in² · 12x17 [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8S43SPNZ84Z17HDADY2)HEAD 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/) - [7 Best Squash Racquets for Advanced Players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-advanced-players/) - [7 Best Squash Racquets for Competition in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-squash-racquets-for-competition/) [All squash guides →](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/squash/) --- Fonte: https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/squash-racquet-string-and-tension/