We’re halfway through Spring and playing an outdoor sport may be something we think we would like to participate in until the weather turns nasty again.

For racquetball players, the mind may turn to thoughts of playing tennis. It is a racquet sport played on a court. But tennis may not be the best of choices for of an outdoor sport for racquetball players.

I played tennis before I knew anything about racquetball. I enjoyed tennis, but playing was dependent on the weather.

In New Mexico the biggest weather factor is the wind. We have lots of wind in the Land of Enchantment. I took up racquetball and continued to play tennis. Then my husband and I decided to quit tennis. We decided together because we found ourselves using tennis shots in racquetball and racquetball shots in tennis.

At first we missed tennis, especially on those really nice days that make it a joy to play. Then we both began appreciating the differences between tennis and racquetball that make racquetball more fun. (at least for me).

When you play racquetball you are in an enclosed place. If you hit a ball hard and high, or even soft and low, the ball stays in the enclosed space.

When you hit a tennis ball high and hard on the court, it can go into the parking lot where you left your car, the fenced property on the far side of the court, or bounce off the fence around the court to return to you.

It seemed like I was always chasing tennis balls. I chase racquetballs, but those balls rarely leave the court and are easily located.

So we return to spring fever and exercising outdoors. I’m going to take a long walk when the weather is just right, not too hot, not too cold, no rain, no wind.