Racquetball Rules for Three Players

Typical racquetball games contain either two players playing as singles or four players playing as doubles. Although official USA Racquetball tournament rules do not include racquetball games with three players, a few different sets of rules can govern a game between three players. Three-player racquetball games play by the official USA Racquetball rules for singles or doubles play, with the exceptions for each type of game outlined below.

  1. Cut-Throat

    • The only three-player racquetball game listed in the official USA Racquetball rulebook is called cut-throat. In this game, the three players determine a serving rotation that will continue throughout the duration of the game. Players can only score points while they are serving. On a Player A's turn to serve, he serves to Players B and C, who play as a doubles team during the duration of Player A's turn as server. When Player A fails to win a point, then it is Player B's turn to serve, regardless of who hit the last ball.

    Ironman

    • Also known as 2-on-1, Ironman racquetball pits one player against two players working as a team. The players do not rotate teams during the game, leaving the single player to play alone the whole game. As in doubles racquetball, both players on the two-player team get to take a turn at serving before the serve is returned to the single player. Ironman is ideal when one player is significantly better than the other two.

    In and Out

    • In and Out racquetball games consist of many singles points on a rotation. One player stands against the back wall out of play during each point. When a rally ends, the player who won the point gets to serve next, the player who lost the point stands against the back wall, and the player standing against the back wall comes in to receive the serve. Players only win points while they are serving.