Racquetball is a game that is primarily played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is fun for people of all ages and fitness types, although racquetball champions tend to be muscular. The game consists of two types of equipment: a lightweight racquet and a hollow rubber ball. Popular racquetball players include Cliff Swain, Heather McKay, Larry Lederman, Ruben Gonzalez, Marty Hogan, and Caryn McKinney.
Racquetball can be easily learned in about six months. It is usually played on an indoor court that is 40 feet long and 20 feet wide on average. There is no net over which to hit the ball, unlike in similar sports such as tennis, squash, and badminton. Racquetball players can hit the ball on the walls, floor, and ceiling of the court.
To play racquetball, one player serves the ball by bouncing it on the floor more than once and then hitting it directly in front of the wall. Then, the other player tries to hit the ball back against the wall. Each player alternates trying to hit the ball. A player scores when it is his or her serve and then his or her opponent fails to return the ball to the wall. Games are usually played with only two players but may be played with three or four players as well.
There are many instances in which a player would not be allowed to score. For instance, if the ball bounces on the floor more than once before it is hit, then the player loses the rally. A player will also lose the rally if the ball does not reach the front of the wall, if the player switches hands during a rally, or if the ball comes into contact with the body of another player. A racquetball match usually consists of three games that reach 15 points in the first game and 11 points in the third game if necessary.
Racquetball can be a fun new sport for the whole family to try.
