Book Description
Whether you're a competitive tournament player or a recreational player, Winning Racquetball: Skills, Drills, and Strategies will help you improve your game.

The authors—veteran racquetball player and instructor Ed Turner and #9-ranked professional racquetball player Woody Clouse—show you all the shots and strategies for success on the court. Using more than 140 photos and illustrations, the book includes dozens of practical tips and 35 drills for better practice and performance.

Inside you'll find valuable information on

• selecting equipment and facilities;

• injury prevention and treatment;

• conditioning to improve strength, power, flexiblity, and endurance;

• common errors and how to correct them;

• effective game strategies for doubles and tournament play; and

• mental training and outthinking opponents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Too superficial for the better player
I regretably have to agree with an earlier reviewer who panned this book as being too basic to be really useful for the more advanced player.I figured that reviewer was looking for "shortcuts" to getting good, without the hard work of practicing the basics -- and I believe in the importance of working hard at mastering the basics.So I purchased the book.But, the problem is that the basics covered in this book are too basic -- like how to pick a racquet and the trajectory of a lob serve.Those are things the beginner needs to see, but the better player knows them in principle, but needs help in learning how to execute them better -- not the "what" of winning racquetball, but the "why" and the "how" so that the skills can be practiced and developed.It's not that there isn't good stuff in this book -- there is.It does a good job of treating the fundamentals, but that's where it stops. If you've already got a solid grasp of the fundamentals and are already playing at a reasonably advanced level, I would recommend the "Advanced Racquetball" DVD by Jim Winterton which demonstrates the mechanics and strategies that will allow better players to take their game up another notch.A word of warning -- Winterton's DVD is very good, but it is so loaded with specific coaching information that it can be hard to digest it all.Sometimes you just want to yell "explain that a little better before you move on!"But at least, when you've been exposed to Winteron's coaching comments you know what you're not doing right and need to work on, and because it is video rather than static pictures, you can play and replay the stroke mechanics being illustrated.

Not bad, could be much better
I would like to see stop action sequenced photos of the basic forehand and backhand strokes. There is no picture of a decent backhand stroke in the chapter entitled "Hitting Forehand and Backhand Shots" and only two instructional photos.

All instructional photos in the book are of Woody Clouse a LEFT-HANDED player. Why would you use photos that are appropriate for only 10% of the population?

The text presentation is quite good but the photos leave a lot to be desired.

Information that is Very Valuable
One has to apply the information that has been read from this book and use it on the racquetball court. The information is very direct, and their is no mystery to it. One of the authors who contributed information on this book [Woody Clouse] emphasizes that one has to practice hitting alot ofballs on the court, lift weights, and run sprints in order to get better asa player-Male or Female.International Racquetball commissioner HankMarcus along with Irt player Jon Ellis give this book a very positiveevaluation. The book has many pictures illustrating situations where onehas too be hitting the ball away from the player, etc. The book has severalchapters that emphasize all the aspects of game-conditioning, nutrition.The book also has several pictures of players who play on the professionaltour. Cliff Swain, Andy Roberts, Mike Ray, Drew Kachtik , and RubenGonzales are some of the player photographs one will see in this book.Ihave to say that my play was really very limited and highly primitive. Ionly knew how toserve the most basic serve in racquetball and that wasthe drive, and that was the only shot I knew since the beginning. I wasvery fortunate that when I was playing the game I purchased this bookduring the time to help improve my play. It has been a couple of monthsnow, and my play is alot better. I can do a Z-serve, a left and right driveserve, and my lob is coming there. I also learned to hit the ball away frommy opponent and not to hit the ball to him or her but away from myopponent. Alot of patience is needed, and alot of practicing if one desiresto improve. So if your a racquetball player who is from Moscow, Russia, orTijuana ,Mexico, or from Houston Texas who wants to be more knowledgeableplaying the game, I highly recommend this book too you.

Not much solid information here.
I was disappointed by the lack of advanced instruction in this book.Winning Racquetball includes precious little information that an intermediate player wouldn't already know.It seems this book is mostlyfiller.I was expecting insight on advanced strategies and how to improveon fundamentals.Instead I found a lot of information on how I should eatand what I should wear.

Superb. This book taught me a lot about the game!
If you gotta have just one book to win in racquetball-- this is it!My friends (after being frustrated with my newfound techniques) were surprised about my transformation... from a novice player to a real good contenderwithin a month.I plan to join tournaments soon and win.Thanks to thisbook. ... Read more

Book Description
Head to the court and learn to hit that winning kill shot in no time at all! Racquetball Fundamentals will have you playing and competing while you master the basics of the game.

You'll learn shot techniques for the forehand, backhand, serve, return of serve, passing shot, side-wall shot, and kill shot. You will also become more competitive with instruction on shot selection, court positioning, and footwork. Soon you'll be winning your share of matches as you employ those techniques with the tactics taught for both singles and doubles play.

More than 75 drills and games will speed your learning and improve your performance. You'll also gain a greater understanding of the game's rules, scoring, etiquette, and safety.

Racquetball Fundamentals is a better way to learn the basics in less time. Use it now and get a step--and point--ahead of your next opponent. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nothing Special
This book can often be confusing or long winded to get across points that should be simplistic.It will give you a couple beginning techniques, but did not provide the "best practice" advise I was looking for.

Great Book
I am a beginner at the sport and this book offers great insight and instruction on each aspect of the game.

Good entry level book
This book does a good job teaching the fundamentals and my game has improved since reading it. My only gripe is that I would have liked to have seen more diagrams in the book (particularly the chapters on serves and returns) rather than photos of players, in the book. Overall, good book for the money. ... Read more

Book Description
You have taken your first step to success in learning to play racquetball with the purchase of this book. Racquetball: Steps to Success combines the knowledge and experience of master teacher Stan Kittleson with the latest research on learning racquetball.

Racquetball: Steps to Success is a unique guide designed to maximize your racquetball progress. It is a breakthrough in sport skill instruction through its development of complete learning progressions--the steps to success. You will climb 18 steps on your way to racquetball success. Each step (chapter)

• explains why the concept or skill is important,

• identifies the keys to correct technique,

• helps you correct common errors,

• explains how to practice each skill in realistic ways,

• lists specific performance goals for each drill,

• gives you a summary checklist for evaluating proper technique, and

• lets you proceed at your own pace.

Each of the steps you will take is an easy transition from the one before. The first few steps provide a solid foundation of basic skills and concepts. As you progress you will learn how to choose the proper shots and strategies to match your various racquetball needs--whether you want to improve your quickness, develop power, practice deception, or just have fun. As you approach the top of your climb to success you will have gained confidence in your racquetball ability and experienced the satisfaction of becoming an accomplished player. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Likely To Improve Your Game
This book offers a good deal of useful information to the beginner and intermediate racquetball player.Even if you have played racquetball for some time, this book should still offer you some practical advise and strategies to improve your skills.The book is logically organized around 18 "steps to success,"and there are instructions for specific drills to be carried out individually or with a partner to master each step.A number of figures complement the explanations throughout the book, though I wish the author had also included some real-life pictures to better illustrate some of the techniques. I have played racquetball intermittently for many years without much formal instruction, and this book, indeed, improved my game.All and all,this is a good source to read and refer to if you wish to develop as a racquetball player.

Be a better player, if you have not had other instruction.
This book was definitely designed for a beginner to low intermediate player that has not had any organized racquetball training.The six rules to a better game really have helped me, by teaching me winning strategy.The six rules are also not to overwhelming to stay focused on the techniques during my games.

Nice workbook format with very good diagrams and practice drills to actually get you on the court practicing.The practice drills focus on building each individual skill allowing the end result to come to you naturally over time and practice (sorry the perfection of the skill does take time and practice- otherwise we'd all be incredible wouldn't we)?

I also liked that fact that the author did not bore me with the history of the game, the racquet, or many other frivolous items (there are a few, but they are quick).He gets down to the business of how to simply play better racquetball.

I cheated and skipped around from chapter to chapter getting the most bang for my buck in the shortest time.If something in a chapter needed some supporting info or skill I was referred back to the other chapter.However, I read the entire book and did find some great info on areas that I was more familiar with before I started the book.

If you are an advanced player look elsewhere for improving an intermediate or better game.If you are starting out or never learned racquetball strategy you can't go wrong with this book.

Good for Learning and Reference
This book has been a great source of information and has helped to improve my game.The author does a good job of identifying the different aspectsof the game and describes each well.The various shot drills and courtdiagrams are also a great learning tool.Anyone who wants to improve theirracquetball and follows this manual can't help but get better.

Good Overview/Practice Book
This is a worthy book to have around.It includes many drills to help you home in, especially useful are the "what youre doing wrong" sections.

Good drill book
This book is good for people who are just beggining and for people that have been playing for a while. This book has alot of the usual knowledge and strategy but alot of drills and dril charts that have improved my game.This book never leaves my bag ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Racquetball and Squash is the most comprehensive and up-to-date racquetball and squash-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round racquetball and squash-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other racquetball or squash book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book will have the player increasing strength, quickness, agility, and endurance enabling more powerful and precise backhands, forehands, and serves. Following this program will allow you to compete with all your energy until the final shot.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great Racquetball specific conditioning workout.
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Racquetball is the best racquetball specific endurance & conditioning book out there.A friend / racquetball partner told me about this book and it has really been working wonders for me. I'm in much better condition now and stronger overall. ... Read more

Book Description
RACQUETBALL TODAY is one of several activity texts in Wadsworth's Physical Education series. It covers all the basic fundamentals of the sport and is suitable for players of all levels. Full of illustrations, helpful checklists, and photos of players in action, RACQUETBALL TODAY is a valuable instructional and reference book for any racquetball activity class. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Racquetball Today
Great book for all levels of racquetball players.It has helpful illustrations and stategies to practice.

Best technique
I was having some problems with my technique and found the advice I needed, this book is definitely written by a professional racquetball player and a champ. ... Read more

Book Description
This guide to raquetball uses the Personalized Sport Instruction model of teaching (PSI), which is widely respected as an effective, interactive, student-centered teaching model. This workbook, as part of a six-book series, features a common organization and framework for planning, managing, implementing, and evaluating the fundamentals of learning badminton. Each module includes specific directions for setting up learning tasks and criteria for demonstrating mastery. For anyone interested in the sport of raquetball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Racquetball: Mastering the Basics~
Great book for all levels of racquetball players.Emphasizes the basics of the game and provides detailed strategies and exercises to practice. ... Read more

Book Description
BEGINNING RAQUETBALL covers the fundamentals of raquetball and is suitable for players at all levels. Its major strengths are its comprehensive art program and rich pedagogy, which include "Points to Remember"-a checklist of helpful hints for players and "Check Points"- study questions at the end of each chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent source for Beginer Players
This is a great book for beginner players.The book contains many nice photos and the instructions are simple and straightforward. I started playing racquetball about 3 months ago and has used this book to greatly enhanced my skills which make the game a lot more fun. ... Read more

Product Description
1975 196pp compilation of articles from Ace Handball Magazine and National Racquetball Magazine. Many photos of top handball players. Oversize softcover with 3-ring holes punched. ... Read more

Book Description
Part of the "Learn-in-a-Weekend" series ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

i finally got to play real squash
other players got amazed when they saw my technics during playing,i havegot it allfrom this amazing book! ... Read more

Book Description
Part of the The Winning Edge Series, this text provides a complete introduction and explanation of the skills and techniques to take the court and partcipates as a competitive player.Offering an introduction and an explanation of facilities, equipment, rules and terminology, this book moves on to how to mentally and physically prepare for a game (doubles or singles).Individual chapters detail the dynamics of serving, basic shots, strategies, nutritional demands and conditioning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

As far as you can go on paper.
This book "Racquetball" by P.E. Allsen is part if the Sport and Fitness Series of Brown & Benchmark Publishers. As with other books in the series, it pretty much covers everything you want to know about the sport.
It covers history, rules, procedures, strategies, etc. There are monochrome pictures of how to stand and move. Along with this are several diagrams of angles best for different types of serves. The book covers rules of different groups and how to score.
A very important but overlooked part of the sport is warming up and stretching exercises. They are covered in this book also.
The only thing lacking from the book are the strength and endurance drills that do not use the ball its self.
There is so much information in this 116 page book that it can make your racquet spin. This book is a must if you are even half way serious. ... Read more

Product Description
* Training program for all skill levels * Featuring Men's Pro Tim Doyle and Women's Pro Cheryl Gudinas * Written by Tom Travers (US Team Coach 1997-2002, 6 Time National Champ) and Dr. Tim Miller (5 Time National Collegiate Champion Team Coach) ... Read more