racquetball

Racquetball is a fast indoor sport played 1-on-1 or in doubles on an enclosed court. Players use a solid racket to strike a small hollow rubber ball against the front wall, aiming to make the rally unreturnable.

The court is fully walled, with a front wall and surrounding side and back walls. Typical dimensions are about 40 feet long by 20 feet wide, with a 20-foot-high front wall. The ball is about 57 millimeters in diameter; racquets are solid-frame, usually graphite or composite.

Play is started by a serve that must hit the front wall first; after the serve, players may strike the ball off any wall or the ceiling to reach the front wall again. The ball must be returned before it bounces twice on the floor, and rallies continue until a fault or miss occurs.

Scoring: in many formats, only the server can score a point; if the server wins the rally, they score and continue serving; if not, service passes to the opponent with no point. Matches are typically best two of three games, commonly played to 15 points.

History and governance: Racquetball originated in the United States in the mid-20th century and spread internationally. It is governed globally by the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) and in the United States by USA Racquetball.

Play style and safety: The sport emphasizes speed, reflexes, and endurance. Protective eyewear is strongly recommended or required in many venues.