The racquetball serve puts the ball into play in a competitive match. The server dictates the pace of the point by propelling the ball off the front wall to the receiver. There are a number of different serves that can be used to start play, including the drive, Z and lob serves. All are effective, especially when the server varies them in an unpredictable manner.
Stand in the Serving Box
The server must start the point by standing properly in the serving box. The serving box starts 15 feet from the front wall and extends another 5 feet back. The serving boxing is also 20 feet wide. While serving, both feet must remain in the box. The server must not step on or over the line when serving. A player who steps on the line is called for a fault, and a second fault will cause him to lose control of the serve and turn it over to his opponent.
Must Hit the Front Wall
When the server stands in the serving box and plans his strategy, he may want to hit a twisting serve that sends his opponent retreating to a rear corner to return the serve. That's fine, but the caveat is the ball must hit the front wall first on the serve. He can't hit the side wall and then the front wall. If the server does not hit the front wall first, he loses the serve immediately.
Only Two Attempts
Any time a player serves, he has two attempts to get the ball in play unless he fails to hit the front wall first or the ball rebounds off the front wall and hits the server on a bound or the fly. The serving line is 21.5 feet from the front wall. The ball must hit past that line but cannot fly to the back wall. If the server is short of that line or his serve hits the back wall, he gets a second attempt to put it in play.
Legal Primary Serves
The drive, Z and lob serves are the primary serves used in racquetball. The drive serve is similar to a fastball thrown by a baseball pitcher. It is a low, hard shot that bounces into either corner with power and little deception. The properly executed Z serve hits the front wall, the side wall, the floor and then the side wall before the receiver must return it. The lob serve bounds high and deep into either corner of the court, although most servers want to send this serve toward their opponent's backhand side. Returning this serve requires patience on the part of the receiver, who must wait for it to come down before striking it.
Legal Backhand Serve
A backhand serve is a legal serve. He can bounce the ball on the floor, jump quickly to the opposite side and hit a backhand shot if he chooses. This is deceptive, and it may catch the receiver by surprise and leave him flat-footed. It is legal, however, and you can use a backhand serve to win a point or place your opponent at a disadvantage.
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