UK racketball is a different game from the US game of racquetball. US Racquetball was invented sometime in the late 1940s early 1950s and is played on the american handball court. UK racketball was invented in 1976 and is based upon squash and played on a standard squash court. It is now played in most countries where squash is played. For those that know the rules of squash and how to play there are only three differences for racketball, all concerned with the serve. To serve the ball is bounced on the floor before striking it (in squash it is thrown in the air to serve). The service line, the horizontal line across and halfway up the court front wall sometimes referred to as the cut line, is not used in racketball and the serve can strike the front wall anywhere between the tin and the out of court line at the top of the front wall. Finally, the serve must not hit the back wall before it bounces in the service court (although the receiver is free to volley the serve return before it bounces if they wish). These differences will be clear if you read the rules document. Of course if you don’t know the rules of squash (many racketball players were not previously squash players) then the differences will not signify anything.

The main differences between racketball and squash are the equipment and the style and intensity of play. The ball is about the same size as a tennis ball, hollow rubber like a squash ball but much bouncier. The racket has a larger head and a shorter handle. The distance between the hand and the point of contact with the ball is shorter making hitting the ball easier. The larger bouncier ball gives you more time to get to the ball making the game easier than squash to learn. It is also less physically demanding and less injury prone. Squash players frequently observe that the ball is easier to reach and hit, they have more time to play their shots and the overall experience is as if playing on a somewhat smaller court. This makes it ideal for beginners and individuals who are rather less fast around the court and mobile. It is for this reason that it is so suitable for older and younger players and is the fastest growing racket sport in the country. It is an easier game to learn, play rallies and get exercise, and is generally kinder to your body. It is an ideal game for men and women to play together and mixed ability groups, making it ideal for friendly and sociable competition. However, the fact that it is easy to learn and play means it can be a demanding game when players are fit and competitive. For all standards of play, racketball gives most people a better workout that squash as it is less technically demanding. In other words, racketball has something for everyone! The following short video introduces racketball and demonstrates its very broad appeal.

Click on the following link to see the rules of racketball