Squash Court Injuries – Prevention is Better

When it comes to squash court injuries, prevention is better. 

Mixing competitiveness and safety on the squash court is a delicate balance.

Beginners and intermediate players are more likely to take risks on the squash court that they probably should not. While safety comes naturally to advanced players, they are not infallible. As you can see here, occasionally, even pros like Jonathan Power have been at the wrong end of a squash racquet.

Some squash court injuries are unavoidable. For instance, you could step on your opponent’s foot and sprain your ankle.

You can’t do much about that. 

However, many squash court injuries are preventable. Getting hit in the eye with the ball or racquet while not wearing protective eyewear would fall into that category.

Sticking with the “prevention is better” theme, here are a few simple precautions that you can take to minimize squash court injuries. 

Look before you hit a turn-around shot

Getting hit with a squash ball is never fun. 

If your opponent takes a turn-around shot and hits you, you may get the satisfaction of winning that point. But, if your body stops a power shot meant for the front wall, winning the point may be the least of your concerns. There is a reason clubs strongly recommend that players wear protective eyewear. Carelessness can lead to serious squash court injuries.

Playing too close for comfort

This is perhaps the most common cause of facial injuries on the squash court. 

When you crowd your opponent, you run the risk of getting hit with the racquet. The hit can happen during the swing or on a follow-through. If an opponent is in your swing path, the prudent thing would be to stop play and ask for a let or stroke. If your opponent does not realize how close you are, you may end up sustaining serious injuries.

Sweaty palms and slippery sidewalls are a bad combination

While you don’t see much of this at the advanced level, it is not uncommon to see club-level squash players occasionally pushing off the sidewall during an intense rally. Sweaty palms and slippery sidewalls of the squash court make for a dangerous combination. While severe injuries due to players crashing onto the walls of the court are rare, this anecdote of a player ending up in a wheelchair stands out. 

Not all non-marking shoes are suitable for squash 

This can be an issue for folks who play different sports. 

While a pair of basketball shoes may come with non-marking soles, that does not make it ideal for squash. The lunges and turns on the squash court require shoes that are lightweight and purpose-built for squash. Wrong or loosely worn shoes may not provide the necessary ankle support and lead to sprains and other leg-related injuries. 

Slippery grips could result in flying racquets

If you are the kind of player who delays changing racquet grips until you feel the racquet may fly off your hand, you should probably rethink that practice. Unlike a tennis racquet that flies off your hand and lands on your side of the court, a squash racquet flying off can have undesirable consequences. 

Striking the ball when it is an obvious “stroke”  

When playing a squash match without a referee, lets and strokes can become points of contention. 

Most players know when they are in your way and expect you to call a let. They may stop play if they are squarely between you and the front wall. Striking the ball when it is an obvious stroke, is a dangerous play and is best avoided.

While on the subject of lets, body-checking your opponent to establish a let, is a little extreme and can cause injuries to players. This is especially true if you are behind the player, and he or she does not see it coming. 

At the end of the day, squash is about having fun. The longer you stay uninjured, the longer you can enjoy playing the game.

Remember, prevention is better.