Racquetball

Racquetball racquet and ballRacquetball is a sport played with racquets and a hollow rubber ball on a special indoor court. It was invented by Joe Sobeck in 1949 incorporating rules from squash and handball. Unlike many other racquet sports, the walls, floor, and even ceiling of the racquetball court are considered in-bounds. The game is normally played by two players, though there are variations with three or even four (which can get very crowded). Two player games are called singles, three player games are typically called iron-man (2 on 1 during entire game) or cut-throat (a player take turns serving to the other 2), and four player games are called doubles.

Rules

The player who won the last point is the server. The server bounces the ball once on the ground, then hits it against the front wall with the racquet. If the ball hits the side wall, ceiling or floor before hitting the front wall, it is an automatic side out. The served ball is required to bounce somewhere on the floor between the back line of the service box and the back wall. If the served ball hits the ceiling, the back wall, or both side walls before landing in play, the serve is no good. The served ball is permitted to hit one side wall before landing in play. Once it passes the back of the service box, the ball is in play and can be returned. The server is allowed two attempts at serving, unless a side out occurs.

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At this point, players alternate hitting the ball against the front wall. The ball is allowed to bounce on the floor at most one time before being hit against the front wall. After being hit by a player, the ball must not touch the floor at all until hitting the front wall, even if it has not yet bounced. Unlike the serve, the ball may touch as many walls as necessary as long as it reaches the front wall without bouncing on the floor.

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Points are scored only by the server, when the served ball is not returned by an opposing player.

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Professional players play best of 5 eleven-point games, requiring a two-point margin of victory. Amateur players play 2 fifteen-point games, with an eleven-point tiebreaker if necessary. It is not necessary to win by two points in amateur racquetball.

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