Xamsa squash rackets are a brand that launched in 2014. Founded by two squash players based in Canada, their their stated aims are to offer advanced products at intermediate prices, and to support grassroots squash movements.
The frames are:
Obsidian | Onyx | PXT Incognito | PXT 115 | PXT 110 | Crucible | Crucible Incognito | PNT 110 | PNT 115 | FBO 110
They also have a $65 introductory frame called the Xamsa Duro 120. Right now the frames are offered for sale in the US and Canada, though they plan to offer their rackets around the world eventually.
The guys at Xamsa have been kind over the years to provide me with all of their frames to try out. You can click through to check out my review of all the models below.
Xamsa Obsidian
Xamsa Onyx
Xamsa PXT Incognito
Xamsa PXT 115
Xamsa PXT 110
Xamsa PNT 110
Xamsa PNT 115
Xamsa FBO 110
Xamsa Duro 120
Mark says
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I have been thinking of picking up one of the incognito models. I think I have it narrowed down the crucible or the pxt. Would anyone have any advice on this choice and what I would expect from each of these racquets?
Pierre says
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Both good rackets & good price points. I think I have a slight preference for the slightly bigger head size of the Crucible Incognito but that might be because I tried it most recently. You can’t really go wrong.
Tor says
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Obsidian (bridged) and Onyx (teardrop) just out.
Jay says
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I came up with the Onyx name 🙂
Have been using the prototype for the last 1.5 months and love it so far. Lots of power with good control, stiff feeling shaft, and has been durable after some contact with the walls. It’s my favourite of the 3 Xamsa’s I’ve tried so far (PXT-110, PXT-115). I just got a used Crucible in mint condition and will be testing that for the next little while…
Tor says
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Cool. I think you must have gotten a free speciment? 😁 Have just ordered the Obsidian. Can’t wait for delivery.
Jay says
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Yes, won it as part of the “Name the racquet” contest. The strings broke on it last night though 🙁
Pierre says
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Thanks Tor, reviews coming soon!
Jason Lieblang says
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I’ve played with the PXT 110 off and on for the last 2 years (I hit with a Carboflex 130s as well). The Xamsa is impressive, and not only at the price point. The factory strings are good but the racket plays better with upgraded strings. I like it strung down a bit, too, for extra pop – 23 pounds works for me. Most surprising is the accuracy and touch it delivers. Its low weight makes it feel like an extension of your hand. And you can play super wristy squash with it, for deception and drives with little back swing. No durability issues either, so far.
Jay says
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I’ve played with both the PXT-110 and PXT-115, and both are great racquets especially at the price point. Both are very maneuverable and powerful, and the factory Xamsa strings are decent. I found that I had to adjust my timing with the PXT-110 at the beginning since it feels so light. Unfortunately it cracked around the 1 o’clock point after about 5-6 months of play. The PXT-115 is my current go-to racquet after playing with it for 2 months. It feels more solid than the 110 and I like the matte black finish. I would imagine it plays similar to the Carboflex 125S (never tried it) at half the cost.
JPRAM says
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Pierre –
Did you ever get a sense of the balance-point for the PNT-110/CNT-135 in terms of mm? Curious how it compares to the PXT-110, which I have and love, but which I was thinking of supplementing with the PNT-110.
thanks!
Pierre says
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Hi – off the top of my head I thought the PNT-110 would be head-heavier but I didn’t know the exact balance point (I don’t have it handy to measure it) so I asked Tim from Xamsa and he told me the PNT is on average 10mm head-heavier
Jan says
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Very much looking forward to my PXT-115 snake skin version to arrive from Canada.
Thanks a lot for your review, Pierre
Pierre says
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I hope you like it, let us know how it goes for you!
Steve Bachiu says
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Just got the PXT-110. It really surprised me with the combination of power and very “maneuverable” head. I actually had to adjust my swing throughout the session because I was getting it around that much faster than with the CNT-135. I still don’t like the factory grips at all, but I’m trying out the new Xamsa replacement grip, and so far it stands up to the Karakal grips.
Ted says
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Steve;
Did you get the PXT-110 with the factory strings or did you up-grade/change the strings? Also would be interested in the string tension.
Cheers
Ted
Steve Bachiu says
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Hey Ted
I just got them with the factory strings. I find the Xamsa black to be pretty decent, but they feel tighter than 30 lbs.
I will get the string upgraded to the Xamsa green, and probably lower the tension to 25-28 lbs.
Ted says
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Pierre;
Just recently purchased the Xamsa PXT-110 racquet and must say i am VERY impressed with it.
The racquet balance and weight plays way lighter than the racquet stated weight and I find the handle far more comfortable to hold then my Harrow VIBE-JP edition racquet.
Value for cost, this receives a 10 out of 10 in my books.
What I would (will) change through is the strings, I just got the factory strings, but I think I will eventually change them to the same strings as on my Harrow Vibe. I did feel I lacked a bit of power with the PXT-110 vs the Vibe, but felt the touch was good overall and service swing power felt the same. The sweet spot of the PXT-110 felt nicer than the Vibe.
Overall though, I am very impressed with the XAMSA products. We also purchased their squash bag for my son, and it is an excellent value for money bag. Holds a couple racquets nicely and all the gear an average squash player needs for playing at the local squash club.
Lloyd says
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Hi,
New member here, really like the site! I was wondering, in the video you said the handle was smaller, do you know of any other rackets with a smaller handle?
Thanks
Lawrence says
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Hi Lloyd
In my experience, the Prince and Eye rackets have small handles too, compared to Head, Dunlop and Tecnifibre. Hope this helps.
Happy squashing!
Theo says
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I have a Dunlop Hot Melt Pro, and the handle is slightly shorter than average as well.
lloyd says
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As in the new one or the vintage one?
Cheers
nick says
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I had a chance to try the CNT135 and CNT140 today. I immediately preferred the slightly heavier CNT140. I think its because its strung weight (~160g) is same as the strung weight of the rackets I currently own (prince airstick 130 and dunlop tour-cx). I played and won a full match with it and thoroughly enjoyed using the racket. I think the whole xamsa venture is very cool and this racket felt great. I highly recommend considering this racket if you are looking for a closed throat racket. Some people I’ve talked to about these rackets think that because they’re inexpensive that they’re not good but that is simply not true.
Steve Bachiu says
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I’ve been using the VBO for about 2 seasons now. I have yet to break a frame. It has a lot of power, and I’m very satisfied with the control I’ve developed with it. I’ve noticed that the frame grips the strings pretty strongly, and the strings get very notched, and break in almost the exact same place. That happens with the black string, as well as the green string.
The green string seems to have a little more power, and plays with very satisfying touch. I haven’t noticed any decrease in quality from the Tecnifibre line of strings.
nick says
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anyone have opinion on xamsa strings? they sell 2 different ones and they are pretty low cost. they are multifilament and intended to compete with 305 I think
Pierre Bastien says
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I demoed the Xamsa squash rackets a while back. I think they come factory-strung with the black 1.2mm Xamsa Senze. I thought they were perfectly fine — which honestly is about how I feel about the Tecnifibre 305+. I haven’t tried the Xamsa green strings,
Tor says
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There is a few biased bs comments about these strings not holding up, or beeing «factory strings» or the classic «generic» term. Fact is that the strings Xamsa put in their rackets are high end made by one of the biggest string distributors out there. I hope you´ll receive a batch of eXposed incognito´s from Tim to review in the near future so you´ll get the possibility to point exactly that out.
Pierre Bastien says
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From Ashok by email:
Perry says
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I reviewed the Xamsa VBO against the Carboflex 125 and Revelation 135. Long story short, I liked the VBO the best of the three. Thanks for your website, it part of what turned me on to the Xamsa.
http://www.reddit.com/r/squash/comments/2u93he/my_review_of_technifibre_carboflex_125_xamsa/
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks Perry!