- What is it? You need new strings for your racquet? You may try any sport shop you like that restrings tennis racquets, since the same machine is used for stringing squash racquets. In my experience these stores are not too enthusiastic nor always have the expertise for squash racquets. The MSU Indoor Tennis Facility on the South-West side of Campus on Mount Hope is cheap and reasonably quick. You can also take your racquet to the MAC (Michigan Athletic Club, East of Campus, behind USA Cafe). - You need a new racquet or squash balls? There is not much to pick from locally. Dick's sporting goods at the Meridian Mall has a few racquets, but little choice. The MAC (Michigan Athletic Club, East of Campus, behind USA Cafe) has a small store and sells some racquets (mostly Prince I believe). However the best deal is to web or mail order your racquet, assuming you have an idea of what you want. I can recommend two places I have dealt with for having reasonable prices and good service: SquashGear.com, and NRCSports.com. Ebay has been good to me too. Let me know your favorite places, and I will add them to the Links area of these Web pages. You may be asked to choose the tension for your strings. If you don't already have a preference, ask for the recommended range for the racquet and pick the midpoint. Next time you get your racquet restrung, you may want to try a different tension, changing by two pounds at a time. Looser strings means the ball will stay in your racquet a little longer and give you more power. Tighter strings means they will not deform as much and give you better control. Squash balls is the same deal. Local shops will sell them by the piece. Unless you know about a particular brand of balls, I suggest you stick to yellow dot Dunlop XX. Web order places will also sell them by the box (12 balls), about $25-30/box+shipping last time I ordered a box. I typically have some in advance, let me know. - You need protective glasses? Same thing as for finding racquets: the MAC, web order, or other sports shop in town since most racketball glasses are apropriate for squash. Target or other big stores may also carry them. - Do you really *need* to wear protective glasses on the squash court? What are your chances of getting hit, what fraction of injuries are serious, are glasses going to restrict your vision, are beginners more prone to accidents (because they can't control the ball too well), or are experienced players more prone (because they hit harder and watch their oponent play the shots)? Do all these questions really matter? Accidents *do* happen, so I *always* wear my glasses, even during practice. If wear my glasses but never get hit: wonderful! If I do not wear my glasses, get hit, and loose all or part of my vision in one or both eyes: how will I feel knowing that I could have prevented a simple accident from turning into a tragedy? how will my partner feel? Bones and noses heal. You can limp and live a normal life, but eyeballs do not recover well from serious injury. I know that my life would be greatly degraded if I could no longer read, drive, play squash... It is just not worth the risk. Something else to know is that protective goggles are required for all official tournements and in some clubs. I think they are only recommended at MSU, but required at the MAC. You can check out some goggles at the desk of the IM East and West, but I recommend you buy your own and keep them well protected so that they don't get scratched up. - Any other question, or contribution? Philippe. 24-Sep-2008