You've thought about booking a squash lesson. You've pictured walking onto a court for the first time. But you haven't actually done it.
You know why.
You don't know what you'd wear. You don't know what happens when you walk in. You don't know if you'll be any good.
So you haven't booked.
Here is what actually happens. Step by step. So the next time you picture it, you already know.
Before you arrive: what to wear, what to bring
You don't need much. That's the first thing.
Trainers — any pair you can move in, as long as the soles are non-marking (most modern trainers are fine). Clothes you'd wear to the gym. A water bottle.
You don't need a racket for your first session. Your coach will bring one. The ball too. Most people don't own either when they start, and there's no point buying anything until you know you like the sport.
One note on eye protection. Junior players (ages 5–17) must wear eye guards on court — that's a safety rule across the sport. For adults, eye guards are optional. Your coach will sort the right pair if you need them.
That's the kit list. There isn't a longer one.
The first five minutes: meeting your coach
The first thing the coach will ask you is your name. The second is how you're feeling.
Every coach on Courter is vetted, qualified and used to first-timers. You can say “I have never picked up a racket in my life” and they will smile, because that's exactly what they want to hear. It means they get to start at the beginning. It means there's nothing to unlearn.
You'll do a brief warm-up — a few minutes of moving around, getting your body ready. Just at your pace.
What to expect on court
You will miss the first ball.
Probably the second too. The third one will go up into the lights. The fourth will land somewhere on the front wall and you will, briefly, feel like a genius.
That's how it goes. The coach feeds gentle shots; you swing and miss; you swing and connect; you swing and miss again. Nobody minds. Everybody — including the coach when they started — went through exactly this.
The middle: getting the hang of it
A good coach makes the drills fit you, not the other way round. If you're nervous, they slow it down. If you're keen, they push a little. They watch how you move and adjust the next thing they ask you to do. You don't have to keep up with anyone. There is no one to keep up with.
By around the half-hour mark, you'll be hitting more than you're missing. It will feel like a small miracle.
The end: the game
Towards the end of the session, the coach will turn the lesson into something that looks suspiciously like a game.
They might count points if you hit a certain target. They might play a few rallies where you only have to do one thing. It feels like playing rather than learning, which is the whole point.
You leave knowing you can hit a squash ball. That's more than most people in your life can say.
What it costs and what's included
Individual squash coaching sessions on Courter start from £26, court included. No membership. No equipment to buy upfront. No “joining fee” or hidden extras.
The exact price depends on the coach and the venue. You'll see the full price before you book. There's nothing added afterwards.
See what coaches charge near you →
Common worries (and why none of them matter)
Four worries stop most people booking. Four worries that don't survive the first lesson.
“I'm not fit enough.” You set the pace. The coach works to your level, not the other way round. By the end you'll have moved more than you expected — and you'll have enjoyed it more than you expected too.
“I won't be any good.” That's the entire point of a first lesson. Nobody is watching to judge you. The coach is watching to teach you.
“The coach will think I'm wasting their time.” They won't. First lessons with complete beginners are the kind most coaches actively want — it's why they offer them. You're not interrupting their day. You are their day.
“Squash is intimidating.” Old-school squash culture, maybe. Not this. Not with a coach who understands where you are coming from and what you are looking to achieve.
That's the only kind of coach Courter lists.
Ready when you are
The booking takes about three minutes. The lesson is between 40 to 80 mins. The bit between deciding and doing — that's the only hard part.