“Championship Racquetball” Sports Racquetball Triangle…. Tips from the Coach!
By Fran Davis
Getting Ready for Vegas!
Rocky Carson undoubtedly is the most decorated racquetball player in BOTH Outdoors (12 National Singles/4 National Doubles) and Indoors (7 National Singles/10 National Doubles/ #1 Ranked Pro 2008 and Top 5 most of his career/2 Pan American Golds/5 World Championships Golds/1 US Open Champion). So combined, it’s 42 titles in all.
Rocky better than anyone knows the difference of how to play Outdoor racquetball as an Indoor player…let’s take a look:
SERVES:
Outdoor – 1st bounce is as deep in the court as possible and 2nd bounce as deep off the court as well…this is called “Deep Down School”. This philosophy forces your opponent into a tougher return from deeper off the court on their back foot.
Indoor – 1st bounce is generally between just over the short line, and dotted line, and 2nd bounce dies in one of the back corners, making it harder for your opponent to return.
RETURN OF SERVES:
Outdoor – Sometimes the best returns are a straight in one wall shot, down the middle chest high and deep into the corners.
Stay away from the pinches as if you don’t kill them, they pull your opponents to the middle of the court, keeping you from getting back to center court.
Indoor – Best returns are to the ceiling drawing your opponent back or passes down-the-line, cross-court or wide-angle.
Same as above, generally no pinches as if you don’t kill them, they pull your opponents to the middle of the court, keeping you from getting back to center court.
SHOTS/ SHOT SELECTION:
Outdoor – Do not go bottom board; for the kill; it’s better hitting more shots at your opponent chest-high forcing your opponent to hit high above their shoulder or higher.
Indoors – Hit more low shots, kill, pinches or passes, when possible.
COURT POSITION:
Outdoor – Own the middle.
Indoor – Own the middle.
Rocky better than anyone knows the bonus of how to use what he learned in Outdoor racquetball for his Indoor game…let’s take a look:
-Forces you to execute your angles as if you don’t, many shots will be floating out.
-Helps you cut the ball off more by reacting more quickly as there is no backwall.
-Helps you learn to control where the ball bounces, which affects how your opponent can attack the ball.
Rocky came to Seattle, WA 9/27/2020, and taught all this to my indoor players, and they now feel they have the weapons to be competitive in Vegas.
We know this will be helpful for you too; that is why we wanted to share it with you.
GOOD LUCK in Vegas, and please cheer Rocky Carson on to VICTORY.
For details on more personalized instruction/video lesson/coaching, a weekend camp, instructional DVD’s and our book, Championship Racquetball, ALL which covers all aspects of the Sports Racquetball Triangle and more, please visit www.FranDavisRacquetball.com. Fran coaches #2 IRT Pro Player / 1X US Open Champion / 5X World Champion, 2X Pan American Champion, Rocky Carson; Coaches #1 Women’s LPRT Pro Player for 9 seasons / 10X and present US Open Champion & 5X World Champion, 3X and present Pan American Champion, Paola Longoria; Coaches Jr. World & National Champions, Briana Jacquet and Graci Wargo; Master Professional Instructor/Coach USAR-IP. Fran Davis is a 2004 racquetball Hall of Fame inductee; Racquetball Woman of the Year 2009.
