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What Is Racquetball?

Racquetball is an indoor racquet sport played in an enclosed court where a hollow rubber ball can bounce off any wall, the floor, and even the ceiling. Two players (or four in doubles) take turns hitting the ball against the front wall, using every surface in the court as part of their strategy. It’s fast, physically demanding, and — because the ball flies around an enclosed space at up to 150 mph — occasionally terrifying for first-timers.

The Basics

The court is 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 20 feet high — fully enclosed. The front wall is the primary target: every shot must hit the front wall before bouncing on the floor. But the ball can hit any other surface (back wall, side walls, ceiling) before or after hitting the front wall. This makes racquetball three-dimensional in a way that tennis or squash isn’t.

The ball is a hollow rubber sphere about 2.25 inches in diameter, designed to bounce high and fast. The racquet is shorter than a tennis racquet (about 22 inches) with a wider face and a wrist strap (mandatory for safety — nobody wants a racquet flying around an enclosed space at full speed).

Serving: The server stands in the service zone (between the service line and the short line in the middle of the court), bounces the ball once, and hits it against the front wall. The ball must land past the short line without hitting more than one side wall before bouncing. Fault serves give the server a second attempt; certain errors (like hitting the back wall on the fly) result in losing the serve outright.

Rallies: After the serve, players alternate hitting the ball against the front wall. The ball can bounce once on the floor between hits (like tennis) but can touch any other surface any number of times. A rally ends when a player fails to return the ball to the front wall before it bounces twice on the floor, or commits a rules violation.

Scoring: Only the server scores points. If the server wins a rally, they earn a point. If the receiver wins, they gain the serve but no point. Games go to 15 points, matches are best of three.

Strategy

Despite its reputation as a power sport, racquetball rewards smart play as much as raw strength.

Kill shots — hitting the ball so low on the front wall that it barely bounces, making it nearly impossible to return — are the primary offensive weapon. A perfect kill shot rolls out from the front wall. Attempting one from a bad position, though, usually results in giving your opponent an easy setup.

Passing shots — hitting the ball past your opponent along a side wall — force them to turn and chase. These are safer than kill shots and effective when your opponent is positioned near the front.

Ceiling shots — hitting the ball to the ceiling so it bounces deep in the court — are the primary defensive weapon. A good ceiling ball pushes your opponent to the back wall and gives you time to reclaim center court position.

Court positioning is critical. The ideal position is center court, roughly where the service line is. From here, you can reach any return with minimal movement. Much of racquetball strategy is about moving your opponent out of center court while maintaining it yourself.

History

Racquetball was invented in 1950 by Joe Sobek, a professional handball and tennis player from Greenwich, Connecticut. Sobek was looking for a fast, easy-to-learn sport that could be played on existing handball courts. He designed a short-strung racquet, created rules combining elements of handball and squash, and called the game “paddle rackets.”

The sport grew steadily through the 1960s and exploded in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, driven by the fitness boom and the construction of dedicated racquetball courts in health clubs across America. At its peak in the mid-1980s, an estimated 14 million Americans played racquetball.

Participation declined through the 1990s and 2000s as fitness trends shifted, and many health clubs converted racquetball courts to other uses. Current estimates put active players at about 3.5-5 million in the U.S. The sport remains popular in Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, and several other countries. The International Racquetball Federation organizes world championships and has pursued Olympic inclusion.

The Fitness Factor

Racquetball is one of the most efficient workouts available. The constant movement — sprinting, lunging, twisting, reaching — provides cardiovascular and muscular conditioning simultaneously. The ball moves fast enough that you can’t coast; you’re constantly reacting.

A study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found that competitive racquetball players maintained heart rates of 75-85% of their maximum throughout matches — firmly in the cardiovascular training zone. The intermittent high-intensity nature (short bursts of all-out effort followed by brief recovery) mirrors the interval training that exercise scientists consider optimal for fitness.

The sport is also joint-friendlier than running because the court surface provides cushioning and movements are multidirectional rather than repetitive. And because it’s competitive and social, people tend to play longer and more consistently than they would exercise alone.

Getting Started

Racquetball is one of the easiest racquet sports to pick up. The large ball bounces high and is forgiving of imperfect contact. The enclosed court means you spend less time chasing errant balls. And the basic rules are simple enough to learn in five minutes.

All you need is a racquet ($20-$100), a ball ($3-$5), protective eyewear (mandatory — the ball can cause serious eye injuries in an enclosed space), and access to a court. Many gyms and recreation centers have courts available to members at no additional charge.

The game rewards consistent play quickly. Within a few sessions, beginners can sustain rallies and start developing basic strategy. Within a few months, the chess-like aspects — shot selection, positioning, anticipation — start emerging. It’s a sport that’s easy to start and difficult to master, which is the best combination for long-term engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between racquetball and squash?

The courts look similar but the games differ significantly. Racquetball uses a larger, bouncier hollow rubber ball and a shorter racquet with a wrist strap. Squash uses a smaller, less bouncy ball and a longer, narrower racquet. Racquetball allows the ball to hit the ceiling; squash does not. The serving rules differ, and squash has a tin (a strip at the bottom of the front wall) that the ball cannot hit. Racquetball tends to be faster and more power-oriented; squash rewards endurance and precision.

Is racquetball good exercise?

Racquetball is excellent exercise. A typical game burns 600-800 calories per hour, comparable to running at a moderate pace. It improves cardiovascular fitness, agility, hand-eye coordination, and reflexes. The constant lateral movement and lunging provides a full-body workout. Because the game is engaging and competitive, many people exercise harder and longer than they would during a solo gym workout.

How do you score in racquetball?

In standard racquetball, only the server can score points. Games are played to 15 points (win by 1), and matches are best of three games, with a tiebreaker game to 11. The server serves from the service zone, and the ball must hit the front wall first and land beyond the short line. Rally scoring (where either player can score on any rally) is used in some recreational settings but not in official competition.

Further Reading

• USA Racquetball
• International Racquetball Federation
• Britannica — Racquetball