Racquetball Techniques

Racquetball is a fun but challenging recreational sport. Having the right form on your swing is very important for success, as well as for avoiding injury. Game strategy is fine, but it won't matter if you can't execute your shots. Here are ways to improve your racquetball techniques.

  1. Snap Your Wrist

    • Snap your wrist on contact on a forehand. This will provide maximum power on your returns. Think of your wrist as the end of a whip. Much like the rest of the rope on a whip, your arm needs to be very loose, almost limp, to be free to obtain the maximum velocity on each stroke. The action is also similar to throwing a baseball.

      There is disagreement among veteran players on whether you should snap your wrist on a backhand or just keep it straight. Try practicing it both ways and see what works best for you. Otherwise, the motion on a backhand is very similar to a forehand.

    Bend Your Elbow

    • On any return, have your elbow bent at a 90-degree angle and keep the elbow at shoulder height. Lead your shot with your elbow. Sometimes it's easier to visualize leading a backhand shot with your shoulder.

    Footwork Is Key

    • Stand parallel to the side wall when setting up for a forehand return. On a backhand, stand at a 45-degree angle to the side wall. Your belly button should be facing the corner of the back wall and side wall. Set up as quickly as possible for the return. Don't wait until the last second to get your racquet up in the proper position. Step forward into the swing to maximize the power and hit the ball accurately.

      Standing too close to the ball when hitting it will cause it to slice away from you. Also, don't hit the ball when it is behind you. Hit it when it is even with your front foot.

    Serving

    • Be consistent on how you drop the ball on your serve. On a power or drive serve, make sure you rotate your hips and shoulders and snap your wrist to get the most power.

      Practice is important for any technique, and it is easy to practice serving by yourself. Practice various serves and try to make the motion leading up to the serve the same for each so your opponent can't see which serve you are using beforehand.