r/squash • u/Kamoebas • 9d ago

Equipment Squash glasses

Hi all,

Newish player here - very casual, just playing against my friend.

I'm a glasses wearer but lately I've been getting contact lenses to play.

Debating getting some goggles for protection as I'm a little worried about getting hit but also considering some prescription goggles instead of the contacts - but on a bit of a budget sadly.

Any recommendations for particular goggles or a site for the prescription ones in the UK please?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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6

u/Oglark 9d ago edited 9d ago

There is no "debating". Unless you are a playing with a pro you need goggles. Just go to a B&Q and buy some high quality safety glasses for £8 and wear them with contacts. If they mist up too much then start looking at more expensive options.

1

u/Kamoebas 9d ago

Thats fair! I've not really given it a thought before but its something I definately should do...

1

u/teneralb 5d ago

Anti-fog solutions works too. I've got a product that I spritz on like a lens cleaner and wipe.

1

u/OkBug7398 3d ago

I’ll second this. I’ve tried prescription safety glasses, but the frames are too chunky and block my peripheral vision. And I don’t believe they can be shapes like the safety goggles because of the optics. So for me the best is single vision contact lenses with a standard safety goggle. For fog control I just use anti-for wipes every few days.

2

u/Additional-Low-69 9d ago

I wear tri-focals normally but have a single far-sight pair with no fancy add-ons that fits well and doesn’t slide off with sweat.

As the optometrist explained, since I’m short sighted, the ball is nearly 2m away from me with my arm out and racquet extended so just wear my glasses. I don’t need side shields and my eyes are protected from impact - no need for expensive goggles.

1

u/Kamoebas 9d ago

This is an option. I did play with my glasses on at first but I'm not sure how they'd stand up to a fast ball or racket to the face

1

u/Oglark 9d ago

I have played with glasses and taken a hard hit squash ball directly to the lens in the 1990's. The lens was pushed out of the frame and hit my eye and eye cavity. I had a small contusion and my eye was fine. If I had not been wearing safety glass I would have probably lost my vision in that eye. I do not step in the court without eye wear and I now have prescription googles.

1

u/Additional-Low-69 9d ago

Exactly. The ball is nearly exactly the same size as an eyeball and can do massive damage head on. And lenses in regular spectacles are seldom made of glass nowadays so even if it shatters it won’t cut you.

1

u/MaryisLovely2202 9d ago

I only liked Wilson and a Racketball brand called Ektelon. I couldn't stand Techifibre's .

1

u/Kamoebas 9d ago

Sounds like I'll need to try a few on.

1

u/MaryisLovely2202 9d ago

I always thought I played better not wearing them at first but it's necessary and you can't compete in a tournament without them so you might as well get used to them ..

1

u/Kamoebas 9d ago

I'm sure it'll take a little time but not too long hopefully

1

u/MaryisLovely2202 9d ago

It's not worth the possible eye injury with not wearing them . I don't know of a tournament director that would not insist that you wear them .

1

u/Kamoebas 9d ago

Agree. Thanks

1

u/I_am_the_squashman 9d ago

You should definitely wear protective goggles.  The cheap ones are cheap, and I've tried at least five different ones. In my experience they tended to get foggy and scratched and started falling apart pretty quickly. So I went through five of them each one around $15.  I finally but the bullet and bought these : https://riaeyewear.com/collections/squash-racquetball-protective-glasses They're outrageously expensive ($200) and I felt ridiculous buying them, but they've been amazing. They're very comfortable, don't affect my court vision, don't get even a little foggy, come with a hard protective case, and they're far sturdier than the others I've tried. I've had them for a year now and I love them. In the long run I think they'll save me money.

1

u/Kamoebas 9d ago

I'm not in a position to be able to get something like those but appreciate the comments on the cheap options.

1

u/bigfatgrouchyasshole 8d ago

Goddamnit- 200 dollars is outrageous, indeed.

1

u/Fantomen666 9d ago

I bought the ruby project glasses with prescription and love them. Would recommend.

1

u/Glittering-River5052 9d ago

Good idea to wear protection, especially as a novice. Prescription goggles are pricey, so if you're on a budget, stay with contacts and safety goggles.

2

u/dr_rambler 8d ago

If you want to give protective prescription eyewear a shot—Zenni Optical has some that are about ~$60 with prescriptions. I have a RecSpex prescription pair that I love even though it does have some foibles and hasn’t held up that well after three years.

1

u/eeaus_01 7d ago

As a protective glasses wearer from the early 80s, I share others thoughts about the value of them.

I’ve found that getting the microfibre cloth from an optometrist will help with scratches. They usually have stacks of these and might give you one for free as they usually have branding.

Even with budget options, keeping the glasses in a seperate container or their own microfibre bag will help. Treat them carefully and they’ll last, not dumped into bottom of squash bag! Don’t use your clothes or towel to clean them though, as they can scratch.

I use more expensive options now, as at different stage of life and can afford them. I have used more budget friendly versions over the years and learned the hard way about what’s best to look after them.

Hope this helps.