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Survey: how did you start playing racquetball |
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Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball Great stories folks! Here's mine: I took a handball class in college and excelled at it. Stopped after Earl was also the person who first tweaked my interest in reffing. In Otto OTTO E. DIETRICH Subject:
Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 12:08:11 -0800
From: Steve
I got started when I was 12. A prize that I won in my Sunday School class
at church was to go play racquetball with on of the teachers. I played off
and on through college (most of my time in high school was spent in a pool
on swimming and water polo teams), and started playing seriously and playing
in tournaments right after graduating from college. I was a C player when I
first started playing tournaments, and I'm now in the Open division.
Steve E.
Team E-Force
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 20:01:00 GMT
From: Roger
I got started when my friend and his friend's dad introduced me to the sport.
It was back in high school and I had a very cheap racquet. We played
cut-throat and I developed a very strong interest in the sport. Eventually , I
played more and more and made the racquetball team at college.
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 18:54:02 GMT
From: "Brian"
Well I started when I was about 12 (1975)
My dad played regularly (remember the wood rackets??). One time his partner
could not make it. He asked me to play. Half way through the second game he
walked off because I was not giving him a good enough game. Well, that was
all the motivation I needed. Next year I had to give him 10 point just to
make it interesting.
Played a lot of junior tournys in Northern California. Ran across Gerry
Price a few times. Still have the trophies from the "glory days".
Started playing regularly again a few years ago and love it. Wish I could
play more, but life tends to get in the way of having fun!!
Brian
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 12:24:22 -0500
From: Mark
I came to racquetball about 5 years ago after looking to get back in shape
in my late 30s/early 40s. Two friends of mine who were in the same
situation/shape began playing tennis with me on a semi regular basis. That
first winter we gave racquetball a shot and haven't looked back.
Mark
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 15:32:09 GMT
From: Mike
I took a PE class in racquetball, freshman year in college, in 1984 at
Mars Hill College (under the late Coach Harrell Wood, who was a ranked
player in his age division for awhile). 17 years later, I'm still
slogging along at a D level, getting my butt kicked on a regular basis,
but enjoying every minute of it.
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: 02 Feb 2001 06:42:34 GMT
From: chad
A good friend was a recreational player. He invited me to play several times.
I think I accepted his 3rd or 4th invitation. From the first time I played
racquetball, I was in love with the game. For me, it was a life changing
experience.
I had played some handball (outdoor 3 wall) in NY as a kid, so I had some ideas
about what I thought I could do with the ball.
Who have you invited to play lately? Do a friend a favor, and invite him/her
top play racquetball.
Chad
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: 02 Feb 2001 06:17:33 GMT
From: Peter
i started back in 1976 in spokane washington at the lilac city court clubs and
the y. got to play some squash as well at the city club as more courts were
open there than rball. started playing tournaments in 1976. i am sure most of
you remember my stories about playing derek when he was 10. took my worst
beating ever from his dad mike. some may remember me playing michelle gould in
pendleton oregon in men's c's. i beat her in semi's. think she was 14. i was
late 20's. still have the plaque, 2nd place men's c. played higher and higher
levels. but never won a tournament till july of 1999. won my first tournament
and it was open doubles. still remember the headline. pk and prokennex
merge. got tami on that one!
had a second place at state doubs in 1998 in open division. gave a copy of
that tape to a friend. wonder if they still have it? that was a gas. I was
really excited. won state championship in 35's with scott akridge in 1999.
have won a ton more since then, but none since my life changed and moved to
california. these people are really tough down here.
good luck to all you folks.
everyone's favorite peter
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 21:51:58 -0800
From: Alexandre
I started almost 2 years ago. I am (was?) a rugby player,
and I broke my hand (second time in 2 years!) so I could not play
anymore, and I had to go through some rehab and get back in
decent shape before I could go back to rugby.
My academic advisor needed a RB partner so I started playing
with him. I had never even heard of racquetball before...
I liked it and when I started playing rugby again I kept playing
racquetball for cross-training because it was a fun workout and
it required two things that I needed to develop as a scrum-half:
endurance and vision of the game.
When I quit smoking 3 months ago I used racquetball to fight
the cravings (rugby was way too dangerous to play when having
nicotine cravings).
As a result, I have been playing an average of 3 hours per day
for the past 3 months, I have been clean for the past 3 months,
I am the fittest I have ever been and improving, I will never
smoke *ever* again, and I intend to become a kick-ass
RB player. I still run at rugby practice with the team for
cross-training but I stay away from contact drills and games
(that's a little bit hard...)
that's my story :-)
Alexandre
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 05:19:09 GMT
From: Bob B
I was introduced to handball, squash and paddleball in college. Then got
a desk job like Dilbert's and my only physical activities were home and
auto related. Started slowly back into shape after 15 years with
basketball and volleyball. Then I went to a free racquetball clinic
given by the Y's 'Mr. Racquetball'... Been playing ever since. Found it
was the quickest, most fun way to get into shape. After more than a half
a dozen years finally beat the champ. Bob_B.
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 05:16:27 GMT
From: SFS
My insurance agent invited me to play with him in about 1982. The rest is
history.
really pissed me off when he beat me those first few times. Actually, he was
a pretty solid B player, so he waxed me for quite a while.
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 22:25:17 -0600
From: Racquetball Central
I was a wannabee tennis player at age 15 (HS captain, team MVP, the
works)...the local tennis pro got me into the game. He beat me the first
game and never won again...I knew then that racquetball was my game ;-)
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: 02 Feb 2001 02:37:22 GMT
From: (Steve)
In my teens...my stepdad started me. and I'm forever grateful to him.
Steve F.
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 15:25:24 -0800
From: Aaron Dowling
Hey Alex,
I just noticed your post hidden in the middle of the pack with no
responses. Well I don't think that is right, so I will respond.
About 5 years ago I met my later to be wife. I soon met her parents, and
her father was and is and avid racquetball player. He constantly bugged
me to come out and play, but i had very little intrest in playing with
him and his friends because they were all A players and I felt I would
bother them at the same time as getting my ass kicked. So, I played
squash with hime for a couple of years, he was not as good at that
sport.
Well 2 years after we met i finished school and was getting myself into
better shape after my studies and decided to give it a try. Well I was
right, they kicked my butt royally and made me feel like this was a
useless sport for me. But, to make it more interesting my now father in
law gave me 2 serves every time it was my turn to serve. For the first
couple months I would get anywhere from 1 to 4 points a game. I was
really starting to get interested in the sport and started practising
and playing tournaments. Whithin 6 months of taking up the game I was
able to beat him the odd game. After 3 Years now he cannot beat me any
more and I am thinking of giving him 2 serves a game, But I think he is
to proud(lol). I believe that I am a solid A player now and have opened
the eyes of a few open players in the doubles court.
I don't know about the rest of you but I seem to be a much better player
in doubles than singles. I guess only having to cover half the court
would make anyone look like a better player.
Hop this is along the lines of what you are looking for Alex
Aaron
Subject: Re: Survey: How did you get started in racquetball If I had played with any frequency, I'd probably be a lot better now
than I am, My dad played racquetball until he had a mild heart attack on the court,
and my |
