Friendly "Racquet" sports

A good way to stay relatively in shape when you're busy and work out with a friend at the same time is to play racquetball. I'll lay down the rules of this fast paced indoor game and send you off to play with you're friends, collegues, or enemies!

Racquetball is a fun sport that involves up to four players hitting a bouncy rubber ball at any of the 4 walls of a room. It is played with special racquets and balls that are unique to the game.

Racquetball is a very simple game to pick up and play. Play starts when the server stands in the service zone and the receiver stands behind the receiving line. The server then bounces the ball on the ground, and then hits the ball with the racket. The ball then must hit the front wall first and then land behind the short line. After striking the front wall the ball may hit any other wall before touching the ground behind the short line, unless the ball strikes both sidewalls before hitting the ground, as this is considered a fault. The server gets two tries to get the ball in play. Players then alternate hitting the ball, either off one bounce or in the air. When struck the ball must eventually hit the front wall before touching the ground again, this means that the side walls, back wall and ceiling may be hit as along as the ball reaches the front wall before landing. Only the server may score points and a point is awarded if the ball strikes the ground twice. Other ways to score a point include: hitting the ball out of play, intentionally blocking your opponent from reaching the ball or a double fault occurs. After losing a rally the players switch who serves. Games are played to 11 with the winner being ahead by two points. It's a good idea to wear goggles when playing this game as the ball tends to fly about everywhere and can, and will, hit you. So, if you have access to a racquetball court and have the rackets and balls go for it!