Racquetball Court Rules

Racquetball differs from other racquet sports such as tennis or squash in that there is no net or tin to hit the ball over. Racquetball uses a racquet with a larger head than a squash racquet yet smaller than a tennis one. A 2 1/2 inch rubber ball is used in competition, which is smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a squash ball. All the court's walls, ceiling and floor are legal playing areas, with only the upper part of the back wall (above 12 feet) being out of bounds. The dimensions and markings of the court define how the game is played.

  1. Dimensions

    • Standard court dimensions are 20 feet wide, 40 feet long and 20 feet high. The back wall must be at least 12 feet high. With the exception of any gallery opening, and any surface designated out-of-play for a valid reason (for example, not being in alignment with the back wall), all surfaces are in play.

    Court Markings

    • The court is marked with lines 1 1/2 inches wide. The short line runs parallel to the front and back wall and is located midway between them, dividing the court into equal front and back courts. The service line is located 5 feet in front of and parallel to the short line. The service zone is the space between the short line and the service line, in between the service boxes and drive zone lines. Service boxes are found at the end of each service zone. They are defined by lines running parallel 18 inches from each side wall. The receiving line is a broken line parallel to the short line. It is located 5 feet behind the short line. It begins with a solid line running 21 inches from each side wall. These lines are connected by 6-inch lines separated alternately by 6-inch spaces.

    Service

    • Players may serve from any area in the service zone, bouncing the ball once then hitting it against the front wall so it lands to the back of the short line. The ball may touch the side walls during the serve. The server's foot may touch the line but not go over it during the serve. The server may not step beyond the short line until the ball has returned past the short line. A fault can be given for misplaced feet, the ball hitting three walls, hitting the back wall or ceiling before the ball bounces, or hitting the ball out of the court.

    In Play

    • Receivers cannot return the ball until after it has passed the service zone. The ball must be hit before the second bounce. They must then hit it to the front wall without it touching the floor. The ball may be hit on the fly (volley). If the ball bounces twice then the player who is receiving the ball loses the point. Players may only hit the ball once to return it to the other player. Points can be won either from winning the serve or winning a rally.

    Floor Surface

    • The floor surface of a racquetball court is recommended by the International Racquetball Federation to provide firm footing and normal play. It should be made from sanded wood finished with polyurethane. The floor is recommended to be light and consistent in color so the dark ball is not obscured during play.

    Apparel

    • Players must wear shoes with nonmarking soles to avoid damaging the wooden surface of the court. Protective eyewear must be worn at all times during play and rackets should be secured to the player's wrist via a wrist cord so that it cannot become a projectile if accidentally released by the player during this fast-paced game.