Description
Racquetball is a competitive game in which a racquet is used to serve and return the ball. Racquetball may be played by two or four players. When played by two players it is called "singles," and when played by four players, "doubles."
Objective
The objective of the game is to win the rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. A rally is over when a player makes an error or is unable to return the ball before it bounces twice on the floor.
Points and Outs
Matches are typically 2 games to 15 points and if needed, a tiebreaker to 11. The winning margin shall be by 2 points in every game. Only the serving player or team scores points. Points are scored when the player serving (or team serving in doubles) serves an ace or wins a rally. When the serving side loses a rally, it loses the serve. Losing the serve is called a "side-out". The player or team who wins the point always serves next.
Serve
The play begins with the server standing in the service zone, bouncing the ball once on the floor and striking it with the racquet. A serve is good when the ball hits the front wall first, then bounces on the floor between the short line and the back wall. On the way, it may strike one sidewall before bouncing on the floor.Two attempts to serve the ball are allowed.
The following are fault serves, of which any two in a row, result in the loss of serve:
- Short Serve: The ball fails to go past the short line before bouncing on the floor.
- Long Serve: The ball hits back wall before bouncing on the floor.
- Three Wall Serve: The ball hits two sidewalls before bouncing on the floor.
- Ceiling Serve: The ball hits the ceiling on the way to the back of the court.
- Screen Serve: The server’s body or racquet screens the ball from the receiver.
- Missed Ball: The server swings and misses ball.
- Foot Fault: The server’s foot is completely over the front line of the service zone, or the server’s foot is over the short line before the serve is completed.
Serve Return
The serve must be returned before the second bounce. To return the serve, the receiver stands in the centre of the racquetball court approximately an arm and racquet length from the back wall. The receiver may not enter the safety zone (the area between the short line and receiving line) until the ball crosses the receiving line. When the ball is returned, it may strike the ceiling or any other wall, as long as it strikes the front wall before it bounces.
Rally
Play after the successful return of serve is called the rally. Each player or team alternates hitting the ball until one misses the ball or makes an illegal shot. Players try to earn points or win the serve by putting an end to the rally.
Once the ball is in play, the walls and ceiling can be used for shot variations. Points are scored when the server wins the rally. If the receiving player wins the rally, the result is a side out, and he/she gets to serve. Whoever wins the rally always serves next. Only the serving player or team scores points.
Hinders
There are two types of hinders:
- A dead ball hinder is replayed without penalty. It occurs as a result of the ball striking a part of the court such as fan vents, doorknobs or lights and rebounding erratically. This called a court hinder. Other examples of dead ball hinders include body contact between the players, a safety hold up by one of the players, or a screen ball.
- An avoidable hinder results in the loss of the rally by the offender. These are not necessarily intentional, but clearly take away a shot from the opponent. Some examples are not giving your opponent enough room to hit his/her shot (called blocking), making distracting noise, falling on the floor, or playing too close as to be hit by the back swing.
Official Rules
For the official rules of racquetball please visit:
www.racquetball.ca/racquetball_Canada_technical.asp
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