Racquetball is a fast-moving sport that demands quick reactions and an aggressive attitude. Teach players to make decisions--and act--quickly. Tell players that it's important to go for winners whenever the opportunity presents itself and that sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to come along is usually a recipe for losing. Aggressiveness usually pays off in this sport.
Step 1
Teach players the rules and the thrust of the game. Explain that the server starts play and that his shot must hit the front wall and then the floor past the service line--but not the back wall--to be put in play legally. Once a rally has started, players have to get to the ball on one bounce or the fly, and they must hit the ball to the front wall before it hits the floor. Only the server can score points. If the receiver wins the rally, he gets to serve the ball. The first player to get to 15 points wins the game.
Step 2
Emphasize the importance of hitting a low forehand shot. The lower the ball hits on the front wall, the better chance the player has of hitting a winner. The forehand shot is the easiest to control. To hit it with maximum power and control, the student must snap her wrist on impact. A long-arm swing is not as accurate when it comes to placing the ball on the front wall and takes too long to complete. Explain that the key is keeping the knees bent and hitting the ball as low as possible.
Step 3
Teach players to hit an aggressive backhand shot. Many players shy away from the backhand because they believe it is a difficult ball to hit. They think the stroke in racquetball is similar to a backhand shot in tennis. That is not the case. The backhand is accomplished with a strong wrist snap and it is not a full-arm swing. Explain that the student can hit winners and keep rallies going with well-executed backhanders.
Step 4
Have your student hit the ball high off the ceiling when his opponent is dominating the point. Hitting a ceiling shot will blunt that rally. It will force the opponent deep into one of the corners. He will then have to wait before hitting the ball and he may lose his timing by being forced to wait. Hitting a well-placed ceiling shot will give the player a chance to stay alive in a point when his opponent seems to have an edge.
Step 5
Teach your student to mix up her serves. She doesn't have to hit drive serve after drive serve. Even if she can dominate with power serves, she is better off mixing in lob serves, Z-serves and backhand serves just to keep her opponent guessing and off balance. A Z-serve hits the front wall near where it meets the side wall. It then hits the side wall, the floor past the service line and then the opposite side wall. This configuration is similar to the letter Z. Explain to your student that it's like a baseball pitcher with a great fastball. Even that pitcher will throw curves, sinkers and change-ups. A racquetball player should also mix up her serves.
