AboutRob Chabot Expertise Racquetball. Know all the rules, etiquette, etc. Am familiar with equipment and am active on the applicable newsgroups when I have time. I can be of service to players up to the "advanced" level. Have been playing since the mid 1980s.
NOTE: I cannot answer questions on "what kind of racquet should I get?" This is like asking "what kind of dog or car should I get?" There are so many factors I do not know where to begin - how long have you been playing, do you prefer a top heavy or frame heavy racquet, how often do you plan on playing, etc. I recommend you find a pro shop that allows you to "demo" (borrow) racquets. You can usually borrow racquets for one to three days. A borrowing fee may be involved - and if you end up buying the racquet from that shop, it will usually credit you the loaner fees you have already paid against the purchase price of the racquet.
Experience Won the Ohio State University Intramurals tournament ("A" Division) six out of six times entered.
I was just playing raquetball after work. We ran into a new situation we did not know how to call. My opponent played the ball with a hard shot. The shot bounced off the front wall off the back wall off the floor and was heading back to the front wall without bouncing a second time. I ran to the front wall placed my raquet on the wall as the ball headed for the wall. The ball bounced off the tip of my raquet and spun up off the front wall. Is it legal to touch the front wall with your raquet to make a play on the ball? Also if it hasn't bounced a second time and it hits the front wall is it still a playable ball or do you have to hit it before it bounces twice or hits the wall?
Answer Andy,
Not sure if I understand the scenario - I may need more clarifcation from you if one of my guesses below is not correct. I'll guess as to what you're saying - if I am "off," let me know.
My reading of your description is either under Scenario 1 or 2 (below):
Scenario 1
Player A (opponent) hit the ball off the front wall.
a) The ball then hits the back wall WITHOUT hitting the floor.
b) The ball then hits the front wall without hitting the floor on the way to the front wall.
If Scenario 1 is accurate:
i) you (Player B) can hit the ball after it hits the front wall and BEFORE it hits the ground or
ii) Player B can hit the ball after it hits the front wall *and* AFTER it hits the ground.
Scenario 2 (I think this is the more likely scenario - scenario 1 may be physically impossible :-))
a) Player A (opponent) hit the ball off the front wall.
b) The ball then hits the back wall WITHOUT hitting the floor.
c) The ball then hits the front wall after hitting the floor.
If Scenario 2 is accurate:
i) you (Player B) can hit the ball after it hits the front wall and BEFORE it hits the ground *and*
ii) Player B CANNOT hit the ball after it hits the front wall and AFTER it hits the ground.
Note that I am out of town and my email access is EXTREMELY sporadic - it may not be until next Tuesday before I can reply.
