Racquetball is a fast-paced and competitive sport. While it's possible for two friends to go out on the court and play an hour of a friendly game, it's not very likely. The nature of the game is that nearly every player who steps on the court becomes a competitor and not just a casual player. For one, the game is played in an enclosed court and the ball is often coming back to a player in a spot where they can hit it hard. Players are not going to let this opportunity go by very often.
Step 1
Work on and develop a great serve. Points can only be scored in racquetball by the server. The server stands in a box 20 feet from the front wall, and he must hit the ball off that front wall and have it land in the court before it hits the back wall. The drive serve is the primary serve in racquetball, and it can be hit to your opponent's forehand or backhand. Additionally, you can change the pace of your serve by hitting a lob serve or a Z-serve. Keeping your opponent off balance with serves coming in at varying speeds will help you become a dominant player.
Step 2
Get in front of your opponent on a rally. The quicker you can take the ball off the front wall, the easier it will be for you to hit a winner or dictate the pace of a point. You need to work as close to the front wall as possible. If your opponent is dominating the point, you will have to stay back and try to hang in there, but if you see a mistake or sense weakness, get as forward as you can in the court.
Step 3
Use your backhand to attack with a cross-court or up-the-wall shot. Many racquetball players are hesitant to use their backhand and only hit with it as a defensive maneuver. That's not helpful to your game. If you can attack with your backhand or your forehand, your opponent will have a hard time anticipating where your next shot is going. It will help you dictate the pace of the point.
Step 4
Hit a ceiling ball when your opponent has the momentum. The well-placed ceiling ball can help slow the pace of the game and help keep you alive in the point. It can also be quite frustrating to your opponent. If he is attacking, angle your racquet upwards and hit a ceiling shot that is as close to the front wall as possible. This shot will rebound to one of the rear corners. If your opponent lacks patience, he may swing too early or too late and mishit the shot and throw away a chance to win a point.
Tips and Warnings
- Attack when you get on the court. Racquetball is a sport that demands aggression and quick thinking. You must be able to see where the next shots are going to be and then use your aggressiveness to wear down your opponent.
- Never hit your opponent with the racquet. If you feel you might hit him when you swing, let the ball go by and call hinder. Injuries can occur when players don't use their best judgment.
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