Reasons to Play Racquetball

Among racquet sports. racquetball is still relatively young. First started in 1968, it became popular quickly, and the United States Racquetball Association was started the next year. Today, people around the world enjoy the sport year-round in fully enclosed, climate-controlled courts. The sport is fast-paced and intense. While enjoying the spirit of competition, you're also reaping great health benefits.

  1. What is Racquetball?

    • Raquetball is a game played with a short, stringed racquet and a hollow rubber ball. The game is played in an enclosed court. Like in other racquet and paddle sports, one player "serves" to the other, and when serving the ball must strike the front wall first, and travel at least a specified distance back before striking the floor. This distance is marked on the court floor or walls. Play proceeds in turn, and the basic rule is that each shot must strike the front wall before striking the floor. The other player must issue a return shot before the ball has struck the floor more than once. A regulation game is to 21 points.

    How Racquetball Started

    • Racquetball came into being in 1968, when a man named Joe Sobek designed a stringed paddle, framed in wood, with leather wrapped strings. He also had a rubber ball made by Seamless Rubber Company. In short order, racquets were produced of metal alloys, and later transitioned to graphite and composite materials used today. String patterns evolved as racquet producers sought ways to get more power and speed from each swing of the racquet. Courts were once open but over time evolved into the enclosed courts of today, allowing for a more intense game as participants are now able to use all four walls in placing their shots. (Reference 1)

    Health Benefits

    • Racquetball is a fast-paced sport, with nearly constant physical exertion. It is considered an aerobic activity, and with most court times being one-hour slots, a racquetball outing more than fulfills the recommended 20-minute minimum for an aerobic workout. A secondary and often overlooked benefit is hand-eye coordination. The fast-paced nature of racquetball makes the sport a perfect training tool for this critical skill. Muscle conditioning also is achieved through racquetball, though not to the extent of targeted weight training. Movements are in short, fast bursts of speed and power involving great muscle exertion over a small span of time.

    Year -Round Sport

    • One of the best things about racquetball is that it is a year-round sport. While outdoor courts do exist, the majority of racquetball courts are indoors and climate-controlled. As a result, playing is just as comfortable in the heat of summer or cold of winter as it is in the milder months during spring and fall. There is no set season for racquetball either. Competitions and tournaments can be found throughout the year, both at the local and professional levels.

    Warning

    • Playing a fast-paced racquet sport in an enclosed court is not without risk. All court facilities require participants to wear eye protection as there is significant danger of being struck by a racquet or fast moving racquetball. Racquets are equipped with wrist straps, which should always be worn in case the racquet accidentally slips from your hand during a swing. Also, always be aware of not only the ball but your opponent as you move around the court, as collisions are common.