Best Squash Rackets for Every Type of Player
Best OLIVER Squash Rackets for Different Types of Player
Choosing the best squash racket is not really about finding the most expensive or most advanced racket.
It is about finding the racket that suits your game.
A player who relies on speed and quick volleys may want something completely different from somebody who likes to dominate rallies with power. A beginner may benefit from forgiveness and stability, while an experienced player may prioritise precision, racket-head speed or feel.
That is why the OLIVER squash range includes rackets designed for very different styles of player.
So rather than asking:
“What is the best OLIVER squash racket?”
The better question is:
“Which OLIVER squash racket is best for the way I play?”
Here are our recommendations.
Best OLIVER squash racket for developing players: Dragon 3
The OLIVER Dragon 3 is a great option for players who are still developing their game but want a high-quality racket they can continue using as they improve.
Its balanced setup, lightweight 110g frame and enlarged sweet spot help make clean contact easier, while still providing enough control and power for players beginning to play more competitive squash.
Best for:
- Developing players
- Club players looking for a balanced racket
- Players who want a larger sweet spot
- Anyone looking for a combination of control and accessible power
Why choose it?
The Dragon 3 gives you a forgiving hitting area without feeling basic or cumbersome.
Best entry-level squash racket: Racer X8
The OLIVER Racer X8 is one of the most accessible ways into the OLIVER squash range.
It is designed as a lightweight, dynamic oversize racket, making it particularly suitable for beginner and improving players who want something comfortable and easy to play with.
Best for:
- Beginners
- Improving players
- Recreational players
- Players moving on from a basic starter racket
Its larger head helps offer a more forgiving hitting area, while the lightweight construction makes it easier to manoeuvre.
Best squash racket for speed: Apex 920
If you build your game around quick racket preparation, volleys and taking the ball early, the OLIVER Apex 920 is one of the standout choices.
At just 105g with a head-light balance, it is designed to move extremely quickly through the air. The Long String frame also provides a larger hitting area while maintaining excellent control.
Best for:
- Fast attacking players
- Volleyers
- Players who take the ball early
- Players who value manoeuvrability
- Experienced players with good racket preparation
If heavier rackets make you feel slow around the T, the Apex 920 is well worth considering.
Best lightweight squash racket: Fuchsia
The OLIVER Fuchsia is another excellent option for players who want a very light, quick-feeling squash racket.
At 105g with a head-light balance, it is easy to manoeuvre and particularly comfortable for players who generate their own racket-head speed. The frame also offers enough rigidity to help maintain precision.
Best for:
- Players looking for a lightweight squash racket
- Beginners and intermediate players
- Fast swingers
- Players who favour movement and quick preparation
It is particularly appealing if you want something easy to swing without losing the ability to hit good length.
Best all-round OLIVER squash racket: Apex 320
Some players do not want to specialise.
They want a racket that can attack, defend, volley, hit length and play touch shots without feeling compromised in any one area.
That is where the OLIVER Apex 320 fits.
Its balanced setup is designed to provide a combination of comfort, control and versatility, making it one of the easiest OLIVER rackets to recommend to an all-round player.
Best for:
- All-round club players
- Players who mix attacking and defensive squash
- Players who want a balanced racket
- Anyone unsure whether they need a specialist power or control model
If somebody told us:
“I just want a really good squash racket that does everything well,”
the Apex 320 would be one of the first models we would show them.
Best premium all-round squash racket: ICQ 110 Ultra
The OLIVER ICQ 110 Ultra is aimed more towards experienced players looking for a lightweight racket that combines precision and power.
It weighs just 110g and uses a Long String design to increase the hitting area and help improve ball control. Its balanced feel makes it versatile enough for players who do not want to commit fully to either a power or control setup.
Best for:
- Advanced club players
- Competitive players
- Fast swingers
- Players wanting both precision and power
- Players who prefer a balanced racket
It rewards good technique while remaining versatile enough for an all-court game.
Best squash racket for control: Apex 420
If your game is built around accuracy, speed and precision, the OLIVER Apex 420 is an excellent choice.
Its 110g frame and head-light balance allow quick racket preparation, while the bridge-shaped frame is designed to provide additional stability and control.
Best for:
- Control-focused players
- Tactical players
- Volleyers
- Players who take the ball early
- Players who generate their own power
This is a strong choice if you value being able to put the ball exactly where you want it.
Best alternative for precision and power: Supra 110 Pro
The OLIVER Supra 110 Pro is another performance-oriented option for players who want a lighter-feeling racket with plenty of attacking potential.
It is aimed at more advanced players and sits nicely between outright control and outright power.
Best for:
- Advanced players
- Competitive club players
- Players who want precision without sacrificing attacking potential
- Players with an established swing
It is particularly suited to players who already know what they want from their racket and can generate good racket speed themselves.
Best squash racket for power: Apex 720
If you are looking for a powerful squash racket, the OLIVER Apex 720 is one of the clearest choices in the range.
It weighs 125g and has a slightly head-heavy balance, helping generate additional momentum through the ball. The frame is also designed to provide stability and control so that the additional power remains usable.
Best for:
- Attacking players
- Hard hitters
- Players who want more depth
- Players who prefer a slightly head-heavy racket
- Competitive players wanting power and precision
If you like driving the ball hard into the back corners and putting your opponent under pressure, the Apex 720 should be high on your shortlist.
Best lightweight power squash racket: ORC-A Supralight
The OLIVER ORC-A Supralight offers an unusual combination: a very light 110g frame with a head-heavy balance.
That means you still get excellent manoeuvrability while keeping more weight towards the head to help generate power through the ball.
Best for:
- Attacking players
- Players who want power without a heavy overall racket
- Fast swingers
- Competitive players
- Players who like a head-heavy feel
Its Long String construction also provides a larger hitting area and strong ball control, making it more than simply a power racket.
Shop the OLIVER ORC-A Supralight
Which OLIVER squash racket should you choose?
If you want the quick version:
| Player type | OLIVER squash rackets to consider |
|---|---|
| Beginner / entry-level | Racer X8 |
| Developing player | Dragon 3 |
| Speed / manoeuvrability | Apex 920 / Fuchsia |
| All-round | Apex 320 / ICQ 110 Ultra |
| Control / precision | Apex 420 / Supra 110 Pro |
| Power | Apex 720 |
| Lightweight power | ORC-A Supralight |
There is no universally best squash racket.
The right choice depends on how you swing, where you create your power, how quickly you prepare the racket and whether you prioritise power, control, speed or versatility.
You can also browse the complete OLIVER range here:
Shop all OLIVER squash rackets
What should you look for when choosing a squash racket?
Before choosing any racket, think about four main areas.
Racket weight
Lighter squash rackets tend to be easier to manoeuvre and can help players generate fast racket-head speed.
Heavier rackets can provide more stability and momentum through the ball.
Neither is automatically better.
Balance
A head-light squash racket generally feels faster and easier to manoeuvre.
A head-heavy squash racket can help generate additional power.
An even-balanced squash racket sits between the two and often suits all-round players.
Playing style
Think about what actually wins you points.
Do you attack with pace?
Do you volley aggressively?
Do you rely on accuracy?
Do you defend and counterattack?
Your racket should complement those strengths.
Ability level
An advanced racket is not automatically better for a beginner.
Experienced players may benefit from very light or specialised frames because they already have consistent technique.
Developing players may benefit more from stability, forgiveness and a larger effective hitting area.
Still not sure which squash racket is right for you?
Choosing from specifications alone can be difficult. Weight, balance and frame shape can tell you a lot, but the best squash racket ultimately depends on how you play.
That is exactly why we created the OLIVER Perfect Racket Quiz.
Answer a few quick questions about your ability, playing style and what you want from your racket, and we’ll help narrow down the OLIVER models that should suit your game best.
Take the OLIVER Squash Racket Quiz:
https://oliversports.co.uk/pages/squash-racket-quiz
Or, if you’d prefer to browse the full range yourself:
Shop all OLIVER squash rackets:
https://oliversports.co.uk/collections/rackets
Because the best squash racket isn’t necessarily the lightest, the most powerful or the most expensive.
It’s the one that makes your game better.