In racquetball, two players compete against each other in a closed court similar to the squash court. Each player tries to hit a serve or shot that the opponent cannot return to the front wall before the ball's second bounce. Racquetball, a relatively new sport, has only existed since the late 1940s.
Racquetball Invention
Joseph G. Sobek, 1918-1998, invented racquetball in the late 1940s. Sobek wanted to develop a new version of handball that put less stress on the hands. He was familiar with racket sports from playing tennis and squash, so he developed a version of handball that required paddles, and eventually rackets. The new game combined elements from squash and handball. He called the new game "paddle racquets," and drew up the first set of rules for the sport in 1949.
First Rackets
After beginning the game using paddles, Sobek developed a platform tennis racket for his new sport. He had 25 prototypes of this short, strung racket made in 1950, and he distributed these at his local YMCA to promote the sport. These early rackets were made of wood and had leather grips.
Racket Evolution
Producers of racquetball equipment introduced aluminum alloy frames in 1971, and then fiberglass frames in 1972. By 1979, most racquetball rackets had graphite or composite frames. Each new material made the racket stronger and lighter. In 1984, oversized frames emerged on the racquetball scene. These larger racket faces made it easier for players to hit the ball.
Current Racket Specifications
The United States Racquetball Association, the governing body for the sport in the United States, provides specifications for equipment in its official rulebook. According to USRA rules, the racket's length, including the grip and frame, must not exceed 22 inches. The racket frame must have a safety cord that the player wears around her wrist. The racket frame can be made of any material the rules officials deem safe, and the strings can be made of gut, monofilament, graphite, plastic, nylon, metal or a combination of these materials.
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