Racquetball requires you to be in top condition to build your shot-making skills and to develop an excellent serve. Racquetball requires a relentless mental attitude as well. All four walls as well as the ceiling are in play on the enclosed court. As a result, you almost always have a chance to get to the ball, and you should never give up on it.
Serving Drill
Stand in the middle of the serving box and drive the ball off the wall so that it angles deep into the left corner. Do this 10 times, and then hit 10 more serves so that the ball ends up in the right corner. Place a 3-foot-by-3-foot target on the front wall so you know where to drive the ball. The drive serve is your top serve. It is accomplished with a lateral swing of the arm, is usually flat and does not involve topspin. By snapping the wrist on contact with the ball, you will get maximum speed and velocity.
Mix in the lob serve and the Z-serve to change the pace on the ball and get the receiver off balance. The lob serve is accomplished by hitting the ball about 15 feet high on the front wall so that it lands deep in the court and bounds high toward the rear of the court. The Z-serve is accomplished by standing on the right side of the serving box and driven to the left portion of the front wall. It rebounds off the side wall and then hits the floor near the opposite side wall before hitting the wall. The direction the serve travels looks similar to the letter Z.
Ceiling Ball Drill
The ceiling ball drill can help you strike the ball in a defensive manner. Stand in the rear portion of the court, no more than five feet from the back wall. Angle your racquet--usually about 45 degrees--so that the ball hits the ceiling within three feet of the front wall. Hit 10 ceiling balls with your forehand, and then hit 10 straight ceiling balls with your backhand. You can use the ceiling ball in a game if your opponent is dominating the point and you are scrambling to make a return. By angling the ball toward the ceiling, you will force him to wait for the ball to hit his next shot. If your opponent lacks patience he may mis-hit the ball and allow you to steal the point.
Shuttle Drill
Racquetball calls for almost constant running. If you are not in shape, you will not be able to last for a best-of-three or best-of-five match. Start at the front wall and sprint to the front line of the server's box and back to the front wall. Then sprint to a spot two-thirds of the way up the court and back and then to the back wall and return. Do this twice, take a one-minute break and repeat the drill.
Member Comments