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Growing The Sport Of Racquetball!
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How to Play Racquetball
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If you have never played racquetball, you are about to begin the most exciting sport you have ever seen.
After 15 minutes on the treadmill, if you are like me, you begin to notice the pain and start watching the clock..
You are thinking "how much longer do I have to do this".. In racquetball, you watch the clock, but it is with the exact opposite motivation!
In racquetball, you think "how much longer do I have the court reserved for because I could do this ALL DAY!".
So, the main reason to play racquetball is because it is unbelieveably fun!
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You should play racquetball because it is extremely good exercise.
According to NutriStrategy,
playing racquetball for one hour is the equivalent of jogging/running 6 miles (in an hour).
That is a pretty good workout to be so much fun!
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You should play racquetball because it is a life-time sport.
There are age divisions in the tournaments, and players often play into their 70's! or more!
You only need 2 people, not a whole bunch of people to play. This makes it simple to get a match any time!
No external organization is necessary as in most sport leagues, but a challenge ladder definitely helps! :)
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You should play racquetball because you will soon have many new friends!
You will be spending a lot of time, often under pressure with your opponent, and there is something about that which encourages friendship, "most of the time"... :)
You will not only gain local friends, but if you play tournaments you will make lasting friendships with players around your state, surrounding states, and across the country.
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If you are into "Extreme", you should play racquetball! It doesn't have to be that way, but it is more fun when it is!
To see what I mean by extreme, check out these pros in action and you'll know.
Most people don't play close to that level, but are soon passionate about the sport and play to their own level of extreme.
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You should play racquetball because it is relatively inexpensive.
There are many free places to play, but often it does require a club membership somewhere.
Clubs often have equipment that can be checked out.
Purchasing equipment isn't too expensive, especially at the introductory level.
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The information below and tabs above give you the "basics" of how to get started playing racquetball.
It should give you enough information to have a "friendly" game of racquetball.
For more detailed information, the complete rules of racquetball can be found here: Official Rules of Racquetball
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Racquetball Vocabulary You Need to Know:
Handout - in doubles, where one team member loses serve and it is the other team member's turn to serve.
Sideout - in all types of games where the player and/or team loses serve.
- Singles - 2 players
- Doubles - 4 players - played identically to singles with both team members getting an opportunity to serve before a sideout occurs.
The first team serving, however, gets a sideout after only one team member serves. After that, both players for both teams always get to serve.
- Cut-Throat
- 3 players
- This game rotates players with one player serving at a time.
The two non-serving players are temporarily teamed up against the server.
When a sideout (serve is lost) occurs, the next player gets their turn with the player who lost serve moving into the vacated position in the back of the court.
The 3 players do not rotate in a circular fashion as that results in you always having the same opponents in the same positions behind you.
So, the server simply changes places with the player whose turn it is next to serve.
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The object of the game is to get to 15 points (winning by one) first.
Only the server can earn points.
Points are earned when you hit the ball so that it strikes the front wall and bounces on the floor twice before your opponent can get it.
Points are also earned when your opponent hits the ball, but it strikes the floor before reaching the front wall.
A Racquetball Match is 2 games to 15 and a tie-breaker to 11 if necessary.
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- In Pro and Open divisions, the server has one chance to put the ball in play.
- For all other divisions, the server gets 2 chances to serve unless there is a "Out Serve".
An "Out Serve" (loss of serve) happens when any of the following occur:
the ball strikes the server on it's return
when the server allows the ball to bounce twice or more
when the server completely misses the ball
when the server hits the ball with the handle of the racquet, double hits the ball, or carries the ball.
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You are on your toes facing the front wall with your racquet in the center of, and perpendicular to your body.
You are watching your opponent's movements and anticipating where they intend to go.
If you are preparing to return serve, the proper position is about 4-5 feet off the back wall in the center of the court.
If the ball is in play, the ideal position is 2 and 1/2 feet behind the safety (dotted) line, in the center of the court.
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Why: "On your toes" for maximum takeoff speed.
"Racquet in center of body" for quickest move to forehand or backhand.
"Watching Opponent" for any clues on direction of the ball.
If opponent is serving watch where they drop the ball.
If in the middle of a volley, you can usually tell if your opponent is winding up for a kill/pass or leaning back for a ceiling shot.
Never make the mistake of just facing the front wall, and not knowing what your opponent is up to or where they are.
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You can tell if it is coming to your backhand or forehand as soon as your opponent hits the ball (if not before).
Move toward the anticipated hitting zone while positioning your racquet to the forehand/backhand side.
Use your opposite hand to rotate the racquet for forehand/backhand if necessary.
You'll want your hands close together for the next step anyway.
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Why: Everything you can do to get ready before the ball gets into your hitting zone will give you a more accurate and more powerful shot.
It will also give you more time to adjust for any strange bounces.
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You are in position facing the side wall as the ball approaches your hitting zone.
Lift the racquet with both hands together, and cock your wrist.
Imagine swinging a baseball bat, but with hands "close" rather than both on the grip itself.
Do not wait until the ball is upon you to get your racquet into position.
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Why:
"Facing the Side Wall" and "Hands Together" helps you to swing from your "core" rather than just an arm swing.
This results in more power, better accuracy, and less shoulder injuries.
"Hands Together" makes sure that you are rotating your shoulders for a complete swing and also your opposite arm will help provide momentum (power!).
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Leading with your elbow, swing level, and mercilessly pass or hit a demoralizing roll out!
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Why:
"Leading with your elbow" provides an automatic wrist snap.
Also, you can get more velocity on the racquet since the tip is a little closer to your body. Imagine ice-skators. When they are spinning, they pull their arms in for faster rotation, and extend their arms to slow down.
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- Maintain center court position for yourself - 2.5 feet behind dotted line, in the center of the court
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Move your opponent out of center court position with passing shots, ceiling shots, and kill shots.
No shots should return off the front wall and back into the center of the court.
The passing shot is the highest percentage shot to take.
It would be hit very hard, striking the front wall about 1 foot high.
It will return, "passing" your opponent as far away from your opponent as possible (as close to the side wall as possible).
It should bounce twice before hitting the back wall.
The closer you are to the front wall, the higher your chances of making a kill shot are. So, keep that in mind too.
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If you are not able to hit an offensive shot, ceiling shots which return the ball to the back corners are effective as well.
Whatever you do, don't just return the ball several feet high on the front wall, nor to the center of the court.
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- Take full advantage of server's weaknesses - The fastest "passing shot" is down the line, not cross court.
If the server is beginning their serve to either side of "center court", their momentum when moving back into the ready position will put them at a disadvantage on getting your returns down the side they are moving away from.
The server will more easily get to a ball on their forhand side rather than their backhand side.
So, ideally, you play a left handed player who served from the right side of the court.
Perhaps a z-serve to the right back corner of the court.
They should not be allowed to "camp out" in the position they served from as that would be an avoidable hinder.
They have to be moving away from the right side. Your passing shot down the right side is the fastest shot, on their backhand side, and away from their momentum.
That should make for a winning shot for you.
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