Squash is a sport that originated in England in the 19th century and resembles racquetball, only it’s played using a slightly larger racket and corresponding smaller ball. While the World Squash Federation governing body is headquartered in England, the United States leads the way with more than 1.6 million squash players competing on more than 3,700 squash courts. Globally, there are approximately 150 squash-playing national associations that are members of the WSF whose 16 million athletes play on more than 50,000 squash courts spread throughout 185 plus countries.
Popularity in the sport has grown slowly and steadily over the past four decades, but not enough to make it an Olympic sport – yet. While leaders in the sport focus on getting squash into the 2024 Paris Olympics (it is very popular in France), Li-Ning is focusing on answering the demand for equipment to play the sport in regions where it is prevalent such as the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The three main pieces of equipment needed to play squash are: rackets, balls and shoes. Traditionally, squash rackets were made from laminated wood. After graphite entered the squash market in the mid-1980s, players have demanded more eco-friendly, organic materials in their rackets and recyclable materials in the squash balls. Li-Ning is cognizant of this and sources its materials to also provide a lightweight experience for squash players. For instance, squash rackets weigh an average of 5.99-6.17 ounces compared to the more popular tennis rackets at 8.82-11.46 ounces.
Squash balls feature small colored dots on the ball to indicate how bouncy it is. Professional squash players prefer a slower ball that bounces lower than amateur squash players who are still learning the nuances of the game. Pay attention to those marks because you will need to replace squash balls within 2-3 weeks due to the rapid rate they wear out.
Finally, you need appropriate footwear to play squash. The sport is played mostly indoors, or weather-permitting, outside in glass courts. Li-Ning has built its sporting apparel brand around its shoes that have been trusted for decades, so you can rest assured that Li-Ning squash shoes will combine the best support and non-marking floor grip alongside comfort and lightweight breathability.
Secondary squash equipment includes strings (that also wear out quickly), eyewear and grips. It’s these “extras” that sometimes lead to a higher cost of participating in squash. As a global sporting goods brand manufacturer, Li-Ning is committed to helping squash grow as a sport, by providing quality equipment at affordable prices.