How to play racquetball
Racquetball is a fast-paced sport that can be played with two, three, or four players. (Tournament racquetball is played with either two or four.) It involves a lightweight racquet for each player, a hollow rubber ball, and a 20x40x20ft finished wood court. Each player should also wear safety goggles to protect their eyes.
traditional racquetball (2 players)
Player 1 starts in the server's box, which is the space between the service line and the short line. She bounces the ball once and uses her racquet to hit it toward the front wall. The ball must connect with the front wall and rebound past the short line, without touching the back wall.
Player 2 is standing behind the receiving line. He must hit the ball before it bounces twice on the floor. Once he hits the ball, Player 1 is allowed to leave the server's box. The players take turns hitting the ball toward the front wall. After a player's racquet has made contact with the ball, the ball is allowed to hit any of the four walls, as well as the ceiling, but it may not hit the floor, and it must hit the front wall. After it has hit the front wall, it is the second player's turn. It is okay for the ball to hit the side walls, back wall, or ceiling before the second player hits it, but it may not hit the floor more than twice. If the non-serving player fails to make the ball hit the front wall, or causes the ball to hit the floor before reaching the front wall, the server gets a point. If the server is the one to make the mistake, nobody gets a point, but the other player becomes the server. Traditionally, the game continues until one player reaches 15 points. A "match" is two games to 15 points and, in the case of a tie, a third game to 11 points. Except for during the serve, both players are allowed to go anywhere they need to go in the court to hit the ball. They are supposed to stay out of each other's way as much as possible and are not allowed to intentionally impede each other from retrieving the ball. |
Doubles (4 players)Doubles essentially follows the same rules as regular racquetball, except that there are four people on the court--two teams of two. When one person is serving, their teammate stands in one of the "Partner's safety boxes". As soon as the ball is in play, the teammate is allowed to come out and everyone has free reign over the court.
Players on the same team do not have to take turns hitting the ball. Once a player has served the ball, either of the two players from the other team can retrieve the ball. After that, either of the two players from the server's team can retrieve the ball. If the receiving team makes a mistake, the serving team gets a point. If the serving team makes a mistake, the serve goes to the second player on that team and nobody gets a point. If the serving team makes another mistake, the serve goes to the first player on the other team (and still nobody gets a point). (Picture to the right: my grandfather about to serve the ball!) |
Man-on-the-wall (3 players)
This is not an official tournament version of the game, but it can be a fun way for three people to play together!
Man-on-the-wall follows the same rules as regular racquetball, except that the game is played with one person serving, one person receiving, and one person standing against the back wall. The person standing against the back wall is not an active player in the game--he must move out of the way if the ball or another player comes in his direction. If the server messes up, the server goes on the wall, the receiver becomes the server, and the "man on the wall" becomes the new receiver. If the receiver is the one to mess up, the server gets a point and the receiver and "man on the wall" simply switch positions.
Man-on-the-wall follows the same rules as regular racquetball, except that the game is played with one person serving, one person receiving, and one person standing against the back wall. The person standing against the back wall is not an active player in the game--he must move out of the way if the ball or another player comes in his direction. If the server messes up, the server goes on the wall, the receiver becomes the server, and the "man on the wall" becomes the new receiver. If the receiver is the one to mess up, the server gets a point and the receiver and "man on the wall" simply switch positions.