Here is a list of racquetball equipment items and other things that may assist you in your racquetball game:
Racquetball Glasses (eyewear) - Not an option!! Everyone MUST wear eyewear on the court. Don't play with anyone who doesn't! The ball suctions on contact, and let's just says you don't want it hitting you in the eye. If you are considering tournaments, know that you must wear approved eyewear that you can compete in. They would have to be approved by the USA Racquetball Organization that sanctions the tournaments. All approved eyewear have polycarbonate lenses.
Benefits of a Polycarbonate Lens:
- Recommended for children because of its incredible strength.
- The strength means that it is incredibly hard to break.
- Highly scratch resistant.
- Thinner than the usual glass or plastic lenses.
- Material itself is lighter than glass and plastic.-
- Used in many applications, such as "bullet proof" windows, because it adds such great flexibility and strength.
- Offers ultraviolet radiation protection, cutting out around 99% of these potentially damaging rays from the indoor lighting or direct sunlight when playing outdoor racquetball.
The differences you will find among racquetball eyewear is how much lighter polycarbonate is and how much it helps prevents fog from occurring. They all put an anti-fog of some sort on all eyewear, but they don't prevent as much as we would like. Some eyewear will have vents in the lenses to help prevent fog
Racquetball Racquets - You have many options here. From a low-end racquet made of aluminum that will bend when you hit the walls to high-end performance racquets that will never hold your play back. All racquets are made of their own technology that is comparable to other high-end racquets. They can be a heavier or a lighter frame. Their balance points will be different from one racquet to another.
Some racquets are customizable to fit your game. There are so many options in getting a good racquet starting at and up. The much higher-end racquets that would contain a manufacturer's latest technology would start at 0 up to 0. Racquets can come up to two different grip sizes.
One thing to remember about grip size: If you purchase a bigger grip you may not be able to go down in size but you can go up in grip size. E-Force and Gearbox have interchangeable grips, and you can take the grip down if it was the bigger grip size of the two.It is a good idea to have two racquets that are the same. If you broke a string or the racquet and had to go to a completely different racquet during play, this could hurt your performance.
Your playing style is used to a racquet after playing so many games. You will want to demo a racquet so that you can make an informed decision about what racquet you would like to play with. You want one that works for you and your playing style. A demo you could use for a week is a good way to find out if it is a good racquet. If it is an older racquet, a demo may not be available. Give us a call; we can talk about options for you to demo.
Racquetball Shoes - Not having racquetball shoes could cause you to not perform at your best. Wearing shoes outside and bringing those same shoes indoor to play can cause you to slip, also, not good for the indoor court's floor. I've been in courts that are not properly maintained and that as well can cause you to slip. For this reason, I like to carry Python's Anti-Slip Posi-trac.
I would never use running shoes to play racquetball. They do NOT give you the lateral support you need to play this sport.
A good test to see if you are wearing good supportive shoes for Racquetball:
1. Are you wearing gum-soled shoes?
- This would help grip the floors better.
2. Take the shoe you are wearing to play racquetball and hold it in both of your hands and hold the front side with your left hand and the back of the shoe with your right hand. Now twist back and forth. Is the center buckling and twisting? Not a good sign. That is a clear sign that you don't have good lateral support.
3. In this test you are also going to use two hands. Hold one shoe in both hands. Take your stronger hand and hold the rear bottom part of the shoe; above the sole. Now squeeze. Do you find it hard to squeeze? If so, that is a good sign that you have a shoe that can prevent you from rolling your ankles. One of the challenges many people face is buying racquetball shoes. Your best option is online at one of the major retailers.
Racquetball Kits - You can get kits that contain a racquet, eyewear, balls, and some will have water bottles. This would be recommended for beginners who are learning the game. Wilson, Head, Gearbox and Ektelon all offer racquetball kits. Wilson also offers a racquetball kit for kids 2-10 years old with the Sponge Bob Square Pants theme behind it with Sponge Bob racquet design, eyewear, water bottle, and ball.
Grips and Enhancements - You can go with a slip-on rubber grip or a wrap grip. The wrap grip will be more comfortable but less durable. The slip-on grip is more durable and would provide a bit more grip enhancing. With a slip-on rubber grip you will more than likely use a glove as this grip becomes very difficult to hold on when you start sweating.
One of the best ways to keep your glove lasting longer and in better condition is to wash your hands before you play. This helps get rid of all the leftover oil that is still on your palms.
Racquetball Gloves - The main purpose of a glove is to get a better grip on the handle. There are different types of gloves. Some will have padding for the diving player to protect the knuckles. Some will have more leather instead of pads to protect the diving player. Some have a mesh or ventilated material for quick drying. It's a tough spot to be in when your racquet is slipping in your hand. You will lose power and control when you can't eliminate the racquet slippage. We would also recommend that you always wash your hands before putting your glove on. Cleaning your hands would get the oil off of them that builds up over the day.
Strings - When it comes to strings there may be some things you want to think about:
Gauge of string (16, 17, or 18):
The 16 is going to be the thicker of the three. It will be the most durable but less responsive. This is for the hard hitter who swings fast. The 18 is the thinnest; it will be the most responsive on contact but least durable. Someone looking for more control who has a slower swing will use an 18-gauge string. A player using an 18g is going to be someone who doesn't break string often and is looking for that extra playability. I coach a lot more than I play so an 18g is ideal for me. If I ever want to get out there and play, I am going to be happy with the performance of the string.
Tension is another factor of play you want to think about. Our recommendation is to string your racquet at a 4 lbs. difference from mains to crosses. Your power will come from the mains and your control comes from the crosses of the racquet. Rex Lawler, also known as the String King, has tested all sorts of tension; and he found that the 4-pound difference worked best for racquetball. The range would be anywhere from 28-38 on the mains and 32-40 on the crosses. By raising the crosses 4 pounds you add a bit more control without eliminating any of the power. Everyone has a preference for his or her style of play. It may take a few different string jobs to get a feel for what you like.
Racquetballs - There are different balls you can play with. Some are designated for outdoor racquetball and some are for indoor play. You will find that the outdoor balls are played indoors, but are faster and take some inconsistent bounces.
Ball Options:
ProPenn Balls - Only balls made in the USA
ProPenn HD - Official ball of the Men's Pro Tour and the US Open. Penn high-performance engineers joined forces with the top professional players in the world on the International Racquetball Tour to develop the ultimate racquetball. They came up with a ball that has better visibility, lighter weight, and softer feel as results of this effort. Personally, this is my favorite ball. I notice the lightness and find it easier on my body.
Penn Blue - More people choose the Ultra-blue racquetball for its long, lively, consistent play.
ProPenn Green - The Official Ball of USA Racquetball makes the ProPenn the most widely used ball in tournament play. The bright green color has great on-court visibility and consistent speed, playability, and durability.
ProPenn Ballistic 2.0 - Designed for outdoor racquetball with increased durability, maximum visibility, and ultimate speed. If you play indoors with this ball, be ready for lightning fast play.
Ektelon Classic - Official ball for the National Master Racquetball Association and Classic Pro Tour. It is a slower ball with greater visibility. This is ideal for longer rallies and training workouts.
Ektelon Blue - Popular reliable blue ball for all players offering a softer feel.
Ektelon Fireball - Official ball for the World Outdoor Racquetball Organization. Specially designed to withstand the demands of outdoor play. Designed for fast action play.
ProKennex Yellow - Designed for outdoor play. These outdoor balls are designed for faster, livelier speeds. The bright yellow color will make them easier to follow on the court.
ProKennex Blue - Two Pressure-less balls in a can that are specially designed for faster, livelier speed.
Wilson Titanium Green - This is a lively tournament quality ball that is consistent and long lasting.
Wilson Championship Blue - Perfect speed for all levels of play.
Wilson Hope Balls - This ball was designed by women for women. These balls are medium speed and are great on the court for consistency and visibility. A percent of all sales is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 2 balls per can.
Racquetball Bags - Bags come in different sizes. Most companies offer at the minimum three options, and other companies offer as many as six options. All bags will fit racquets comfortably. 90% of bags will have enough space for clothing, shoes, balls, and just about anything you want to throw in your racquetball bag. Ektelon has bags that are perfect for travel as they have wheels on them and act just like luggage.
Racquetball Clothing - The more common clothing that players are using is made of dry-wick material. Dry wick keeps you cool and comfortable, unlike cotton that sticks and drenches and can make you uncomfortable. You can get racquetball clothing from Head, Ektelon, Gearbox, and E-Force.
Socks - My recommendation would easily be Thorlo socks. They are great for all activities. They are designed to help protect your feet from the damaging effects of impact, shear, and blistering common to playing racquet sports.
Shock Absorbers (Dampeners) - They help change the sound on contact. Dampeners are also used to help eliminate vibration on contact.
Anti-Slip Spray - Your best option to help you not slip on floors is to have shoes that are not used outdoor but ONLY indoor. In some cases you do come across courts that are not well maintained. In this case I would recommend some Python Anti-Slip spray.
Headbands/Bandana - Racquetball is such a great cardiovascular workout and causes you to sweat a lot. Sweat begins to get in your eyes and it causes discomfort and it interferes with your play. We recommend wearing a headband or bandana for this problem.
Wristbands - You can use wristbands to help wipe the sweat out of your eyes and off of your forehead and other parts of your body.
Anti-Fog Spray - When you sweat, your goggles/eyewear have a tendency to fog up. If this happens to you we would recommend Anti-Fog spray to help prevent this.
Bumpers and Grommets - Over time your bumper and grommets will go bad from hitting the wall. The only way you can replace them is when you are getting your racquet restrung.
Racquet restringing - My advice... if you play three times a week you should get your racquet strung three times a year. As your professional stringers, we look over your racquet completely...making sure it is in good condition for restringing and string it up. We ship it out or you can pick it up the same day.
Instructional Videos/Books - There are good options available to you in order to take your game to the next level. It starts with you and what you want out of the game and what you are willing to put into the game. If you are willing to take time every day, week, and/or month to better your game...IT WILL HAPPEN. With some goals, practice, and determination you could take your game to a level that, right now, is not imaginable for you. Call us if you would like to talk about this further in setting goals and putting together a plan. Who knows, you may some day be a national champion in your age group!
Always stay tuned to our website for some good content on the game and how you can better your racquetball skills. Honestly, if you are someone who wants to stay tuned into racquetball I would bookmark our website and come back often. Another item that has helped me a lot as a current Junior and Collegiate Racquetball Coach at Indiana State University is Fran Davis's Building YourRacquetball Dream House DVD. I played the VCR copy on our TV at the store, and I heard it in the background a lot. That has helped me very much in coaching and as a player.
Also, if you are into reading, one of the first instructional books that I really learned a lot of the mechanics from was Woody Clouse's book Winning Racquetball: Skills, Drills, and Strategies that I read and practiced with it in mind. You can find this at Barnes and Nobles.You can also read and study Percentage Racquetball by Darrin Schenck, who was the USA Racquetball 2008 Coach of the Year. Stay tuned to our website for the link to the book. They are available and you can order it at anytime. Call 800-875-3701Another book on instruction is E-Force's Real Racquetball by Tom Travers and Dr. Tim Miller.
Entertainment Videos - If you ever want to watch racquetball at its ABSOLUTE best, watch the Professional Racquetball players in action. It is amazing!! You can buy any of the US Open Racquetball Championships from the last three years on DVD.
Manufacturers in Racquetball - There are six racquetball companies that specialize in racquetball items.
- Head
- Pro Kennex
- Wilson
- Ektelon
- Gearbox
- E-Force
Pain Relief:
Biofreeze is one good option that we offer. It works by creating a cooling sensation that is transmitted through the nerve endings to the brain. It transmits at speeds faster than most pain sensations or warming sensations. Unlike icing an area, Biofreeze allows blood to continue to flow to the area so that it can be naturally repaired. Biofreeze and its ingredients are registered with the FDA. Biofreeze is vegetarian friendly; no animal products are used in the ingredients. Biofreeze is also not animal tested.
EMU Oil - We have pure 100% Australian Emu oil.
Go to Google and search Emu Oil. Look at the great benefits of this oil.
