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The following material will lead you through the fundamentals of racquetball. We built this article to help you understand how to play the game as soon as possible while also offering links to further dive into various areas.

In a nutshell, the goal of the game is to outscore your opponent while attaining a certain score. The majority of events are played in a best-of-three style called a racquetball match, with games scored to 15 and a tie-breaker played to 11.

1. The players agree on the match’s rules and who serves.

2. The game begins with a serve and continues once the serve is successful.

3. Once the ball is in play, the opposing player (or team) must strike it against the front wall before it bounces twice.

• The returning player can strike the ball either in mid-air or after it has bounced once.
• Once the returning player strikes the ball, it must travel to and strike the front wall (or any number of walls, including the ceiling) before hitting the floor.

4. This kind of play will continue until one player wins the rally.

• A point is awarded if the player serving wins the rally.
• If the player who returns the serve wins the rally, they also win the serve.
• A point can only be won by the player who serves.

5. When a participant hits the agreed-upon point total in a game, the game is ended.

There are several ways to play racquetball, which are mostly determined by the number of participants. Each game consists of:

Singles Racquetball

When two players play racquetball in a one-on-one contest, it is referred to as a racquetball singles match. This is the most popular way to play the game, both recreationally and competitively. Investigate the rules, tips, and tactics of a racquetball singles game in greater depth.

Doubles racquetball

When four individuals play racquetball in a two against two competition, it is referred to as a racquetball doubles match. This style of play is popular in both competitive tournaments and non-competitive recreational matches. Learn more about the regulations of racquetball doubles.

3 Player Racquetball or Cutthroat Racquetball

3 player racquetball, often known as cutthroat racquetball, is often played in a 1 versus 1 vs 1 format, with the server attempting to score against the other two players on the team. This game type is not intended for tournament play, but it may be a lot of fun when played with an odd number of players. More information about racquetball cutthroat rules may be found here.

A basic summary of the racquetball court lines is provided here. These are by no means an entire list of the regulations, but they should be plenty to get you started in a racquetball singles or doubles competition. If anything is not addressed here, please refer to our extensive racquetball rules.

Service Line – The service line is the one nearest to the front wall. The line is very essential in the serve. Both feet of the person serving must be on or behind the line. A foot fault occurs when one or both feet cross the service line, and the serve is forfeited.

Short Line – The court is divided into two halves by the short line. The short line serves three functions.

• During the serve, the ball must move past the short line in the air before the first bounce after hitting the front wall. If the ball on a serve reaches the floor before passing the short line, it is deemed a short serve and is a fault.
• The person serving the ball cannot begin the serve with their foot extended beyond the short line. It is deemed a fault if the foot extends beyond the line.
• The player serving the ball is not permitted to cross behind the short line until the ball has passed through the short line on a serve.

Service Zone – The service zone, often known as the service box, is the space between the service line and the short line. This region reaches all the way to the side walls and is bordered by two sets of perpendicular lines. This is the region in which the server must serve and remain until the ball crosses the short line.

Service Boxes – In a doubles racquetball match, this region is the box on either side created closest to the wall in the service zone. The individual serving the ball‘s teammate must stand inside one of these service boxes.

Receiving Line or Encroachment Line – The player returning the serve shall not cross the receiving line unless one of the following events occurs:

• On a valid serve, the ball bounces after crossing the Short Line.
• In the air, the ball passes the receiving line.
• If the player steps on or crosses the receiving line before one of these two things occurs, the server receives a point.

We hope that this article has provided you with a short and straightforward overview on how to play racquetball. Check out the links below for additional information on particular regulations, gameplay variants, strategy, tips & tactics, and more to go further into the game of racquetball.