Racquetball

Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court. Earl Riskey developed paddleball in the 1920s. Joe Sobek is credited with inventing the sport afterward in 1950[citation needed], adding a stringed racquet to the game to increase velocity and control. Unlike most racquet sports, such as tennis or badminton, the court's walls, floor, and ceiling are legal playing surfaces (sometimes, depending on the rules), rather than out-of-bounds.
Normally, a racquetball game is played between two opposing players, though three- and four-player variations exist. Two-player games are called singles or "one-up" (1-on-1 for the entire game); three-player games are called "Ironman" or "Cut-throat" (2-on-1 for the entire game) where each player takes turns serving to the other two; the "California," or "In-and-Out" variation is a 3-player game where in it is played as a three-way singles game, except that the losing player of the previous rally remains in the back court, out of play, while the other two play the next point; the four-player game is called "doubles" and is played as teams.

Equipment:

This court and equipment are required for playing racquetball:-

a. A racquetball court; fully enclosed indoor or outdoor with forward wall
b. A racquetball; a dynamic (bouncy) rubber ball of 2.25 in. (57 mm) diameter
c. Two racquetball racquets; no longer than 22 inches
d. Racquetball goggles (Optional - Some clubs mandate goggles, while others do not.)

Other useful, optional equipment includes the following: a racquetball glove for firmly gripping the sweat-slicked racquet handle, avoiding callouses, and protecting the racquet-hand knuckles from the playing surfaces, (i.e. floor, wall, the other player[s]); racquetball court shoes and sweatbands, snug-fitting, absorbent cotton shorts and shirt, to control and contain sweat from the court floor.

Racquetball equipment varies greatly in quality and intended use. Lighter racquets are preferred to heavier ones in order to increase response time; however, lighter racquets usually cost more. Nicer racquets also embody long-string technology, where some of the strings run from the top of the racquet all the way through the handle, thus increasing the "sweet spot." Different racquetball ball colors also usually indicate different ball specifications and benefits. The speed of play and visibility of the ball usually increase from blue to green to violet. Depending upon the supplier different colored balls have different characteristics. Black balls are faster, more bouncy and yet less durable than the standard blue ones, and red balls are specifically engineered for outdoor play.