When I played tennis invariably someone in the group would hit the tennis ball not just out of the court area but also out of the complete tennis court facility. Eventually someone would have to walk outside the court and retrieve that ball. Often this happened more than once in a game or a match. If we were lucky we had other tennis balls to play with. Sometimes the ball hit was the last one of a trio that had been sent out of the court. Then everyone else waited to continue play while one person found all the balls and brought them back to the court.

            Racquetball is played in a confined court measuring 20 by 40 feet. Depending on the court a ball can go outside where it will need to be retrieved, but this doesn’t seem to happen as much in racquetball as I remember it occurring in tennis.

            And that is another reason I like playing racquetball. It is played in that confined space rather than the open wide space of a tennis court. Some racquetball courts are totally enclosed so a ball cannot “escape.” Other courts may sit below walkways that provide a viewing area and a ball may periodically bounce high enough to leave the court across the walkway, but it doesn’t go anywhere near as far as a tennis ball will stray once hit out of the court.

            People of all ages can play racquetball, from those young enough to barely hold a racquetball to those who are ninety with hands that shake while holding the racquet. There is no set age or shape or sex that is a requirement to play the game. And that is something that makes the game fun.

            One woman I know began playing in her eighties. When she suffered a slight stroke, she slowly returned to the court, playing with a woman who patiently worked with her so she wouldn’t hurt herself, but would still have fun. This woman has now turned ninety.

Another woman started in her early seventies and loves the game so much that she will play any time with anyone, including her husband (more about couples playing racquetball in a later blog).

            How young can a kid start playing racquetball? I’ve seen kids not much taller than a racquet out on the court. They aren’t playing a racquetball game because they are too young to comprehend the rules, but they are learning to hit the ball with a racquet. I’ve seen a kid watch the ball bounce across the court and manage to at least strike it a glancing blow because they have learned that watching the ball is the most important aspect of the game.

            Anyone at any age can play racquetball. Beginners may start slowly, will probably have trouble figuring out where the ball is going to go, and may fear what they think is the speed of the game. But patience is the key. Keep playing no matter how clumsy it feels. The clumsiness will go away to be replaced by the knowledge of the game acquired by continued playing.

            I especially like to see women playing racquetball. It’s a great aerobic exercise without a lot of hype.  Women can play at different levels depending on their skill and athleticism. (Of course, so can men). I strongly encourage women of all ages to try racquetball. Well, more than try because trying it once might not be sufficient to understand it and keep playing.

            Try racquetball several times. Get on the court with someone and play. Take a lesson. Take a class. Give yourself a chance to fall in love with racquetball. Okay, maybe not everyone who tries racquetball will fall in love with it. But at least try it enough to find out if you even like it.

            I like it. No, I love it. I hope I’m playing when I’m ninety.

             Bye for now!

            P.S. Whenever you are on a racquetball court you must be wearing protective eyewear. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Even a slow ball could cause damage to your eyes. A fast ball in your eye could well mean loss of that eye. There are all types of protection for your eyes including prescription eyewear.  Put the protection on before entering the court, keep it on while on the court, and don’t take it off until you are completely off the court.