Racquetball provides a fast-paced athletic experience similar to tennis on a small indoor court. Players use short rackets with oversize heads to volley small rubber balls against the walls and floor of the court. Fitness and recreation centers throughout the world offer racquetball programs for casual players and league players alike, while the best players compete at the International Racquetball Federation's annual world championship event.
History
The United States Racquetball Association, or USRA, credits American Joe Sebek as the father of racquetball. During the Korean War, Sebek contracted with a factory that produced paddles for table tennis to create a line of small, stringed rackets. His original rackets featured a small wooden frame not much larger than a table tennis paddle. Sebek also hired a company to produce small rubber balls to go with his new rackets. Since that time, the head of the racket has increased dramatically in size, while the sport itself has stayed largely the same.
Equipment
The most important piece of equipment for new players is a properly-sized racket, which ranges in price from $20 to $200 depending on material and model, according to the USRA. You also need safety glasses to protect the eyes, and a mouth guard to reduce the risk and severity of mouth injuries. Some players wear a glove to improve grip and reduce blisters, though this is largely a matter of personal preference. Many facilities also require special racquetball or court shoes, which reduce scuffs and improve stability during fast-paced play.
Benefits
Each player in the average racquetball games runs approximately half a mile, according to USRA. The sport combines aerobic and anaerobic periods of exercise to create a highly effective workout for players of all ages. Your heart rate stays high throughout the entire game, and chasing down a volley is equivalent to sprinting or interval training. The USRA estimates that players burn between 640 and 794 calories per hour.
Rules
According to USRA, racquetball games last an average of 20 minutes. Players or teams take turns serving the ball, and only the serving team can earn points. Each match consists of two games played back to back, and the first team to score 15 points wins each game. You must return each volley so that it lands within the boxes marked on the floor of the court. A missed volley earns a point for the opposing team. You can use one or both hands to swing the racket, but you cannot switch hands between volleys.
Considerations
Racquetball shares many similar characteristics with another indoor court sport called squash. However, each of these sports has its own unique rules and equipment. According to the Eagle-Tribune, racquetball rackets are shorter and wider than squash rackets, giving players less leverage. Squash balls are also much softer than balls used in racquetball. Racquetballs are more explosive and tend to return to center court, while squash balls return more slowly but their travel is less predictable.
Member Comments