Racquetball is a demanding game that requires a player to aggressively move all over the court to compete. The game is played in an enclosed court, so it is very difficult to get out of the line of fire. Even when friends play this game, it often gets quite competitive.
Match Format
A racquetball match is usually played in a best-of-three or best-of-five game format. A game is played to 15 points. When a player reaches that total, he wins the game as long as he is ahead by two points or more. If the server goes ahead by a 15-14 margin, he serves again. Once a player gets ahead by two points, the game is over. However, as long as the margin is one point or the score is tied, the game keeps on going. There is no limitation or sudden-death point. The winner of an individual game must be ahead by at least two points. The first player to win two games wins a best-of-three match and the first player to win three games wins a best-of-five match.
Starting Play
The game begins with a player standing in the serving box. He puts the ball in play by driving the ball off the front wall, then it rebounds past the service line where the returner puts it in play. If the receiver wins the point, he gets control of the serve. If the server wins the point, he gets a point added to his scoring total and gets to keep on serving.
Legal Shots
When serving, the ball must fly off the front wall and cannot hit more than one other wall before it hits the floor to be returned. Once a serve has been put in play, the ball must hit the front wall before it hits the floor. The ball can hit the back wall, the ceiling or any of the side walls before it gets to the front wall. If the ball hits low on the front wall and then rolls out, that is a winning shot that cannot be returned by the opponent. If a ball hits the corner of the front wall and the side wall, then drops to the floor, that is also a winning shot. If the ball hits the floor prior to hitting the front wall, that is a "skip ball" and the serve or point goes to the opponent.
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