This game could be called 3/4 doubles I suppose and if so it would be more like squash doubles than racketball doubles. Racketball doubles will be described in due course but, unlike squash doubles, the 2 players that comprise a team have to hit the ball alternately (as also in doubles table tennis). In squash doubles either of a pairing can play the ball at any time. This is the case in this racketball game.

In this game 2 players for a team and play against an individual player. There is a spin for the serve. The pair have to decide from which side each of them will serve and receive service. If one is a right hander and the other is a leftie then they would usually choose their forehand side.  If the individual wins the toss they can start serving from either service box as can the pairing. Then service side is alternated until the point is lost by the server and given to their opponents.

The game is started with a normal serve. If one of the pair is serving the second player should keep out of the receiving quarter until the serve is returned. If one of the pair is receiving service the other player should keep out of the receiving quarter until her partner has returned the serve. From then on a normal game is played with the team and the individual playing alternate strokes in a rally until it breaks down at which point the winner (or winners) get a point.

At any time in the rally, when it is the pairing’s turn to play the ball, either of them can do so. The basic tactic of the pairing is to cover for one another when their partner is pulled short or pushed back from the T. In this way the pairing should be able to dominate the T and have the advantage. The individual’s best chance is to play out right winners or cause confusion between the pair by trying to play into any ‘no man’s land’ the pair seem to left uncovered.

Games are played to 9 or 11 normally and, when three is a winner, the 3 players can rotate so a new pairing is formed and a new individual. There are 3 possible combinations – A and B against C, A and C against B, and B and C against A. You would normally expect the pair to beat the individual but it doesn’t always happen that way!