Racquetball is an aggressive and athletic sport that is dependent on quickness, speed and creativity. Players are required to hit the ball to the front wall and then retrieve it and hit it back before it bounces a second time. However, a player may hit the ball off the sidewalls and the ceiling after it hits the front wall.
Starting Play
Play in racquetball starts with a serve. The server stands in the service box and hits a shot that must hit off the front wall and then rebound back into the court past the service line and before it hits the back wall. The opponent usually stands in the back third of the court so he can have the best chance of returning the ball off the front wall.
Point Scoring
A player scores a point when he is serving and he hits a ball that reaches the front wall that cannot be returned successfully by an opponent. This occurs if a ball bounces twice after hitting the front wall or rolls out after hitting the front wall. If the opponent's shot does not reach the front wall, a point is scored. If the receiver hits a shot that the server cannot return successfully the receiver becomes the server.
Competitive Match
Most amateur games are played to 15 points. A match is over when one player wins three out of five games. Professional games are usually played to 11 points.
Hinder
Players are not supposed to swing their racquets if they are going to make contact with their opponents. Racquetball is a very fast moving sport played in an enclosed area and serious collisions can occur. As a result, if a player feels as if he will hit his opponent with the racquet or run into him in order to make a hit, he must not go forward and hit the ball. He must stop playing and call "hinder" to avoid injury. The opponent has the duty to get out of the way, if possible, but sometimes the hinder call must be made.
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