Matches

This is my last blog entry so it is fitting that we have started to actually play matches and of course I lost my first match.

But first we learned a few more techniques. One skill we learned was really cool, but hard to do. If the ball is too close to the back wall to get to, you can face the back wall and hit the ball really hard so that it will be harder to return. This is a little hard to explain in words so you can see the video below.

So, my first match was lost spectacularly 15-0 to my instructor. This was mostly due to the fact that it was 8:30 in the morning and the fact that I am much less experienced. Okay, to be honest, I just stink. But I learned a lot about judging when and how to hit the ball effectively, and how to deal with those backhand shots.

Overall, my experience in this class has been awesome. I learned a completely new sport that I had known almost nothing about.

The funny thing is that even though there were supposed to be four people in my class I was the only person to show up except for the first two classes.

I recommend learning racquetball if you want to learn a fun sport that anyone can play, just don’t forget the protective eye gear because black eyes are no fun.

Advanced Techniques

Over the last few weeks I learned so much in racquetball. Things are really picking up in speed and intensity.

We practiced playing cutthroat, which is with three people. The rules are the same as singles, but there is one server and two people retuning. This is what makes for such a fast paced game and it is a kind of disadvantage to be serving because its 2 versus 1. With three people and the changed dynamic there are new techniques. One thing we learned is that as someone in the back it is an advantage to hit the ball to the ceiling so that it also hits the front wall within about a second. This will force the front person to move to the back and the back person can then move in to the front spot. (See diagram 4.1)

We also practiced more singles moves. Similar to the last move we learned, if you can do the same thing as diagram 4.1, but turned upside down then it is impossible to return and considered a perfect shot.

Another thing we learned is that it is against the rules for the server to block someone’s view because it is an “avoidable hinder”.

Next post: 3/24