I Played With 6 Different Rackets In 2022 / What I Liked and Disliked / + Rackets I Want To Try 2023

Happy New Year everyone.
I hope 2023 brings you more joy and even more bagels on the squash court. I have finally had the opportunity to rest, but that also means that I have taken the time to make a new video.
In 2022, I played with 6 different rackets. In this video, I'm going to discuss what I liked and disliked about these rackets, as well as point out which rackets I will be keen to try out in 2023.
Stay tuned for more content.
Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:13 : Intro
00:14 - 01:19 : Tecnifibre Carboflex Heritage 125g
01:20 - 02:40 : Tecnifibre Carboflex X-Speed 135g
02:41 - 04:35 : Tecnifibre Suprem 125g
04:36 - 06:11 : Tecnifibre Carboflex Airshaft 125g
06:12 - 09:34 : Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation Pro Lite 125g
09:35 - 12:31 : Tecnifibre Carboflex X-Top 130g
12:32 - 15:10 : Reason Why I Tried 6 Rackets
15:11 - 17:23 : Rackets I Would Love to Try in 2023
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I Played With 6 Different Rackets In 2022 / What I Liked and Disliked / + Rackets I Want To Try 2023
#squash #tecnifibre #dunlop
thesquashbagel squash athlete day in the life of a squash player day in the life athlete squash sport i played with 6 different rackets in 2022 / what i liked and disliked / + rackets i want to try 2023 tecnifibre carboflex heritage 125g tecnifibre carboflex x-speed 135g tecnifibre suprem 125g tecnifibre carboflex airshaft 125g dunlop sonic core revelation pro lite 125g tecnifibre carboflex x-top 130g reason why i tried 6 rackets rackets i would love to try in 2023

[@ianthomas7819]

Holy Moly [18 Years] I have been playing for [49 Years] starting at the age of 25, and still playing almost injury free, 2009 was told to have a back operation, which I ignored thank goodness. From 1st div to 5th div.

[@albert_chen]

Thank you so much for this video. There's not a lot of in depth squash gear reviews out there and you do an amazing job of not only present the pros, but also the cons of each racket. It actually feels like a review rather than advertisement!

[@thesquashbagel]

Thanks Albert, I appreciate the feedback

[@RoTheBro]

Great review on these rackets. Maybe consider trying out a Harrow racket this year.

[@Max-xu8lm]

Thank you for sharing!

[@thesquashbagel]

My pleasure!

[@maseraticc2834]

Thank you for putting together such a great review, some excellent content with some interesting data to support your findings. I'm in the UK and I currently use a Technifibre Carboflex 125S and need a 2nd racket, however this racket is now obsolete. So I am hoping the Airshaft 125 is very similar so I can switch without noticing any major difference between the 2 rackets. Keep the excellent videos coming please!!! 😃🙏👍

[@thesquashbagel]

Thank you for the kind words. The 125S is a gem. I personally do not think any of the newer TFs play the same way, so if you could find a good second hand one, that would be my best tip. I do believe the 2nd hand market in the UK may yield some rather positive results. If not, the Airshaft isn't a bad replacement and the current price can't be argued with thanks to the release of the X-Top. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[@rygar74nl]

Nice vid!

[@thesquashbagel]

Thank you.

[@keithmurphy9358]

Happy New Year, been playing with the Heritage with the Carboflex 125S removable bumper grommet strip, without the bumper, for years. Tried all the newer variants, still think the Heritage, or the original black & yellow, is the best.

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey Keith Yeah I think they struck gold with the earlier models, but unfortunately they’ve changed them too much.

[@Borialis]

You did a great job of breaking down each racket. I’m very much a novice but I love this game and I keep learning every day so content like this helps me decide what I’m looking for in a racket🙂

[@thesquashbagel]

Appreciate the kind words. If there’s one thing I’ve learned and sadly it’s only been at the end of this year, once you pick a racket, stick to it unless there’s a big reason that you cannot. Play well 🙏🏾

[@Borialis]

I have a decent idea to what rackets suits my play style now. I just need to get it. I don’t plan on changing after that unless I have to. Keep up the good work!

[@thesquashbagel]

That’s awesome 🙏🏾 Out of curiosity which racket are you thinking of?

[@Borialis]

@@thesquashbagel I haven’t fully decided yet but the Technifibre slash range sounds like it would be a good fit but it’s a little on the pricey side.

[@zj9923]

I appreciate your video on this topic. I haven't been able to find many on YT. Just started to play squash and got really hooked. I always had borrowed racket from friend of mine who plays many years. Now I'm looking for my first racket, but not sure what to pick. I really like classic shape, yet not be able to try it. Maybe you can recommend?

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey there. I used to play with the classic shapes when I was younger but when I started playing again, I moved to the teardrops. It’s really hard to suggest unless you try them out, but from the top of my head, some rackets to look for would be the Tecnifibre Suprem 130g version, Dunlop Sonic Core Ultimate 132g or the Karakal T Pro 120g if you want something lighter. Since you’re new, I would suggest the heavier version. The most important thing is to try them out before making the final purchase. Let me know which one you eventually choose.

[@nuffaction5464]

I just moved to teardrop shaped racquets, and, im ready to go back to a traditional 470cm. Not to mention ill support tecnifibre 305 strings, but not their racquets...made in China ...cheap quality, blew out a grommet on a solid hit, went back to my 2006 Jonathan Power Hotmelt..still better than my 2024 carboflex 125.

[@thesquashbagel]

The TF 305 is probably their best product that they make. Is it the yellow JP Hotmelt? That's a classic

[@Beans-hp8bl]

Did you try the Ashaway Supernick ZX? Feels really good l, grips the ball nicely and I find they hold tension quite well

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey Matt Tried the ZX and the ZX Micro. Will do a video talking about all the strings I tried, but to give you a heads up… I think I got way too much feel and feedback at 28 lbs… but I reckon it’s a great string

[@kbhatia76]

Yup ashway supernick zx grips the ball amazingly well

[@rup3rt75]

Nice reviews Albert, I have the TF Carboflex 130, found it a bit stiff to start with, but really like it now, I would say its for advanced players, at least not for intermediates and below, as it can be unforgiving, if not hit in the sweet spot. What strings would you recommend (with durability of string in mind, I know you mentioned in your video) and tension? and 30 is not too old :)

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey there I believe the TF 305 strings (1.20mm) would be a good start.

[@rup3rt75]

@@thesquashbagel thanks watched your string review as well

[@andrewbeling1071]

Fantastic review as always. Really helps squash players out there to be able to choose a quality squash racket. Thanks Nana

[@thesquashbagel]

Anytime Andrew. You’ve also helped so much with input 🙌

[@PranavKuchimanchi]

Firstly, thank you so much for providing a comprehensive review. I recently got into squash and started with a beginner Head racquet to improve my technique and skills but I want to upgrade to an advanced one now that I’ve gotten much better at the sport. Your review helped quite a bit. I’m narrowing it down to the Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation Pro Lite and TF Carboflex X-Top 130. Which one would you suggest? Both these racquets are available to purchase in my country and I want to get my hands on one of them asap as I’m attending a tournament in a couple of months. I would also like your suggestion regarding the TF Carboflex 125 NS TOP. Your suggestion is greatly welcomed. Thank you sir!

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey @PranavKuchimanchi I appreciate the kind words. Where are you based? All 3 are amazing rackets, so you can't go wrong with either one. It will come down to a matter of preference as each racket shines in its own right. If you're still a beginner transitioning to intermediate and without knowing anything more than that, I would say X-Top 130 if you can afford one. The 125NS X Top and the Revelation Pro Lite would probably be better suited for players who have progressed or are progressing past the intermediate stage. Either one of those would be remarkable but I personally enjoyed the Revelation Pro light out of all of these.

[@PranavKuchimanchi]

Thank you for your swift response sir. I’m based out of Hyderabad, India. The scene surrounding squash is still quite grim but the sport is gaining momentum in the country. I would say I’m slowly growing past the intermediate level. Nowhere near advanced but no longer at the beginner-intermediate level either. From your suggestion and review, I gather that lighter racquets offer better support in terms of shot selection and manoeuvrability. I’m personally loving the look and thinner grip on the 125NS X-TOP, but after seeing a couple more reviews, the Dunlop Pro Lite looks more sturdy. I will pick one and hopefully get the other one for my partner who’s also showing interest in squash. Either way, I’d love to try them both. I also loved your review on the strings. Brilliant stuff! Thank you.

[@thesquashbagel]

@@PranavKuchimanchi I'm happy that the sport is growing. Saurav Ghosal and Abhay Singh are doing some great stuff for the sport as well. The NS is a beautiful looking racket and is definitely more head heavy. The Pro Lite also has the narrow hand but it's head light, so you'll be able to have the best of both worlds if you buy one for your partner. All the best.

[@bernardleeis]

Would you be able to do a review of the head heavy Ali Farag racket please?

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey Bernard Unfortunately not. I don't believe anyone in my town uses one of these and I do not get rackets other than the ones that I personally play with.

[@bernardleeis]

@@thesquashbagel no worries, he’s having plenty of success with it!

[@thesquashbagel]

@@bernardleeis If I do manage to bump into someone with it, I'll definitely give it a quick review. The only downside would be that it can't be as in depth because I feel that you need at least 2/3 weeks with a racket to appreciate its positive and negative points.

[@ivohage]

The Sonic Core Revelation Pro regular is a bit heavier, like the X-Top 130. Will give you a BIT more power but keep the control probably. Have you tried that?

[@thesquashbagel]

I did try it last year but at the time, didn't enjoy the feeling of it...was very different but I should try them out again.

[@ivohage]

@@thesquashbagel it’s more head heavy. Maybe that is what you don’t like too much?

[@thesquashbagel]

@@ivohage That's correct. At the time I was using the Pro Lite, my friend used the Pro. I loved the look of the Pro but couldn't get the hand of how to play volleys when it's so head heavy...and I didn't have the time to adapt and work on a new swing technique with the tournaments I had coming up. Now I am fairly comfortable with making changes/switching rackets quite quickly so I should give it another go. Is this the racket that you play with?

[@bernardleeis]

Hi there, have you played with the new version of the Dunlop revelation pro lite? Is the update mainly cosmetic?

[@thesquashbagel]

Hey there. I have hit with it for possibly a total of 2 minutes. I personally think it's simply cosmetic.

[@bernardleeis]

@@thesquashbagel thanks! I’ve bought the new version and really like it vs the carboflex, I think it gives much more control. It almost plays like a hybrid racket

[@thesquashbagel]

@@bernardleeis Yes, it plays in a similar manner to the Evolution 120, just has a bit more weight to it. Need to do a review on my Evolution 120, just been super busy. Dunlops have a much softer feel which make you feel like you have touch again.

[@bernardleeis]

@@thesquashbagel yes they definitely have a softer feel, the new carboflexes with the x-arms are much stiffer, I do think that helps with power but may mean less touch and feel. On balance, I think the revelation pro lite is probably my favourite of them all. Tecnifibre generally quite a bit more expensive too

[@thesquashbagel]

@@bernardleeis Yeah definitely less touch and feel. I find myself enjoying time on court a lot more with the Dunlops. Yeah TF will price themselves out of the SA market at this rate. I have it on good authority that Dunlop come out with a new range of rackets by the end of September, so don't buy too may just yet 🤣

[@davidlazarovich]

Is Dunlop SonicCore Revelation 125 of any interest to you/have you tried it? I’ve being eyeing it for a while I just haven’t had a chance to play with one. It seems like it’s suited well for attacking players given it’s supposedly more headlight than the Pro Lite.

[@thesquashbagel]

Funny that you say that. I actually just switched from the 130 X-Top to the Revelation 125. I got it this weekend.😀

[@thesquashbagel]

I only started to enjoy it after I changed to the Karakal Super PU Grip. I felt that the factory tension was quite high but got more out of my shots when I changed the grip. Will play with these Dunlop Pro AF's till they snap and then move on the the TF 305 1.10mm. After 2 days of playing with it. Pros: 1. Really maneuverable 2. Great for those last minute flicks crosscourt/lob. 3. Moves through the air rather quickly (compared to the X-Top 130) Cons: 1. You need to follow though well...head heavy rackets normally do that work for you. Will probably add more once I have played a tournament with it in 2 weeks time.

[@davidlazarovich]

@@thesquashbagel Wow what a coincidence. Can't wait to here more of your thoughts about it. I'm currently using the Dunlop Apex Infinity 4.0 (with Karakal Super Grip) so I'm used to having to follow through (although I struggle to do it consistently). I would like to try the Revelation 125 because my hope is: 1. Going from a fan string pattern to a traditional string pattern gives me more control 2. 10 grams overall increase might make my swing more stable 3. More maneuverable than the Infinity since it's "Extra Head Light" (Infinity is "Head Light", but I measured the balance point to be 35cm so I guess it's actually more Even balanced, and it feels that way too when I use it) On a side note, I just received the Karakal Crystal 120 to try out and, interestingly, even though the frame is 5 grams heavier than the Infinity, the total weight is 9 grams less (152grams vs 161grams). Balance points is roughly the same according to me measurement. Will share my thoughts after hitting a couple shots with it tonight.

[@thesquashbagel]

@@davidlazarovich I have never tried the infinity but I do believe that Dunlop has a Revelation 135 which is similar ...just 20g heavier. I see that you like the lighter rackets 😄, not many Karakals floating around this side so I can't comment...but I would love to hear your feedback on it.

[@davidlazarovich]

@@thesquashbagel So I just wrote up a my thoughts and then my browser crashed. So I'm adopting some of your breakdown style because I don't want to write it my way all over again 😅 Compared to the Infinity... Even balanced? Yes Pros: 1. More control on drops shots 2. More stable full swing Cons: 1. Less power (shorter length strings, traditional pattern, very high tension) 2. Difficulty finding the sweet spot 3. I noticed vibrations more Conclusions: This would greatly benefit from a re-string at lower tension (and I don't think you'd lose any more control after doing it). This is my first time with traditional string pattern, so my struggle with finding the sweet spot would probably resolve after playing with it some more. What I don't like is the Even balance. Having only played with Head Light, I lost some of my maneuverability that I very much rely on (flicks were harder and I had to stand further back when doing volley drills). If you're used to Even balance, it's a great club/intermediate racket AFTER a restring. One big caveat: I was not able to benefit from the Super Grip because if I wanted to return it, I had to keep the plastic film covering it which made it very slippery. This probably had some effect on my opinion regarding maneuverability.

[@harrisonnott732]

Need more squash videos like this! 😁

[@thesquashbagel]

Thanks Harrison 🙏🏾

[@sikandarsoin5809]

What are your thoughts on head rackets?

[@thesquashbagel]

Nothing wrong with Head rackets at all. They offer a wide range of rackets for different players so there should be a good racket in their line which will meet your needs.

[@sikandarsoin5809]

@@thesquashbagel Thanks. Have you used the Head Speed 120SB at all? How would you compare it with the other 120/125's in this video? It's not easy for me to get trials with different rackets, so i'm eager to do as much research as i can before hand.

[@thesquashbagel]

@@sikandarsoin5809 Unfortunately I have not used any of the SB versions of Head at all but have heard good things about them. I am not in contact with any reps to try out demos, so I can only get my hands on rackets that I will be using for personal reasons. The best review that could help you on this would be: squashgearreviews.com/head-graphene-360-speed-120-slimbody/ Hope that helps.

[@carlosrochakapus2504]

Prince ???

[@thesquashbagel]

I am not particularly a fan unfortunately.

[@carlosrochakapus2504]

@@thesquashbagel I am a 59-year-old player, who wants to resume the activity, what racket do you advise me, advanced player and former Rugby player, for 18 years. Thank you

[@carlosrochakapus2504]

@@thesquashbagel I am a 59-year-old player, who wants to resume the activity, what racket do you advise me, advanced player and former Rugby player, for 18 years. Thank you

[@thesquashbagel]

@@carlosrochakapus2504 there's quite a lot that goes into selecting a racket, so I would suggest that you get your hands on a few first to try them out. The safest best for you would be try a Tecnifibre Teardrop shaped racket. Start with the 130g or 135g versions and see if you like them. If not, I would suggest trying the Dunlop Sonic Core Revelation 135g. If either of those are too heavy, you can try the lighter versions of each. I would still suggest trying either club member's rackets or asking the shop for a demo to try out for a few minutes. I hope that helps.

[@carlosrochakapus2504]

@@thesquashbagel Thank you very much, in 1 week I will travel to MIAMI and buy there, because in Argentina, the market is very limited because the import is very restrictive. Thanks a lot