New year, new squash racket? Sounds good to us! Read our guide of the best squash rackets currently on sale in 2022.
It’s hard to believe it’s already 2022 – hopefully this year will feature far more squash and far less Covid! Whether you’re brand new to squash or a seasoned veteran, we want to help you find the best squash racket for your game in 2022. We’ve covered all weights, shapes, sizes and budgets – for those watching the pennies, to those prepared to break the bank.
Before we kick off the list, as with every year, it’s worth a reminder that a different squash racket won’t change the way you play. One hundred pounds’ worth of quality coaching should yield much better results than a £100 squash racket. However, let’s not kid ourselves, everyone enjoys the feeling of taking a brand new squash racket on court.
One final quick note – we’ve aimed to mainly include squash rackets we’ve tested and reviewed in full on SquashGearReviews.com, ensuring this list is accurate and a fair reflection of how they perform. There’s plenty of rackets on the market from brands such as Prince, Unsquashable, Harrow, Eye Rackets and more that we’ve not been able to include for this reason. If there’s a racket you’d like to see reviewed on here, please feel free to leave a comment below.
So, sit tight and take a look through our in-depth guide of the best squash rackets in 2022.
The best all-round squash rackets in 2022
If you’re looking for a racket that offers a little bit of everything – a good mix of power, control and manoeuvrability then these are the ones to look out for. While they won’t be the most powerful, nor will they be the lightest feeling rackets out there, you can expect a strong all-round performance from every of these frames.
Tecnifibre Carboflex Airshaft 125
Read our full review of this racket here
Tecnifibre has a huge presence among the world’s best squash players – and for good reason. Their headline squash racket, the Carboflex, truly is hard to fault – it’s evenly balanced, slightly lightweight and caters to both control and power. This is thanks to its large head size and dense stringing pattern.
The Carboflex Airshaft 125NS (for Nour Sherbini) features a thinner grip than the standard version, and the 130 and 135 Airshaft models offer a little more weight than the 125, should you desire it.
Look out for an update of these rackets in 2022, if Tecnifibre’s previous launch history is anything to go by.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Head Speed 120 Slimbody
Read our full review of this racket here
Head signed Kiwi squash player Paul Coll in 2021. Since picking up his signature racket, the Speed 120 Slimbody, Coll has gone on to win both the British Open and the Black Ball Open, and is currently world #2 as of January 2022.
The Speed 120 Slimbody features a thin frame and light overall weight and balance. You also have the option of a standard stringing pattern, or Head’s ‘Adaptive Fan Pattern’, giving you the choice between power or control. This racket is very quick through the air, while still being plenty powerful thanks to its large head size and sparse stringing pattern.
If you’d like a little more weight behind your shot, it’s well worth checking out the slightly heavier Speed 135 Slimbody.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation Pro Lite
Read our full review of this racket here
An excellent all-around racket from Dunlop. In our review, we remarked on how accurate this racket felt in practice. While it’s not the most powerful, nor the most manoeuvrable racket on the market, it still manages to deliver in all areas, and helped produce some of the most precise, consistent shots out of all the squash rackets we’ve tested. A real favourite for us in 2022.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation 125
Read our review of this racket here
Another fantastic all-rounder from Dunlop for 2022. Compared to the Revelation Pro Lite above, this racket feels a little lighter, though thanks to its larger head size and slightly sparser stringing pattern, we found generating power with this racket to be a little easier – though this comes at the cost of precision and accuracy. Who doesn’t love an all black colour scheme too?
Alternatively, Dunlop makes the Revelation 135, which was our favourite racket out of Dunlop’s latest range. It only weighs a fraction more than the 125 (don’t let the advertised specs fool you), and its tighter stringing pattern aids with additional control.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Unsquashable Y-TEC Pro
Launched with updated graphics in 2021, the Unsquashable Y-TEC Pro bears a strong resemblance to the Tecnifibre Carboflex line of rackets. With a 500cm head and dense stringing pattern, this has proven to be an optimal setup for both power and precision. The good thing – this racket currently retails for around £80, a fantastic price for a racket with these specs.
Purchase: Amazon
The best squash rackets in 2022: Control and precision
Control focused rackets usually feature smaller head sizes and traditional head shapes, denser stringing patterns, along with lighter weights and balances. This means you’ll get tons of feel through the frame as you hit the ball.
These rackets are well suited towards more experienced players – often called ‘shotmakers’. These players are often accurate, deceptive, and can help finish a rally at the drop of a hat.
Ashaway Powerkill Meta ZX
Read our full review of this racket here
This racket was a real surprise favourite for me last year. I didn’t know what to expect when I received this racket to test – Ashaway advertise it as weighing 135 grams, however, pay close attention. It’s actually 135 grams strung. Most brands advertise their unstrung weights (meaning they weigh the frame without strings or grip – which usually reduces weight by around 30 grams). So, as it turns out, the Meta ZX is tremendously lightweight.
The racket uses the same mould as the considerably pricier Harrow Vapor racket, though the Meta ZX comes in at a fraction of the cost. With its ultra lightweight frame, small head size and dense stringing pattern, I found myself taking on a whole new variety of shots when I picked up the racket. If you’re looking for something a little different from a smaller brand, look no further.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Head Radical 120/135 slimbody
Read our full review of this racket here
This racket range from Head launched in 2020, and is a fantastic choice for players looking for a control focused racket with a slim frame. They also give you a choice of stringing pattern, with Head’s optional Adaptive Fan Pattern (AFP) allowing you to squeeze even more control out of the frame, should you want it.
Expect a revised version of this racket in 2022, given Head’s previous update schedule.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Dunlop Sonic Core Ultimate 132
Read our full review of this racket here
Used by current world #6 Diego Elias, the Dunlop Sonic Core Ultimate 132 features a large 500cm head and has a very dense 16×19 stringing pattern. We were impressed by the blend of control and precision it offered, without forgoing power in our shots.
Dunlop really does have a racket for everyone though – For those looking for even more control, Dunlop’s Sonic Core Pro 130 has a smaller head size, and for those wanting more power, the Sonic Core Elite 135 has a little more weight and a less dense stringing pattern.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
The best squash rackets in 2022: Featherweight Frames
Lightweight rackets offer plenty of advantages. Thanks to their increased manoeuvrability, taking the ball early with these rackets is a breeze. You can also add an extra layer of deception to your shots, given that it’s much easier to quickly generate racket-head-speed with these rackets.
Take note: If you’re a club level player, be weary of choosing a racket that’s too light. You may struggle to generate power on your shots, which could lead to ‘hacking’ at the ball.
Nevertheless, here’s our top pick of the best lightweight squash rackets in 2022:
Ashaway Powerkill Meta XBC
Read our full review of this racket
Another entry from relative newcomer Ashaway. This racket is again advertised as 135 grams, though like the Meta ZX above, that’s its strung weight. It’s therefore incredibly light when compared to most other rackets. In fact, it’s one of the lightest rackets we’ve ever tested.
We were impressed at the amount of power we were able to generate with this racket, given its light weight. Its dense stringing pattern helped produce some pin-point accurate shots as well. One thing we weren’t too keen on however was the spongy feel from the stock strings – an upgraded string could really transform how this racket plays into something truly special.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Karakal SN-90FF
If you’re looking for the lightest of the light, then look no further. This one-of-a-kind squash racket from Karakal has an advertised frame weight of just ninety grams. That’s unfathomably light for a squash racket.
While we’re yet to test this racket out, it’s a safe bet this’ll feel like a feather through the air. However, it may be challenging to generate as much power as with heavier rackets, given the lack of weight. However, the racket does have a head-heavy balance, which should help to add some stability to your shots – much needed at this weight point.
Given this racket’s extreme specifications, it’s highly advisable to test one out before purchasing, if you can.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
The best squash rackets in 2022: Powerful squash rackets
Over time, squash rackets have gotten lighter and lighter. However, lighter rackets are by no means ‘better’ – don’t be fooled by their higher price tags. A racket with a little more weight behind it can really help increase the quality of a wide variety of players’ games.
The benefit of these rackets is they generate power easier, alongside providing more consistency in your shots – this is because you’re able to allow the racket to do ‘more of the work’ for you.
Head Graphene 360+ Speed 135
Read our full review of this racket here
In our review of the Head Speed 135, we compared this racket to the Bugatti Chiron. A car that has a fair bit of weight behind it, but is far and away one of the most powerful yet comfortable motors to drive. This racket, if you squint hard enough, shares many of these characteristics.
It’s one of the heavier squash rackets we’ve tested, however, the amount of power we were able to generate was phenomenal. It felt really comfortable to use too – smooth both through the air and on impact with the ball.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation Pro
Read our full review of this racket here
The racket of the current World #1, Ali Farag. Descriptions don’t get much better than that.
Coming in at just 128 grams, on paper this sounds pretty light. However, don’t be fooled. The majority of weight in this racket is right at the top of the frame, making it ultra-head-heavy. It’s a truly unique frame – no other racket has the combination of lightweight and ultra head-heavy balance.
The Dunlop Revelation Pro really does a huge amount of work for you, which is evident when you watch just how relaxed Ali Farag’s arm is throughout his swing. For some, it’s a little too head-heavy (if so, take a look at the Revelation Pro Lite, mentioned above), though if you can master this racket, it could pay dividends for your game.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Tecnifibre Dynergy APX 130
Read our full review of this racket here
Tecnifibre’s Dynergy APX line of rackets has its sights set firmly on two things – power and comfort. And it does both of these things phenomenally well. We were surprised with this racket, having disliked the previous season’s Dynergy rackets – however, thanks a total overhaul of the racket’s design, it’s now a completely different beast.
Expect to generate power with ease when using this racket, and the thicker shaft really helps to dampen vibrations through the frame. This is a hugely under-rated racket, often overshadowed by Tecnifibre’s own Carboflex rackets. A solid choice for anyone wanting to add a little extra power to their shots.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
The best squash rackets in 2022: Budget Heroes
You don’t need to break the bank to get a top quality squash racket. Racket technology, generally speaking, has somewhat plateaued in recent years. All the way up to around 2010, rackets had been getting lighter and lighter – we’re now at a point where rackets can be ‘too light’, therefore developments made nowadays are a lot more subtle.
This means that you can pick up a racket from one, two, if not three or more seasons ago, and it’ll still comfortably keep up with even the most modern rackets. Don’t be fooled by the clever marketing on new rackets – if you shop around, you could save yourself a fair amount of cash.
Dunlop Hyperfibre revelation XT 135
This particular racket is from Dunlop’s 2018/19 range, with the current season’s version retailing for £110 (read our review of that racket here). Coincidentally, the current season’s racket is our frame of choice out of all the products dunlop currently sells. For just £60, this is a relative bargain – you’re getting a great squash racket for not a lot of money.
Along similar lines, the previous season’s Revelation Pro Lite can also be picked up for just £65.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
Head Graphene Touch Speed 120
Retailing for just over £60 and with a frame weight of just 120g, this is a fantastic value lightweight squash racket. Having said that, its head heavy balance will help to add stability to your swing, and the sparse stringing pattern will help generate power in your shots. If you’re considering a lighter racket, but don’t want to break the bank, this is a fantastic entry point for any player.
Purchase: PDH Sports
Dunlop Biomimetic Pro GTS 130
This racket isn’t winning any awards for its name (try saying Biomimetic out loud after a couple of shandies). However, what it lacks in clever naming, it more than makes up for in ability. At around £60, this racket offers bags of touch, feel and control. This is thanks to its mid-lightweight frame, with a small head and dense stringing pattern.
This racket’s now a couple of seasons old, so presents a great chance to grab a bargain while it’s still in stock. You can also read our review of the current season’s Dunlop Pro 130 if you’re looking to spend a little extra.
Purchase: PDH Sports | Amazon
What’s your favourite squash racket?
That’s it for our list of the best squash rackets in 2022. There really is a racket for everyone out there, whether you like lightweight or heavyweight rackets, power or control, teardrop, traditional or hybrid frames, the choices are almost endless.
What racket are you currently using and why? Be sure to leave a comment below!
Very interesting article Rob, I use the Carboflex 125 partly on your previous recommendation having briefly switched to Unsquashable (which I’d like to hear your views on). My question- what do you usually play with and how do you think it affects your game?
Hope you’re enjoying the carboflex!
Interesting, and it’s a question I get asked often – usually with a different answer every time haha. At the moment I’ve been using the Head Speed 120 Slimbody, previous to that I was using the 125 Airshaft for a couple of months, and before that the Ashaway Meta ZX.
I really would like to get a copy of the Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation 135 – I had to send it back after testing, but for the time I did have that racket I absolutely loved it.
what about Harrow?)
Hi Rob, As usual truly enjoyed this 2022 overview — as well as the specific earlier individual racket reviews. You attention to detail and analysis of what goes into a specific racket are excellent. Well-written, too (with a nice sense of self-deprecating humor). I use the Tecnifibre 125 X-Speed which serves me very well, which was why I decided to hold off on upgrading when the Airshaft upgrade game out. Besides, it looked in pictures a bit bulkier, especially in the shaft — although, when I got my hands on one later that was actually negligible. So, all the more interesting that you wrote that another upgrade (now on the Airshaft) may be in the cards for 2022. I will keep my eye out for your review when it does. A Happy New Year and I look forward to more reviews/posts on Squash Gear. Best regards, Henri
Always appreciate your kind comments, Henri!
I do actually find the Airshaft to have a bit more bulk than its predecessors – the Heritage and X-Speed I have are almost identical in weight, whereas the Airshaft has a fair amount more bulk to it (not just a one-off either, I’ve weighed three Airshafts and found the same results).
Keen to see what Tecnifibre come out with – suspect there won’t be any dramatic changes, likely a cosmetic upgrade – time will tell!
Hi Rob great site BTW. Just returned back to squash after a lengthy injury and rehab. Always used my head microgel 125 but I thought it’s old technology so went and got Dunlop sonic core 120. Tbh finding it hard to adjust. The head just feels “home” in my hand. What’s the nearest modern raquet that’s nearest to my old microgel 125? Am I right to want a more modern raquet? Cheers Paul
I’ve often found those used to using Head rackets absolutely love their unique feel, and struggle (initially) to move to other brands. I was in the exact same boat!
Would highly recommend taking a look at Head’s Speed range. A Speed 120 could be the perfect racket, as it’s very similarly designed to the Microgel 125. The previous three seasons have all been fairly incremental upgrades, so there’s a good racket at every price point.
https://www.pdhsports.com/c/q/brand/head/head-squash-rackets/head-speed-squash-rackets
I personally prefer the Slimbody rackets, however, that’s my own personal preference – I know many players who prefer the thicker frames, like the Microgel had.
Hope that helps!
Thanks Rob , I’ll take a look
The BEST squash racket of 2022 is yet to be released. And will be out in a matter of weeks. Watch this space. You may need to update and re- release your ‘SquashGearReview22’ at that point. 💪
Care to share? 😂 Feel free to reach out to me on the contact page of this site 💪 (though I can’t help but feel that last name might be a clue!)
Coming from the TF carboflex 125S, the Dunlop SC revelation pro lite feels like such an improvement. For me it’s a big winner in 2021.
I know it’s a bit like comparing apples to pears, because the 125S is an older model but the dunlop is more accurate, more forgiving and has better shock absorbtion. And I don’t feel like the racket is giving something up in other areas to achieve it.
My favorite still the 2017-ish aerogel4d elite .. I got the 2022 sonic core elite but I need to be in super shape to play well with because it’s not as powerful as the aerogel and more head heavy.
Aerogel still the best compromise with an headlight racket and mixed power / control 🙂
I have played with the Tecnifibre Dynergy APX 130 for the last couple of years. Incredibly durable and powerful, maybe not 100% accurate but still really good. As you said in your review, must be one of the most underrated raquets out there. Really enjoying it. I now need a second racquet so looking at a few options. The Head Radical 120 SB and Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation Pro are top of the list, which do you think is better? Generally speaking I am looking for balance and power (don’t we all :-)) I often suffer with shoulder issues, what is better to go for, lighter or heavier? I presume that heavier racquets take stress off shoulders as you don’t have to put so much effort into the strike? What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Edward not sure if this is relevant to your shoulder issues but having myself suffered from some elbow pain I swapped from a long-standing Technifibre weighing in at 145g – which these days seems unbelievably weighty – to a lighter racket I found my elbow problems disappeared. Incidentally I have more recently switched to a Head 120 Slimbody and absolutely love it so I would definitely recommend.