Racquetball games are typically played to 15 points, first one to 15 wins. You can only score when you serve. On the serve, you get two chances to successfully start a "rally" (set of back and forth shots between opponents)by hitting a "good" serve. If you "fault" twice in a row, it's a "side-out", and your opponent gets to serve. A good serve must go over the second line from the front wall. The person receiving the serve may not cross the dotted line in order to return the serve, UNLESS the ball has already bounced. This is for safety.

The object of the game is to hit a shot that your opponent cannot return before it bounces on the floor a second time. Once the ball bounces twice, whoever could not get to it before the second bounce loses that rally. If you are serving and you lose the rally, it's a "side-out" and the other person gets to serve. If you served the ball, and the other person cannot get the ball before it bounces twice, you get a point.

Before every serve, the server looks back at his opponent to make sure he is ready to return the serve. This is called "checking the receiver". When it is clear that the receiver is prepared for the rally to start, the SERVER announces the score. He calls his own score first, then he calls the receiver's score. For example, if the server has 8 points, he gets in the service box and says: "8 serving 2". He then attempt to serve a good serve and start the rally.

If he wins the rally, he scores a point. If he loses the rally, his opponent gets to serve.

Some rallies must be replayed without a change in the score or in servers. When it is a player's turn to hit the ball, but the other player is in his way, it is called a hinder. That rally must be replayed. When you hit your opponent with the ball before it hit the ground or the front wall, that is also a hinder, and must be replayed. If your opponent is standing right in front of you so that you cannot swing without hitting that person, that is called a penalty hinder. If the person doesn't get out of the way of your swing, he loses the rally. That rally is NOT replayed.

It is a good idea when playing racquetball to always stay aware of what is happening with the ball and your opponent. You should wear eyeguards so you can lessen the risk of an eye injury. You should not be facing the front wall very often at all, but should be facing either side wall and watching your opponent's shots and where the ball is traveling. To do this safely, it is a good idea to hold the racquet up at face level and look at him through the strings. Believe it or not, there will be less chance of getting hit by the ball if you turn and watch your opponent at all times. One other important point is that generally, out of courtesy, if someone says they did not take a shot because they thought they might hit you, you do not argue with them. If they seem to be abusing the hinder call, you may want to discuss it with a neutral person after the game is done. But if you argue during the game, it cand result in hot tempers, and in such a fast game, this can result in getting hit with the ball.

Read the rules, then play fair and have fun.

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