The location of my first ever foray into the world of squash was the Barnes Squash Club (http://www.barnessquashclub.org/). I believe that at least one person has to be a member to play there - fortunately, I had Emma! We had the court booked for 40mins, which is £4 according to their website.
The club was being refurbished at the time, so only one court was available. Unfortunately, the token-taking, light-permitting box stole our token (even some enthusiastic "taps" on the side didn't seem to help) so we had to play in the semi-lightness provided by the strip lights outside. Luckily there was still plenty of light to be able to see, and I like to think that the shadows concealed both the bizarre look of concentration my face often develops when thinking too hard, and the sweaty exhaustion that developed throughout the game.
One thing I will definitely recommend is Emma as a coach. After explaining the rules and letting me get to grips with the feel of the racquet and ball, we moved onto some (non-competitive) point playing and tactic-talking. I don't claim to be efficient at squash, but I will say that at the end of our session, I felt quite ready to play again sometime. A background training in tennis was a definite help, although apparently I need to practice swinging the racquet more as, "it's all in the wrist...!"
This is for you if...
If you're looking for a bit of a cardio work-out after a stressful day, then squash is the way forward. It is excellent for thrashing out a bit of pent-up rage or annoyance on a tiny rubber ball that just keeps coming back for more. It's also tiring!
Recommendations
If playing for the first time, go with someone who can coach you and won't just want to beat you. That can come second time. Also, prepare for aching shoulders and inner thighs for the next (several!) days.
