USA Racquetball, the sport's governing body, goes by the mantra: "Fast. Furious. Fitness." It's got that right.
Racquetball is a no-holds-barred racquet sport played in a completely enclosed court using a hollow rubber ball.
Unlike tennis or squash or badminton, there is no net or lines designating out of bounds. Every surface is in play, making it very fast paced. And unlike tennis, the learning curve is low.
"This game you can pick up pretty quickly," says Keith LoPresto, general manager at Penfield Fitness & Racquet Club. "The ball comes back to you."
And fast. Speed guns aimed at racquetballs have clocked them traveling in excess of 150 mph.
"It's a game of keep away," LoPresto says. "You're in a cube. And since the ball can only bounce once, the lower you hit the ball, the better."
As a cardio workout, it rivals running. Researchers say that a person will run more than two miles in one hour of playing racquetball and burn about 700 calories.
How to get started:
History: Pro tennis and handball player Joe Sobek is credited with inventing the sport in the 1950s in Greenwich, Conn. The first games were played on existing handball courts. Hall of Famer Marty Hogan, the sport's first pro millionaire, is credited with popularizing the game in the 1970s and '80s. Many of today's older players were introduced to the sport on college campuses, where courts were built by the thousands. A pro circuit exists and a U.S. Open is held annually with Ken Waselenchuk of Texas winning this year in Memphis, Tenn.
Court sense: It's 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, using 20-foot walls. The ceiling is in play. Lines on the floor mark serving and receiving areas. The best return shots are low and just inches off the ground known as "kills." Effective serves put an opponent in a difficult position to return the ball.
Rules: The serve must bounce on the floor once before striking the forward wall. Points are scored when the ball bounces on the floor more than once. Hindering an opponent's line of vision or his ability to hit the ball results in the point being replayed. Two 15-point games make up a match with an 11-point tiebreaker.
Gear: Racquets are lightweight and come in a variety of high-tech materials. Balls are color coded for their bounciness. Blue is standard. Wear cotton shorts and shirts that absorb sweat. Special racquetball shoes provide the proper grip and ankle support.
Safety: Eye protection is a must. Also wear a glove to keep sweat off the racquet handle and reduce the chance of it becoming a flying object. Always use the wrist strap.