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Racquetball Rules

Racquetball Player Racquetball is an exhilarating sport that combines the rules of both squash and handball. Some might say that it is the easiest sport to get addicted to. This is partly because it is relatively easy to pick up a racquetball racquet and play for the first time, as opposed to other racquet sports like tennis. The game is most commonly played between two players, but is sometimes is even played with up to 4 players on a single court. Court Layout (Click to Enlarge) The standard racquetball court is rectangular in shape with 20 foot ceilings. There are several red lines which define the boundaries of the game. The closest line to the front wall is called the service line. Five feet behind this line is a parallel line called the short line. In a game between two players, the person serving the ball must stand inside the rectangle created between these two lines. Five feet behind the short line is a dashed line called the receiving line. The server must drop the ball so that it bounces once, and then hit the ball off the front wall in such a way that it bounces behind the receiving line. It is allowed for the ball to hit a side wall once. Any serve that does not make it past this line, hits the ground first, or hits more than one side wall before touching the ground will be considered a fault. The server is only allowed one fault serve. After the second fault, a change of possession takes place, and the receiver becomes the server. After a serve becomes in play, the players must hit the ball back and forth off the front wall. One bounce on the ground is allowed before the player must hit the ball. If the ball bounces twice, either a point will be awarded (to the server), or servers will be switched. Similarly to volleyball, a receiver can not score a point. Racquetball Game Hitting the ball against the back and side walls is allowed, but the ball must hit the front wall at least once during every hit. Failure to do this will result in either a point being awarded (to the server), or the servers being switched. In addition, the following will also result in a loss of point or posession: The ball bounces more than once before being hit. The ball does not touch the front wall during the rally. Touching the ball with any part of your body or clothing Switching hands during a point. Failure to use a racquet wrist safety cord. Touching the ball with the body or uniform. Carrying, slinging, or lifting the ball with the racquet. Unlike the serve, a ball in play can touch an unlimited number of walls, including the ceiling, as long as it hits the front wall before touching the ground. Games are typically played to fifteen. A set is two games, with an 11 point tiebreaker if necessary.