Six months after my 42nd birth, six months has passed since I started racquetball again. One session in the 4-wall Ping-pong Chamber was all it took to remind me why this is my favorite game. Action. Action. Aggression. Strategy. Lateral Movement Body Slams. Trash talking…Racquetball has all that – plus a great cardio workout. My hour was up.
Next day I remembered why I had stopped playing. Ouch. My body was sore where I did not know it. My body became accustomed to regular exercise 2x per week after a couple of weeks.
While I’m not a professional athlete or a doctor, I enjoy being active and playing sport. You can get back in racquetball if you wish (and I know you will! These are the areas that you should focus to continue playing…and winning.
1. Do not write checks that your body can’t cash
Playing for the ball can make you want to put your body to work. Running into walls and diving for the ball are two of the most damaging to your body. After a court session, you will feel exhausted if your muscles are hyperextended and your body is hitting the ball hard. These nagging pulls and bumps could lead to serious injuries that can take a significant amount of time to heal. You’ll probably be a bit heavier than when you were in your 20s. Heel bruises, knee strains and back pulls are all possible from extra weight, combined with lunges and hard impacts. They have happened to me, and I know that the best way to heal is to not do anything for long periods of time.
Do not let pride take over. Many of my playing partners lost their fights for one game but were unable to come back the next week.
Your head should be used. You should stretch out at least for 15 minutes before starting to play. Before you start stretching, do a quick jog. For at least five minutes, you should be against the walls. Play low down – low lunges can cause muscle pullings so be sure to warm up before you start playing.
Take care of your wounds immediately after you’ve won a battle. You don’t want to feel like a hero, and then you will be limping for the next week. It can be wrapped, wrapped, jacuzzied, or asprinsed. So your body can heal, get enough sleep. Get glucosamine in your joint. It will adjust if you care for it. Just don’t expect it back to the same level as it did when it was younger.
2. Don’t be afraid to get your gear on
You will need a goggle, shoes, racquet glove, and knee support. This is the essential gear for battle.
It is possible for goggles to fog up, but they cannot be replaced. Each time I consider taking off my glasses, I find myself going to the bathroom. The pressure of a compressed tennis ball hitting your eye socket could cause your eyeball to bleed. This is enough. You can bring 2 pairs, and switch them over if one becomes cloudy.
Shoes. Good shoes should fit comfortably. Do not grab the old nikes, get new ones. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. Buy 2 inexpensive pairs you can switch between to give the shoes time to heal. Basketball shoes may be a good option if your ankles need extra support. You can be on the injured reserve list for quite some time if you twist your ankle. Wrap your ankles first before you go. You can do it! You don’t have to look pretty, it’s all about winning.
Racquet glove. Protects wrist from carpal tunnel by not bending over to grasp the racquet. It’s worth the investment.
Support for the knees. My height is 170 pounds and my waistline is 5’10” so I am not very large. However, my knee support is a must and you’ll see why. My knees took a beating. You will find yourself diving for the ball and bouncing off the ground if you play hard. Because you’re a fighter, it’s impossible not to! You’ll feel the pain the second day, even though your knees are vulnerable in battle. They’ll only get worse with each game. It will soon be time to give up. It’s not enough to be 20. You need to give your body time to heal. You need to be at work Monday morning and still have the ability to haul all your family’s junk. You should ensure you leave enough food for your family.
Do not show up wearing velcro knee protectors. You aren’t laying tiles! You can help ensure your knees are healthy by using simple slip-on knee supports made of breathable latex.
3. Winning Strategy: Placement & Positioning. This is especially important for younger players who have more energy. Smart play is key to conserving your energy. Smart play involves putting the ball in the correct spot and positioning yourself on the court in the best spot. It doesn’t matter how hard you hit the ball, it won’t win any games. You should not put the ball where you opponent isn’t. Do the bastard race. Get ’em to dive. You must make them beg for mercy.
These are some of the winning tips that I have learned.
1. Quiver O’Serves It is a good idea to have at least three or four great serves. Varietate your serves. Before you serve, take a look at the opponent to determine where they are. It’s fine to hit into the backhand corner, but it is better to let it bounce off the wall. Fast! Hit one to the opponent’s ankles. You can mix in a dying, high-corner lob but you cannot play against the wall. Add a quick ball-wall-hugging backhand. You can keep changing the serve speed and getting your opponent to strike out at your serve. Give them no time for setting.
2. Body Positioning. If you are concerned about your position, it is best to remain in the middle. Cross-wall shots are good if you’re facing a wall. This forces the opponent to hit your cross wall shot, which causes your ball to return to you. Do not hinder the ball. Drive your opponent back if he is in front of you on the court. You should get out of a corner as soon as you can. Keep your eyes on the middle.
3. You should wait for the ball. Don’t let the ball go if you have a great forehand shot. Make sure your shots are accurate if you have a good forehand shot. You won’t hit the ball hard enough if you are too excited. The ball can bounce high and your opponent will recover by attempting a backwall return.
It doesn’t matter if the ball passes you. You can turn around and take it to the back wall. Do not play against your opponent.
4. Locate the Achilles Heel. You can play a lot of different shots to discover your opponents weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to try new things once you are in possession of a kill shot. You must take the fight. Play with your opponent whenever you have the opportunity.
5. Make sure you have the serving! If you do not have the serve, it is impossible to score. You must return the serve on time if you want to score. At all cost, get your serve back. Your opponent shouldn’t be allowed to run up an excessive tab. You have to do it when you are served wickedly. You can learn how to interpret the body language of your opponent. A server may telegraph their moves by using a flick of their feet, turning the wrist grip or dropping the shoulder. These little “reads” will allow you to jump on the serve, get an extra millisecond and reach that server box.
6. Placement, placement and more placement. Make your opponent run, scramble, dive. EVERY shot must be very difficult to take back. It doesn’t have to be a kill shot or hard hit ball. You need to be able to place the ball exactly where you opponent wants it. That brings me to my next tip.
7. Be attentive to the ball, and pay attention to your opponent. Develop your kung fu senses. Your opponent who is rushing will usually have weak returns, except for the occasional LUCKY kill shot. It is important to predict where your opponent’s next shot will be.
8. My favorite tip is last. You can improve your game by playing at least twice a week and playing with someone that is more skilled than you. I beat my regular partner almost every time. His Ninja skills are unmatched. He has a huge repertoire of devastating serves. An excellent kill shot, forehand and backhand. A great strategic player. He was a competitive player when he was younger, and he never gave up. But, I am gaining ground on him and have beaten him several times. To me, a challenge beats a win. Also, I beat other racquetball player easily.
However… BUT… It will exhaust your body, and you’ll also burn your passion for the game. You can find regular players and follow a set schedule.
Keep your boys running by having fun!