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How to get out of your opponent's
way
Winning
Racquetball : Skills, Drills and Strategies
Millions of Americans play racquetball,
yet instructional material is scarce. This guide, written by a veteran
instructor (Turner) and a ranked professional (Clouse) provides tips for
both the seasoned recreational player and the novice. They examine everything
from equipment to match strategy in straightforward, conversational language
augmented by more than 140 photos and line drawings. Readers will learn
how to select a racquet and a facility; how to condition themselves specifically
for the sport; and how to avoid the most common types of injuries. There
are also excellent tips for doubles play, mental conditioning, and gamesmanship.
In addition, the authors break the game down into offensive and defensive
skills, an approach often overlooked in racquet-sport instructionals. A
key feature is the inclusion of drills to develop the recommended shots
and strategies. Too often players just play, forgetting that even a minimal
amount of time devoted to skill development can pay huge dividends. In
areas where the sport is popular, this is the instructional of choice.
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Subject: Hinders
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 23:36:15 GMT
I started playing again 4mos. ago after stopping playing in the late
80's. It seems to me that players just don't get out of the way and
in "friendly" games are willing to be in the way and take the block
very often. Many of these are avoidables but never called during a
friendly match. To make matters worse the same persons are upset when
they get hit, and I am talking about lazy balls that float to the back
corner and come of the glass for backhand kills that strike them at
the short line 1-2 feet from the same side wall. They seem to think
the shooter should be looking for them instead of concentrating on the
ball and shot! I've even heard the refrain "go to the ceiling if the
person is in the way", oh sure so much for me scoring any points.
This practice is not just confined to any one skill level and
I have seen it at more than one club. When did the practice of
staring at the front wall and ignoring everything else become the
norm? In doubles often the partner will serve a soft lob to the
opposite side and the opposing player has to take a block cause he
can't shoot down the line? I mean you have about 5 minutes to get off
the wall.
As someone else wrote the only solution may be calling
avoidables ALL the time, then maybe it will stop. If year ago the
people stood around like this they would be bruised from head to toe.
Scott
. . . .
Subject: Re: Hinders
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 02:18:02 GMT
From: "Otto Dietrich"
Hi Scott
Here, here!
In my experience, the type of "stare at the front wall" play you describe is
the result of poor instruction that taught two "terrible" rules:
1) Never look at the ball because you might get hit in the eye!
and
2) Always go to center court after you hit the ball because that's the best
place to be!
What I say to such players is wear acceptable eyewear so you can (almost)
always be aware of where the ball is. Even consider using the racquet
strings as a face shield! But watch the ball! Furthermore, you CANNOT take
center court if it interferes with your opponent in any way! So, go there,
but ONLY if it does NOT interfere.
OTTO E. DIETRICH
President, United States Racquetball Association 1998-Present
National Rules Commissioner 1988-1998
Member of National Rules Committee 1982-Present
. . . . . . . . . .
From Alex Glaros:
Scott,
(1) Keep printed copies of rule 3.15(a) in your gym bag to hand out to
these people during a match. (copy of it below).
(2) Get an open or A player to talk to him.
(3) Have your friend watch watch some higher level players, and focus
on how the player who just hit the ball gets out of the way. Ask your
friend to understand that those players are never in each other's way
because they're watching the opponent and the ball.
(4) Start playing with higher skilled players.
(5) Just use your friend for practice. Practice your splat shot since
its a safe shot when your opponent is blocking your down-the-line shot.
(Unless your racquet will strike him.) If he eventually moves way up to
cover the splat and he's still directly in front of you, hit a defensive
lob or around-the-world which will be effective since he's so far up.
See also: How to get out of your opponent's way
Good luck!
Alex Glaros
QR03: Do I have to allow a clear shot to the entire front wall?
A: No, but you must allow him a down-the-line shot and a cross-
court shot. Here's what the rules say:
Rule 3.15 Avoidable Hinders
An avoidable hinder results in the loss of the rally. An
avoidable hinder does not necessarily have to be an
intentional act and is the result of any of the following:
3.15 (a) Failure to Move. A player does not move sufficiently to
allow an opponent a shot straight to the front wall as well
as a cross-court shot which is a shot directly to the front
wall at an angle that would cause the ball to rebound
directly to the rear corner farthest from the player hitting
the ball. Also when a player moves in such a direction that
it prevents an opponent from taking either of these shots.
Note that this does NOT require that you give your opponent a
clear shot to the opposite corner of the front wall; only
that you allow a shot to the "middle" of the front wall,where
"middle" is defined as the spot that would send the ball to
the opposite REAR corner.
Also note that this is an AVOIDABLE hinder, resulting in loss
of the rally! (Although most recreational players would just
call you on it and do it over.) [Or else they'd just hit
you!]
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