The inventor of racquetball is Joseph Sobek of Greenwich, Conn. He is recognized as the first inductee to the Raquetball Hall of Fame. According to the New York Times, he introduced the sport as “paddle rackets” in 1950 and founded the first official racquetball organization called the Paddle Rackets Association. In the late 1960s, the sport became known as racquetball, formed its own professional association separate from Sobek’s and held its first national championship.
The Game
Play racquetball with up to four players, in games of singles, doubles and cut-throat. Cut-throat is for recreation only. A match of racquetball is a best of three series. You must outscore your opponent to win. According to IRF rules, play games one and two to 15 points, and game three to 11 points. Only the serving side can score a point. Score a point in racquetball when you ace a serve or win a rally.
Game Play
In racquetball, your basic equipment consists of a racket and a ball. A coin toss decides who serves first in the first game. The receiver of the serve in the first game serves first in the second game. In the tie-breaking third game, the side with the highest number of total points from the first two games has the option to choose who serves first. If both sides have an equal number of points from the first two games, another coin toss takes place to decide.
Return your opponent’s service and start a rally. Howtoplayracquetball.org explains, “The returnee must return the ball to the front wall via any number of other walls without touching the ground.” After the ball hits the front wall, the server returns the ball to you before it bounces twice.
Service
In racquetball you get two opportunities to serve correctly. According to the IRF, stepping on but not over the line is permitted during the service motion. After the service motion, the server’s feet may cross the line as long as a portion of both feet “remains on or inside the line until the served ball passes the short line.” The racquetball must bounce once “on the floor in the service zone” before striking it with your racquet. After leaving the head of the racquet, a correctly executed serve “must strike the front wall first and on the rebound hit the floor back of the short line.” The short line is equidistant from the front wall and the back line of the racquetball court.
International Racquetball Federation
The International Racquetball Federation was founded in Memphis, Tenn. in 1979. According to its website, it takes a “central leadership role in the development of racquetball worldwide.” Statistics provided by the IRF claim 14 million people play racquetball in more than 90 countries. IRF regional associations include the Asia Racquetball Federation, the Central American Racquetball Confederation and the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
USA Racquetball
USA Racquetball stakes its claim as “the National Governing Body for the sport of racquetball.” It is officially recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee. This organization recruits members, promotes the sport, offers scholarships and sponsors officially sanctioned tournaments. It also publishes an official rules and regulations book that govern domestic play.
