Racquetball Techniques for Beginners  [Don’t Make THIS A Habit!]

Racquetball is a simple game in concept. Hit a ball against the front wall of the court before it touches the floor and your opponent chases the ball down before it bounces twice on the floor, to do the same. Hit the ball directly against the front wall before it touches the floor. There are things you can learn as a new racquetball player and techniques that can be practiced such as how to hold the racquet when swinging forehand versus your grip when swinging backhand. Where you should be when your opponent is hitting the ball and how to hit a drive serve or z shot to name a few. Using these tips and techniques from the very start will help you to develop good playing habits. Using the tips and techniques below, along with practice time and experience playing racquetball will make the beginner player a better player much more quickly.  

  

Is the Forehand Grip the Same As the Backhand Grip?

The racquet handle or grip is not round or oval. The grip is an octagonal shape, with a total of 8 sides. The basic shape can be described as rectangular with angled corners called bevels.

This is important because the grip used for the forehand shot is different than the grip used for the backhand shot. So, it is important to shift the racquet about ¼ turn towards your fingers and away from your thumb when switching from a forehand grip to a backhand grip.

The bevels and the flat sides of the grip are there so your hand knows where the face of the racquet is pointed without having to look at it. If the handle was round, you would not know if the face of the racquet was pointed up, down, or at what angle when you change your grip.

The 2 longer sides of the grip correspond to the face of the racquet and the shorter sides correspond to the edge(frame) of the racquet. Here is what the shape looks like:  

 

          

 

The Forehand Grip  

The correct way to grip a racquetball racquet for a forehand shot is by first holding out your hand as if you are about to shake someone’s hand. Place the racquet handle in your hand, the grip should fit into the “V” formed between the thumb and first finger.

The racquet should appear to be an extension of your arm and hand.

This is the best way to ensure the face of the racquet stays parapedicular to the floor (and parallel to the front wall) when striking the ball.

The racquetball racquet should be gripped loosely but firm enough that it cannot slip out of your hand during your swing. Your pinky finger should be at the butt end of the grip or just off the end of the racquet.   

 

 

 

 

The Backhand Grip  

There are 2 ways to teach the correct backhand grip. The first one is to hold the racquet out in front of you and rotate the top part of the racquet forward one-quarter turn so the “V” between your thumb and first finger is now on the beveled area of the racquet.

The second way to find the correct backhand grip is to put the racquet under your nondominant arm with the grip of the racquet sticking out forward. This would be under the left arm for right-handed players and under the right arm for left-handed players.

Now reach across, grab the grip of the racquet, and pull it out from under your arm as if you are unsheathing a sword.

These two techniques are the best way to ensure the face of the racquet stays parapedicular to the floor (and parallel to the front wall) when striking the ball.  

     

 

You should be able to switch between these 2 grips naturally throughout each rally.

A good way to learn this technique is to hit a ball against the front wall. If the ball comes back to your forehand side, make sure you are facing the side wall as if you are a batter and you are setting up to hit a baseball pitch with both feet and your body facing the side wall, with racquet up and back. Make a good swing,

If the ball comes back to you on your backhand side, rotate your body to face the wall on your backhand side and set up as if you’re going to throw a frisbee. Once again, with your racquet up and back and your feet and chest facing the side wall.

As you get better at rotating into these positions and switching racquet grips, you can keep it challenging by hitting the ball quicker and lower.  

For additional information on Racquetball for the beginner including how to keep score, click this link!

  

Racquet Ready Technique  

The Racquet Ready technique is vital to learn when you are a beginner racquetball player. The game is fast-paced, and early racquet preparation is important.

Early racquet preparation will result in better, more accurate return shots.

This technique has you always moving around the court with your racquet above your waist and in a ready position. This does not mean that you carry the racquet across the front of your body.

Learn to move around the court favoring the side walls. If you are watching an opponent’s shot on your backhand side, the racquet is up and back as if expecting to make a backhand swing.

If you are watching an opponent’s shot on your forehand side, the racquet is up and back as if expecting to make a forehand swing.

Ideally, the racquet should not fall below your waist while moving around the court.

It’s best to learn this from the start. It does not seem like a big deal at first, but bad habits that are hard to break, form quickly.

Practice moving around the court using the Racquet Ready technique right from the start.   

  

Find Center Court  

Center court is an area that starts just beyond the Safety or Encroachment Line and extends a few more feet toward the back wall.

This is the ideal area where you want to be when your opponent is hitting their shot. This is where you can best play defense from.

The technique here is to return to this position on the court quickly after you hit every shot.

One of the biggest mistakes players make, especially if a new player or as a player tires is to watch their shot and not immediately move back to the Center Court Area. I call this spectating your shot.

When you are in the center-court position, it puts the most pressure on your opponent’s shot and places you in the best place to have an opportunity to return a shot.

For more on Center Court position, click this link.

  

Foot Shuffle Technique

Practice and get accustomed to facing the side walls as you move around the court.

This is best done by shuffling your feet (side shuffle).

It’s the best way to keep your eyes on your opponent and see where they are going to hit the ball and stay in racquet ready position.

Practice this technique of shuffling toward the front and the back of the court while facing both walls and then practice shuffling up to the ball and striking it as it falls into the strike zone.

 

  

The Strike Zone  

When most racquetball players start, they feel most comfortable hitting the ball when it is between their waist and chest areas and from an upright position.

I think this is because as a new player, you can see the ball, where you want to hit it, and maybe your opponent in this upright position.

You will soon see that other players hit the ball harder and more accurately when the ball is struck somewhere between the player’s knee and ankle areas.

This would be the strike zone.

As a new player, practice moving toward the ball and hitting the ball in a lower strike zone, and you will soon see your power and accuracy increase.

Here is a technique to help you make this a habit. Stand about 4 feet off the right wall of the court if you are a right-handed player, facing the wall. This is your forehand side.

With your racket in racquet-ready position, bounce the ball just ahead of your left foot, and using the shuffle technique, move to the ball, wait for it to drop below your knee, and strike it so that it bounces off the front wall and passes by you on its way to the back wall.

Ideally, it should bounce twice before it hits the back wall.

This technique will help you lower your strike zone, increase your accuracy and teach you how to hit a useful passing shot.

As this becomes easier, bounce the ball off the wall to increase the difficulty of this drill. This technique can be used on the backhand side too. Facing the wall on the left side of the court.