Racquetball things to keep in check:

Today I had my first ever amateur racquetball match–I lost. Looking back on it though, I realized that my opponent didn’t necessarily beat me with his skill (although he was still quite good), but rather that I was the one making stupid mistakes. Immediately, I made a list of things I did wrong or inconsistently leading up to and during the match, which is quite extensive as you’ll tell from the following list. Hopefully, what I’ve learned from only one match will help some fellow racquetball players out.

1. During forehand swings, make sure your elbow is out. On the hit, snap your wrist and follow through. It’s NOT a tennis swing! Racquetball isn’t necessarily about finesse (although I like to think so), but more so placement and power; the swings ARE different.

2. Watch the pinch when your opponent has center or upper court and be ready to sprint forward if they do.

3. When your opponent has center court, always pass.

4. Make sure you have a good serving stance and never rush the serve–you’re in control.

5. Work on your Z serve. It’s very effective when done correctly.

6. No eating heavy foods up to 3 hours beforehand. Small foods like powerbars or energy gels are acceptable.  With the bursts of speed required for racquetball you do NOT want to get dragged down by side-stitches.

7. Take caffeine 1-2 hours before hand if you need it. If you’re more sensitive to caffeine it can make you jumpy and your breathing shallow. Just relax.

8. Absolutely no lifting weights at LEAST 2 days before your game. You want to be fresh–your opponent will be.

9. Work on your stamina. Repetitive wind sprints during training may be a pain, but emulate the bursts of speed in a racquetball match.

10. After your serve, look back over your shoulder to see what your opponent will do (i.e. kill or pass).

11. Make sure you’ve trained with the equipment you’ll be using. That means buy a racquet if you don’t have one already. Also, make sure your shoes are appropriate for court use and not just tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are made for outside and can slip on the wood court, especially if the courts haven’t been mopped in awhile.

I could list everything on what one should do leading up to and during a match, but these are the main problems I noticed leading up to my match. Hope this provides some good insight to anyone who’s looking to get into their first tournament or just a few tips that maybe you haven’t caught onto yet. Good luck!