An indoor racquet sport similar to squash in which players use a short racquet and a hollow rubber ball on a fully enclosed court.
Origin and rules
Joe Sobek invented racquetball in 1950 in Greenwich, Connecticut, combining elements of handball and squash. Players use a short, stringed racquet to hit a hollow rubber ball off any of the court’s six surfaces, including ceiling and back wall.
How it plays
A match is best of three games. The first two are played to 15 points; the tiebreaker to 11. Only the serving side scores. Players must hit the front wall before the ball bounces twice.
Competition
The IRF Racquetball World Championships and the US Open are top events. The United States, Mexico, Bolivia, and Argentina are the strongest nations. Racquetball is not currently part of the Olympic programme.