One sport which has recently taken the campus of the University of Florida at Gainesville by storm is racquetball. This fast-moving ” lifetime sport” is rapidly becoming one of the most popular leisure time and condition ing activities . Men , women and children are participating in singles, doubles, cutthroat and mixed doubles play . Clinics, leagues, tournaments and even classes carrying physical education credit are being offered in an effort to respond to the demands of the students , faculty and staff who have requested more opportunities to learn to participate and compete in this “overnight success game ” of racquetball. Research has also recently been conducted in an attempt to discover new knowledge and scientific data about racquetball. Why have so many individuals become interested in this sport? The reasons are many. Here are a dozen good ones that we have observed . 1. Learning to play is easy. The rules, strategies , and proper playing techniques used in racquetball are relatively simple to learn, to understand, and to put into practice. In no time at all the novice player may find himself completely and successfully involved with the game. 2. Instant success is possible as well as probable. Returning the ball to the front wall after it has rebounded from this front wall is not a particularly difficult skill, and with a little experience and practice one can easily learn to return a variety of shots to the front wall by means of ~everal m~thods which are available to him. 40

3 . Little equipment is required. Most racquets are valued from $5 .00 to $35 .00 , and balls cost from$ .75 to $1 .25 each. A one , three, or four wall indoor or outdoor handball court is the facility needed . 4 . Conditioning values are high. In a short period of time an individual may benefit from a vigorous physical workout which results in improved cardiorespiratory endurance , muscular endurance, coordination , agility , and reaction and response time . Muscular strength, flexibility , balance, power and speed are also challenged by racquetball. 5. Both sexes enjoy this activity. Whether separately or in coed play both men and women enjoy this game and can compete on a relatively even basis . The difference in strength among the players is not necessar ily a handicapping factor. However, the difference between an experienced player and a novice player could result in an uninteresting and non-challenging kind of match . 6. Two, three or four can compete. As mentioned previously, two can play a game of singles , three may compete in a game of cutthroat , or four may play doubles. 7 . Psychosocial values are high. The opportunities for emotional growth are great in this game. One experiences opportunities to control or release outbursts of temper as well as being afforded opportunities to relieve emotional tensions . As one learns to play better and meets with success ,

the self concept may be enhanced due to improved self respect and increased self confidence . Socially , the interaction found in fellowship with one ‘s companions is very rewarding . In doubles competition , teamwork and cooperation are mandatory prerequisites to success . As one spends his leisure time in this activity , the experiences for leadership are also present in add ition to a healthy outlet for competition . 8 . The skills are few and simple to learn. The grip and stance prove to be simple tasks to acqu ire as one merely shakes hands with the racquet grip and assumes a position on the court in order to pivot the body according to the desired stroke needed to be executed . The drive serve and the lob serve are the two basic kinds of services, and are executed as their names imply with the ball contacting only the front wall prior to bouncing off the floor. The forehand and backhand strokes are the two basic types of strokes . The former is performed with the palm of the stroking hand facing the front wall , and the latter may be hit with the back of the stroking hand facing the front wall. With any stroke or service , contacting the ball in the proper manner is the primary con – cern with emphasis placed on wr ist action and keeping the eye on the ball. Proper footwork is important as a player should move to meet and stroke the ball in a form similar to tennis . Follow-throughs are especially valuable for insuring proper control and placement of the ball. 9 . Advanced skills make the game more challenging. Once an individual learns to properly execute the basic skills, more difficult shots and strategies can be experienced . The kill shot and the drop shot are two examples . The kill shot may be directed low and toward the front wall; or via the side wall and then the front wall ; or by way of the front wall and then the side wall using a powerful stroke. The drop shot

is a kill shot directed low and to the front corner with a very soft touch. The overhead smash is performed with a powerful stroke contacting the ball above the head and directing it to the front wall and very low, or causing it to rebound off the front wall and pass the opponents. The lob shot is executed by contacting the ball from an underhand or overhead posi – tion and directing it toward the front wall forcing it to rebound toward the back court . The pass shot is one of the most frequently used shots in racquetball. The main objective is to hit the ball in such a .manner as to cause it to rebound off the front wall and pass by an opponent before he can reach or hit it. This is often accom plished by stroking a hard shot which avoids hitt ing the side or back walls (down the line). This shot is most effect ive when an opponent is out of position . The cross-court angle (V) shot is most effect ive when a player desires to have a ball rebound off the front wall and 10. Skills are easily transforce an opponent to travel the entire width of the court to reach the shot. This hit is executed by having the ball strike the front wall near the middle of the wall and rebound off the floor near the wall opposite the opponent. The back wall shot is employed only in four-wall racquetball. The ball may be 11. Safety hazards are few. played in the air or on the bounce . A player has an option of stroking a ball which has already contacted the bac k wall in the direction of the front wall , or one may strike it via the back wall again. Either hit is legal as long as the ball contacts the 12. A few simple rules are all ATTENTION TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS To avoid conflict with the pro -am tour, please let the N.R.C. know of your tournament dates as far in advance as possible .

front wall before having bounced a second time. The ceiling shot is executed on a four-wall indoor court . This shot is most effective when a player desires to force his opponent from the front to the back court, or vice versa . This type of shot can be hit from any area of the court and it adds a unique dimens ion to the game and to one ‘s repertoire of shots . The three wall shot (Z) is executed by stroking the ball to any combinat ion of the front wall and side wall, back wall or ceiling . For example, a ball may contact the left side wall , front wall , and then right side wall. Reasons for hitting such a shot would be to gain a position advantage on one’s opponent or to regain one ‘s proper position on the court . This stroke requires strong wrist action and great control. The two-wall serve is also an advanced skill which is performed by sending the ball to the front wall first and rebounding to either of the side walls before striking the floor . ferred from other sports. Handball , tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis and paddleball are a few of the sports which have many elements in common with racquetball. The skills, rules, and strategies are very similar and have common values . One must remember not to over-exert oneself initially, to “warm-up ” properly and to wear a racquet safety thong around the wrist in order to avoid slinging or dropping the racquet during play . more of the contract professionals to compete, contact the N.R.C . and we will aid you in obtaining the player’s services . That’s National Racquetball Club, 4101 Dempster Street, Skokie, IL. 60076. Help us help you .

you need to know. -In serving, the ball must be hit off a bounce and it must strike the front wall first and land behind the short service line (second line from front wall) and within the boundaries of the court. -In serving, the server stands in the service zone , and in the case of doubles, the server ‘s partner stands in the partner ‘s position against either side wall. -Two service trials are awarded in the event the first serve is a “long service” or a “short service” ; only one trial is awarded in the event the serve is wide of the side boundaries (three-wall) or if the ball does not hit the front wall first. – A game consists of 21 points, each point valued at one, and only a margin of one point is required in order to win. -Only the serving team may score . -One continues to serve until one fails to win a point on the serve . -Except on the initial service in a game of doubles in which only one player serves, both players of a given team have a service before the other team serves . -Te ams must alternate playing the ball , although partners need not alternate playing the ball. -A “hinder” is called by a player who has an obstructed swing at the ball because his opponent is in the way . This is to avoid injuries caused by the racquet, and to give such a player a fair chance to return the ball. In tournaments, the referee, not the player, is empowered to call hinders . 41

Originally published in National Racquetball, September 1973, pp. 40–41. By Ruth Alexander and Bill Mathews.