Racquetball is a highly competitive sport and also an enjoyable recreational game that requires athletes to make quick decisions and make key strategic moves. Athletic ability, speed and strength are all vital factors when it comes to hitting the ball, but the ability to move the ball on the court and keep your opponent in the back corners can overcome any physical deficiencies. Being able to outthink your opponent will allow you to end up victorious more often than not.
Mixing Up The Serve
One of the keys to winning most of your matches in racquetball is mixing up your serve. You may be able to hit a powerful drive serve into either corner on a consistent basis. However, you can't just hit drive serve after drive serve. It is the equivalent of a pitcher in baseball throwing fastball after fastball. You need to mix it up. Sending a lob serve deep into the corners after firing your best drive serve can often confuse your opponent. So can a Z-serve that requires the receiver to run in to retrieve it after it bounds off the side wall. After you hit a few change-of-pace serves, watch how effective your drive serve is the next time you use it.
Get In Front of Your Opponent
The closer you are to the wall when you strike the ball, the better chance you have of hitting a ball that your opponent cannot return. If you are in front of him and he is deep in the court, you can hit a soft shot that dies shortly after it makes contact with the front wall. If he is in the middle of the court, you can force him to the back by hitting a shot that bounds over his head. If he is on the left side of the court, you can force him to the right with an easy return. When you are in front of your opponent, you dictate the pace of the point.
Ceiling Shot
Players who are not afraid to bash the ball off the ceiling can eliminate their opponent's advantage as a point plays out. If your opponent is in front of you and gets you on the run, change the angle of the head of racket when you strike the ball. If you can hit a ball that hits the ceiling before it hits the front wall, it will bound high and deep in the court and force your opponent to retreat and wait before hitting his next shot. It may not give you control of the point, but it will give you a few seconds to recapture your bearings and play the rest of the point on more even terms.
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