Racquetball Tips

Each person has their own style of playing racquetball. However, there are several techniques to practice to become a better player. Whether you are playing to wear down your opponent or playing for the big hit, work on enhancing your game with some tips that might give you the upper hand.

  1. The Serve

    • A crucial part of a racquetball match comes at the very beginning of each game. The key is to mix up your serves to keep your opponent on his toes. If you continue to serve the ball to the same spot on the wall, your opponent will most likely find a way to capitalize on your repetition. Returning a serve may not be difficult for your opponent, but if you aim to serve the ball to different parts of the court, you give the player one more thing to think about. Keep challenging your opponent with varying speeds and angles.

      Force your opponent to play deeper in the court by aiming your serve to avoid hitting the side wall. Ideally, this approach will cause the ball to move into either one of the back corners, forcing a tougher return. If you are worried the ball will not make it to the spot you are targeting, it is always best to aim short. Driving the ball too long with this strategy may result in the racquetball hitting either a side wall or the back wall before the first bounce.

    The Return

    • One of the most important racquetball tips you may ever learn is to focus on keeping your racquet perpendicular to the ground and ceiling. Players have a tendency of angling their racquet to loft the ball in the air or drive the ball into the floor. Keeping your racquet flat with the full surface of the racquet facing the front wall all the way through the contact with the ball will significantly enhance your control.

      Keep your elbow close to your body. There are obvious exceptions to this rule, such as the occasional play where you have to dive or lunge to make contact with the ball. However, keep your elbow within 8 to 12 inches away from your body at all times during your swing. Snap your wrist as you follow through with your swing. Keeping your elbow in a close position while utilizing a wrist snap in your return will boost both your accuracy and your power, resulting in more work for your opponent.