Racquetball Terms & Rules

In America, racquetball is governed by the United States Racquetball Association while the International Racquetball Federation oversees the World Racquetball Championships. The game is played by the same rules and recognizes the same terms at every level of play.

  1. Starting

    • Serve from within the service box by bouncing the ball once, hitting it against the front wall and having it bounce behind the service box. Your opponent must return it by hitting it against the front wall before it bounces more than once. Then you must do the same. You get two chances to make a legal serve.

      You can hit the balls against any wall or ceiling during play, except on the serve. Your serve may hit only one side wall after striking the front wall.

      You score only when you serve and win the rally. If you lose the rally, your opponent gets to serve.

    Games and Matches

    • You play game to 15 points, although you must be ahead by two points. In other words, you can win 15-13, but at 15-14, you have to continue until either you or your opponent wins by two points.

      If you win two out of three games, you win the match. If you and your opponent have both won one game, you play a third game to 11 and win by two points.

    Terms

    • If while playing you hit a ball that hits a side wall, the front wall and then the other wall, you've accomplished a shot known as an "around-the wall." If your shot hits the bottom of the front wall where it meets the floor, you've hit a "bottom board" and your opponent will have a tough time returning it because it will likely come back very low.

      If you find yourself backed against the back wall or in an otherwise tough spot, you might try a "ceiling shot," which means you hit the ball so that it strikes the forefront of the ceiling. If you do it right, the ball will bounce at about the midpoint of the front wall and bounce back high and deep, giving you time to rectify your position.

      Beat your opponent by a score of 15-0 and you've given him a "donut." Beat him 15-1 and he gets a "twinkie."

      If your shot hits low in a corner of the front wall, you've made a "pinch shot," another hard shot to return. On the other hand, if you hit a "plum," you're return has given your opponent the chance for a likely winner.

      Hitting a "skip ball"--one that hits the floor before hitting the front wall--is a fault. A "wallpaper" shot, however, which is a ball that seems to cling to the wall all the way from front to back, is not only legal but very tough to return.

      Finally, make sure you have your racket "thong" tightly wrapped around your wrist. The strap is required for play.