Many players play with cheap "starter" racquets that are either poor quality to begin with or are strung with poor quality strings, as a result of which significant vibration is transferred to the player's arm. Over time, playing with a low quality racquet is simply not worth it. Not all expensive racquets are necessarily high quality, but one's chances are better with a proven brand (e.g., Wilson, Black Knight, Prince, Dunlop, Karakal) and a widely-used model. Second, the racquet should not be too heavy for the player. This is another very common mistake. Relatively weak players and even most advanced players should consider playing with racquets that weigh no more than 140 grams. There is a characteristic of the racquet known as swing weight and, although this is not precise, the heavier the racquet, the greater the swing weight. A reasonable amount of swing weight is not only good, it is necessary. Excessive swing weight will place considerable stress on the small tendons inside the arm, again causing tendonitis. Third, if one plays 2-3 times per week, one should restring the racquet at least quarterly. Dead strings not only play poorly, they cause one to swing harder and they result in more vibration being transferred to the arm. Strings are not expensive, so they should be replaced frequently, more frequently than most avid squash players realize.
Hydration. A great way to stay healthy is to consume a significant amount of liquids, particularly water. The recommendation from health professionals is that individuals consume at least 50% of one's body weight in ounces of water per day. For a man who weighs 170 pounds, that would be 85 ounces of water per day. By the way, this is a minimum amount. If one engages in strenuous exercise, that amount should be increased accordingly. Why water? Because of the intense nature of the game of squash, squash players build up tremendous amounts of lactic acid in their large muscles groups, particularly leg and back muscles. Acidity, in general, can lead all types of physical ailments, so acid should be removed from the bodily system as quickly as possible. Studies have shown that lactic acid can only be moved out of the body in two ways. The first is through alkalization, of which conspicuous water consumption is a part, and the other is through low-level exercise which causes large amounts of oxygenated blood to move through the stressed areas.
Peter is an avid, but largely untalented, squash player in Seattle, WA. When not playing squash, Peter and his wife, Grace, invest in real estate in the Puget Sound Area. Peter and Grace have two young daughters, Sydney (7 years old) and Ashley (2 years old) and they live in Redmond, WA. To find out more, go to http://www.peterku.com
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