The proper squash grip is very counter-intuitive. Instinct would tell you to grip the racquet with a clenched fist. The racquet
has no control in the fore-aft and side-side motion with that type of grip. The proper squash grip has two subtle features that
allow you to have full control over the head of the racquet. It is extremely important to master this grip early on otherwise
you will be stroking the ball incorrectly and find it very difficult to play the touch shots that pros play with ease.
Furthermore your game will suffer for several months as you try and fix your grip after developing bad habits.
So I have
included a video to help you master the correct grip. Please take note of the test to make sure you have
the right grip. When you push on the racquet head in fore-aft you should feel the racquet motion
resisted by the extended index finger. Similarly when you push on the head in side-side direction you should
feel bottom palm of your hand resisting the motion. Make sure you can form the "V" exactly as pictured. One side of the
V should be almost parralell with the racquet. If your V does not look like that then it is not correct.
Adapting to the new squash grip
You may find it difficult to hold the racquet tight with the new grip. Here
are some suggestions to make it easier to grip the racquet tightly:
Add over-grip(s) to increase size
Hold as tightly as possible
Focus on hitting the sweet spot in the racquet. Off-center shots really loosen your grip as they add excessive twisting forces to the
racquet.
Re-string racquet at a lower tension. Most factory strung racquets are
strung very tightly. This makes the sweet spot very small.
On Unorthodox Grips
Although most good players have this kind of grip, I have seen several
unorthodox grips at the top level as well. There used to be a pro who had a
two-handed grip. So the importance on grip may be overrated.
Although unconventional grips can be successful in certain cases,
there's no need to handicap yourself. If you're just starting out this
is a perfect time to learn the proper grip and stroke... it's much more
difficult to switch back once you've developed bad habits.
Do what you can to get someone knowledgable to show you the proper grip
and strokes. If you can't find anyone, you can try the websites, as well
as books on the subject.
Although it might be frustrating at first, try to focus on obtaining
these fundamental skills. It's much easier to focus on your grip/swing
during drills, so if you can find someone to do basic drills with you
(maybe before or after each time you play a match) you can put yourself
on the right path from the get-go.
