‘Racquetball’ as the name itself explains, is a racquet sport that is played with a strung racquet and a hollow rubber ball. The game was invented by Joseph Sobek in the year 1950 by attaching a stringed racquet to the paddleball to increase the speed and control. The game is very close to that of squash and American handball and was very famous in the United States in the early years of its invention. With time the sport gained popularity and today about 7.5 million Americans and more than 15 million people play racquetball all around the globe. The racquetball championships are governed by International Racquetball Federation (IRF) and are organized biennially in the month of August where the Americans hold most of the World Championship titles.
To win rallies and score points the player must serve or return the ball so as the opponent cannot keep the ball in play.
It was grown right off the bat in the twentieth century by joining other prevalent games—tennis, handball, squash, and a Spanish game called "jai alai". The foundations of racquetball may have begun in detainment facilities during the 1800s when prisoners were given balls which they would throw against the walls. Amid this time, the game was alluded to as "rackets." In America, the game initially showed up in the1920s.
It was Joseph G. Sobek, an expert handball, squash, and tennis player from Greenwich, Connecticut, who has frequently been credited with the creation of the game. During the 1940s, Sobek was working in an elastic manufacturing plant and structured the elastic ball that is utilised for the game today. He, alongside an accomplice, additionally chose to join the standards of handball and squash and begin the principles for the racquetball, referred to at the time as "paddle rackets." Rackets, oars, and balls—all showed up in various shapes and structures throughout the years, as the look for the perfect model of each proceeded.
Sobek established the Paddle Racquet Association in 1952 and distributed a lot of tenets to all the YMCAs in the United States to help spread the fame of the game. By 1969, the game had turned out to be so prominent worldwide that a man named Robert Kendler established the International Racquetball Association, consequently changing the name of the game to "racquetball." During that year, the first racquetball official title was held in St. Louis, Missouri. It was likewise amid this time outdoor supplies stores started fabricating official racquetball gear for the game.
Prevalence of the game developed as more competitors came to see its high power, giving them an incredible exercise and perspiration while playing. Sports clubs and nation clubs all through the United States got on the energy of the game and began building racquetball courts in their clubs.
During the 1980s, the prominence of this game began to fall. Numerous clubs tore down their racquetball courts. In any case, there were as yet numerous dedicated racquetball players who gave themselves to the game and kept the soul of the game alive. Indeed, even with the decay of its fame, today, there are still well more than 20 million individuals worldwide that play this game. Since 1981, a world championship of racquetball is held every year, and in 1995, the International Olympic Committee endorsed it as a Pan American Games sport.
Men's Event
The males too play in singles as well as doubles tournaments.
Women's Event
The females play in singles as well as in doubles tournaments.
Mixed
Both the genders play in mixed doubles format.
The game is played in singles (one player each side) or doubles (two players each side).
Racquetball - Shorts/Skirts
Men always wear shorts while women can wear shorts or skirts according to their choice.
Racquetball - Shirt
Players wear light and breathable shirts or short sleeved shirts.
Racquetball - Shoes
Shoes have non-marking soles that allow good ankle control and quick movements to the players.
Racquetball - Goggles
Protective goggles must be worn by players to protect their eyes from injuries caused by hitting of the ball or the racquets.
Racquetball - Ball
Bouncy rubber balls are used that have a diameter of around 2.25 inches and weighs around 40 g.
Racquetball - Racquet
A racquet is a sports equipment used in racquetball that has an open hoop tied with a handle frame.
The three main technique of the game are:-
- Force the opponent to move as far as possible
- Return with a weak or defensive shot.
- Keep the control of the tactical area.
Types Of Shots
The various types of shots include:-
- Offensive Shots- Played on the bounce toward the bottom of the front wall.
- Defensive Shots- These are played on the bounce toward the ceiling or the corners at hip level.
- Pass Shot- When this shot is very powerful and accurate, the opponent is forced to leave the tactical area.
- Ceiling Shot- This shot forces the opponent to retreat to the back of the court and hit the ball high, for less offensive shots.
The racquetball court is 20 feet wide by 40 feet long. It is 20 feet high with a back wall at least 12 feet high. The short line is halfway between the front and the back walls. The service line is 5 feet in front of the short line. The service zone is the space between these two lines. The service boxes are 18 inches in width and are on the either end of the service zone. Drive serve lines are marked by lines parallel to the side walls; these lines denote the drive serve zone, which is 36 inches wide. The service line is 5 feet behind the short line. The space between the receiving and the short line is the safety zone.
A referee is in charge of the play along with two line judges and a scorekeeper who assist him. The referee makes all the decisions pertaining to the rules of the game.
