Racquetball is a game for all ages and all skill levels. Whether you are just beginning or have been playing for a long time, there are places to play and tournaments to compete in. Most tournaments consist of a professional division and then various amateur divisions, ranging from skill level A to D. There are also age divisions for amateurs like under 24 or 40 to 50. Racquetball is a sport with little costs. Besides for a racquet, balls, and safety goggles, you do not need much- just a wall. There are outdoor courts and indoor courts. Outdoor courts only have a front wall, whereas indoor courts are surrounded by walls. Racquetball does not require strict technique. It is similar to tennis, but it’s much more of a reactive swing. There is not a specific stroke that is necessary in racquetball. The goal is to place the ball in spots that make it tough for the other player to return, like the corners of the court, or to hit the ball low enough on the front wall that it bounces twice before the other player can hit it. It does not matter how a player hits it there. Certain techniques have proven effective but not necessary. A perfect shot is called a rollout, where the ball is hit so low to the ground off the front wall that it literally rolls out away from the wall. The rules are simple. A player must hit the ball into the front wall first without letting the ball bounce twice before hitting it. The players switch off hitting it until the point is won. Winners of the previous point serve, and points can only be scored while serving. Typical games are played to 15, win by two. Racquetball is a simple game where players often improve rapidly.
To improve at racquetball, a player needs to learn many different shots and serves because every player is different and plays with a slightly different style. In order to win points in racquetball, players need to either hit it to where the other player is not or make the other player make a mistake. This can be done by hitting it to that player’s weakness. Many beginning players are worse at their backhand than forehand, and as a result, players should hit it to their opponent’s backhand as often as possible. As player’s get more advanced, their backhands are not as vulnerable and can even become a strength. Instead, shots that get stuck against the wall and shots that die in the corners become their weaknesses. Some player’s are bad at balls that bounce above their heads, and as a result, ceiling shots would be helpful in hitting it to their weakness. Similarly, certain serves work better against some players and not as well against others. Either way, its best to learn as many different shots and serves as possible to be able to constantly switch it up and keep the other player guessing. Any hesitation by the opponent can result in a mishit or a poorly placed shot. It’s also helpful to have other options if certain shots are not working against an opponent. Some good examples of varying serves are a low, hard hit serve that will bounce twice before reaching the back wall, a soft serve that hugs the side wall or dies in the corner, and a shot that hits the front wall then the side wall and bounces around unpredictably near the opposite corner.