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Tuning Up For Outdoor Racquetball

By Steve Crandall
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Ashaway Racket Strings

According to Cliff Swain outdoor racquetball is growing for a lot of reasons. The atmosphere is different - and better - to a lot of people. Spouses and friends don't mind coming as much, even though they might not play, because they're sitting outside, getting some sun. And many of the courts are free.

Outdoor racquetball continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness with new tournaments springing up all over the country. But given the differences from its indoor sibling - no back walls or ceilings, short or non-existent side walls, differing court sizes and playing surfaces - we wondered about the player side of the equation: about why people like outdoor so much, and about how to prepare for the outdoor season in terms of conditioning routines, breaking indoor habits, risks of the game, and (of course) about stringing.

We put these questions to our old friends Jacqueline Paraiso and Cliff Swain, both avid outdoor players in addition to being racquetball legends. Here are some of their comments and suggestions:

On why outdoor is becoming so popular:

Cliff: Outdoor is growing for a lot of reasons. The atmosphere is different - and better - to a lot of people. Player spouses and friends don't mind coming as much, even though they might not play, because they're sitting outside, getting some sun. They can have a drink, take a walk. Indoors at a health club, you're under their rules, and you're under a roof.

What also helps is that a lot of these courts are complimentary. They're at parks. So people can come with two racquets and a ball and play, they don't need a membership. Lots of people will do that forever, and then there are others who may graduate and go inside and maybe even try to become a pro player! Racquetball just reaches way more people by having this outdoor option.

Jacqueline: The organization that has really been growing the outdoor sport is ORA. Their philosophy is that they want to spread out the perks and the money, not just to the top players, but to everybody. They've also done a really nice job promoting it with live videos and interviews on Facebook. So it brings more awareness and interest. It makes people feel special and draws more people to the tournaments.

But mostly, I think it is because outdoor is like going to the park or to the beach. So if your family likes to be outdoors, then it's great. You can hang out with other families, and the kids don't feel confined, and they're - well - better. You can also network on Facebook for babysitting! Indoors, there are only a few people who can watch any particular court. Outdoors, you can watch three or four courts at once. That's also good for watching kids! So it's easier for families. The atmosphere outdoors is a little more relaxed, too. There's noise everywhere, so kids yelling and running around is not a problem.

On training and conditioning:

Cliff: As far as training goes, the off court training is nearly the same for outdoor as indoor: the conditioning, the footwork. You should be in the best shape you can be and your footwork should be as great as it can be both indoors and out.

But when I practice for outdoor, my focus is on hitting the ball straight, especially for one wall tournaments. Indoors, wide balls and angles and pinches are what we practice and what we instinctively hit in certain situations. Outdoors, they are bad shots - people who hit it out are usually the people who lose. Outdoors, a good defensive ball or reactionary ball is one that is 2, 3, 4 or even 6, 7 feet high straight up the middle. So the trick is to get yourself to the point where you instinctively do that, rather than going for a wide angle or a pinch.

Jacqueline: I think it's important to train moving laterally. I use a bungee cord that I attach to my car in my driveway, and run laterally with it giving me resistance. I shuffle sideways and swing away with my racquet. The neighbors probably think I'm crazy, but it really helps a lot.

If you're limited to an indoor court, work on hitting from deep in the backcourt. If you're playing outdoors you can go to the left and play outside the court and always play your forehand. Indoors, you can't do that. So practice simulating things you're going to do outdoors inside the court. It's limited, but it's possible: hitting from the backcourt, hitting overhead shots and returning those are good. I like to practice a lot of down the line shots. If it hits the side wall indoors, then I know that's going to go over the line outdoors. So I try to keep it bouncing on the floor, not the wall.

On risks:

Jacqueline: Just the outdoor elements are a risk! You're sweating the whole time and you're usually right in the sun. So sunburn and hydration are real issues. You really have to drink a lot more fluids. Lots of people drink hydration products with vitamin and electrolyte supplements.

The other risk is that people get ripped up more in Outdoor. I'm a diver. And when you're a diver, you're going to dive no matter what because you're just focusing on the ball and you're going to move to it. And when people dive, yeah, they get ripped up. I've definitely had more injuries outdoor than indoor. But I don't care, I love it!

Cliff: Yeah, if you're diving on cement you don't slide as well as on a hardwood floor with polyurethane on it! But it's just cuts: cuts and bumps and scrapes and bruises. That's not really a factor for me. I do find there is an increased risk of getting hit. Outdoor you're standing in the middle a lot more and your opponent is hitting the ball up the middle more, so you can get hit. I always wear my eye protection, of course, but I also try to keep my racquet up in front of my face more.

Jacqueline: I also see people get hit with racquets more outdoors. There aren't any walls to separate the courts and people are always running into each other's courts. And those people are out there hitting balls! So that's a risk.

On stringing:

Jacqueline: Control is key to the outdoor game. You have limited side walls and no back walls, so you've got to control the game better and keep the ball in the court. If you hit an angled pass shot, you'd better keep it nice and controlled because if you widen that angle just a little bit and it bounces outside that line, then you lose that rally. With Ashaway's red PowerKill^® 17, I can hit that ball a lot harder and control it at the same time. I string racquets as well, and I usually string the crosses a bit tighter to improve control.

Cliff: I also use PowerKill 17 both indoors and out, and I tend to string a little bit tighter outdoors. When it gets super hot out, the string seems to be a little more bouncy and I like it to feel the same as I'm used to. So indoors I string at 34 lbs. and now outdoors I string at 36 or 37.