Racketball

Racketball friendly played on Thursday 29th April

Weston Squash & Racketball v BLTSC "all stars"
... the re-match

In the re-match, the BLTSC "all stars" were unable to repeat their
earlier win over Weston Squash & Racketball. BLTSC arrived with a
stronger team this time, with Frank Ellis, Mike Martin, Mark Regan, Matt
Clark, Adrian Barnes and Andy Winser, but still lost out 2/4. However, Mike and Adrian did join up to play and win an unexpected doubles match.

Frank played very well against a fit and determined Rob Watkins but lost
narrowly 0/3. Apparently, Frank hadn't held a racketball racket for 20
years. Rob, on the other hand, was in training for the National
Racketball Championships at Edgbaston Priory from 7-9 May. Perhaps, next year, Frank should enter?

Mike took 2 games to adjust to the hard-hitting Tom Lane, but unfortunately lost 1/3 after some excellent long and tight "squash" rallies. Mark should've, could've beaten James Lynn but eventually lost 2/3. After coming back from 0/2 down, Mark took control in the 5th of a tiring James before a succession of cross-court nicks won the match for James. This was still only Mark's second game of racketball ever! Similar to the inaugual match, both Matt and Adrian won their games. Matt's fitness allowed him to out-run Jerry Lane ... just.

Unlike squash, Jerry proved that a hard-hitting old'un can compete with
a fit young'un at racketball. Adrian again beat Alan Watts 3/0. The
games were closer this time, but Adrian was just moving too well and
covering the ground too fast for his opponent. He even had the audacity,
at matchball, to play a back-hand, corkscrew from the the front
fore-hand corner that hugged the back wall and sent his opponent into a
headless spin! Andy was kindly helping out at #6 due to injuries to both
Richard Tookey and Alice Clark. He played well but lost 0/3 to Rod
Barnes. I understand Andy played better in the beer game which he won.

#1) Frank Ellis v Rob Watkins 0/3
#2) Mike Martin v Tom Lane 1/3
#3) Mark Regan v James Lynn 2/3
#4) Matt Clark v Jerry Lane 3/2
#5) Adrian Barnes v Alan Watts 3/0
#6) Andy Winser v Rod Barnes 0/3

A big thankyou to Weston for their hospitality and for providing 3
peak-time courts and spectators for the re-match. Anyone interested in
playing racketball should contact Richard Tookey or Matt Clark.

Racketball Friendly

Weston Squash & Racketball v BLTSC "all stars"

"Beyond belief!", "What a win!", "How did we do that?"

- just some the exclamations after last night's win by the BLTSC "all stars" over Weston Squash & Racketball.

Unfortunately, some of the more experienced BLTSC players were unavailable and it was left to Richard Tookey to play and lose 0/3 against a young, fit and hard-hitting Tom Lane. Hopefully, Frank Ellis or Mike Martin will provide tougher opposition in the re-match.

Matt Clark played his usual, focussed game and beat Ian Hunt 3/1. Mark Regan surprised us all by adapting very quickly to the bouncier ball and different rules. He played at #3 because he had never played before, but he destroyed his opponent Rod Barnes 3/0.

Adrian Barnes was simply too quick for his opponent, Alan Watts, at #4 and again won easily 3/0.

The longest game of the evening was at #5 between Alice Clark and Graham Quick. Alice eventually won 3/2 after 60 minutes of tenacious rallying.

Peter Hilton played at #6 and amused the balcony by warming-up with a tennis racket. Although he claimed to know the rules and had practised the night before, he hadn't appreciated different equipment is required. Unfortunately, swapping the racket severely limited his reach and power and he lost 0/3 to Daryl Hicks. Afterwards, Daryl admitted he thought the racket looked large but assumed it was within the rules!

#1) Richard Tookey v Tom Lane 0/3
#2) Matt Clark v Ian Hunt 3/1
#3) Mark Regan v Rod Barnes 3/0
#4) Adrian Barnes v Alan Watts 3/0
#5) Alice Clark v Graham Quick 3/2
#6) Peter Hilton v Daryl Hicks 0/3

Hopefully, this inaugural win will encourage both BLTSC (squash and tennis) members to play this fun and challenging game.

Thanks again to Weston for travelling up in the snow to participate in this friendly. Anyone interested in playing racketball should contact Richard Tookey or Matt Clark.

Play

The game of Racketball is an ideal sport for all ages and played on a standard squash court.

England Squash has approved two variations of a Racketball - a Blue racketball is recommended for beginners and a Black racketball for more experienced players. Each player has a regulation Racketball racket and takes it in turns to hit the ball to the front wall - that's really all you need to know so now you can get playing.

HOW TO SCORE
A match shall consist of the best of 3 or 5 games. Each game is 15 points up; that is to say, the player who first wins 15 points wins the game, except that, on the score being called 14 all, the game shall be set to the 'best of five points', in which case the player who first scores three more points wins the game with a score of 17 points. A player who first scores 15 points shall win the fifth (3rd) game; in a five (3) game match, except that the player must win by a margin of two points over the opponent and where necessary that fifth (3rd) game shall be extended until this margin is achieved.

SERVING
The right to serve is decided by the spin of a racket or coin. Thereafter the Server continues to serve until he/she loses the point, whereupon the opponent becomes the Server, and so on throughout the match.

At the time of striking the ball, the Server must have at least one foot in contact with the floor within the service box, and no part of that foot touching the line surrounding the service box.

The ball is dropped to the floor so it bounces once then hit directly to the front wall above the tin, which is the board about half a meter high right across the bottom of the front wall. The ball should return to the opposite back quarter of the court, where the receiver should be standing. If the ball falls short of the service line or hits the back wall without bouncing, the receiver does not have to hit it and the server can have a second serve.

HOW POINTS ARE SCORED
Points can be scored by either player. When a player fails to serve or to make a good return the opponent wins the point. When the Receiver wins a point, he/she becomes the Server and adds one to his/her score.

After a good service has been delivered, the players return the ball alternately until one or other fails to make a good return, or the ball otherwise ceases to be in play.

LETS & STROKES
Generally, after a player plays a shot, he/she should make every effort to get out of the way for their opponent to have their shot. If there is any danger, for example players may collide or if you would hit the opponent with the ball or the racket, stop, and say "LET please". The other player should always agree. No point is scored, and the rally is re-started.

If the opponent disagrees, and feels he/she could have made a good shot, he/she can ask for a "STROKE please". This means he/she wins the rally and the point. Strokes in Racketball are very unusual. It is gracious to simply replay the point.

START PLAYING
OK, now you know where to play, what ball to use, how to serve and score, it is time to enjoy your game.

Good luck!

For more about Rackrtball go to englandsquash.com