People can find it hard to distinguish between racquetball and tennis. Both sports are similar in many ways but also have their unique qualities.
No one enjoys confusion and uncertainty, right? So it’s confusing, and not all can tell the difference between these two sports that are so similar in many ways.
This article will discuss the key differences between these two similar-but-different sports so you can spend time enjoying them!
For one thing, they’re both played on grass courts. Both use rackets that resemble squash ones. Both sport a hollow ball. The rackets are designed to hit the ball high, and the players swing a “kill shot” to let it go as far as possible. Racquetball is generally faster-paced than tennis, and players can easily hit aces.

Racquetballs Are Hollow but Heavier
The first racquetball in racquetball history was made of rubber. A man named Joseph G. Sobek, who excelled in many sports, worked in a rubber factory and designed a hollow rubber ball for the game.
Since then, the game has evolved considerably, though the racquetball’s basic material has remained the same. The rubber ball proved perfect for the fast-paced game and its wide array of walls.
- Compared to tennis balls, racquetballs are relatively heavy. However, because the balls are hollow, they are much easier to move. Although both games use a hollow rubber ball, tennis balls are much larger and require more space on the racket’s face.
- Tennis rackets are often larger, while racquetball rackets are smaller. It is because tennis players seek to impart a lot of spin on the forehand and backhand sides of the ball. This spin can be generated by slicing down underneath the ball with the racquet. A tennis ball also has wool covering, giving it more air resistance. As a result, tennis balls are slower in the air.
Racquetball And Tennis Are Played on Different Courts
While racquetball and tennis are similar in style, they are played on different courts. In racquetball, players hit balls against walls, while in tennis, players hit the balls directly. Although both games share many similarities, the differences are enough to make them distinct. For example, racquetball players serve the ball differently than tennis players.
- Tennis courts have hard or clay surfaces, while racquetball courts are made of only hard surfaces.
- For tennis, the court is 78 feet by 39 feet in size. The court is marked with a three-foot-high net and two boxes, one on each side of the court.
- The courts of racquetball are divided into two halves by four 20-foot-high walls. Racquetball courts are 40 feet by 20 feet wide.
The racquet sport has wide appeal as a recreational activity and has evolved into a multi-million dollar industry. The sport has distinct rules and equipment and requires different skills. The grass court is ideal for tennis and has the advantage of allowing a slower pace.
The racquetball court is much more challenging to play on than a tennis court, which is why the shoes you wear are crucial. Tennis shoes are designed for stability, while racquetball players constantly change direction, start and stop. Therefore, you need to find a pair of shoes that are made to help you achieve these movements while on the court.
Players Serve the Ball differently
Players serve the ball high in racquetball and tennis, using different stances and arm lengths. The most important part of the service is the jump, which should be performed in the “trophy position” – with the front leg propelled forward by most of the player’s weight. The ball should land on the front leg and fall inside the court.
When a player serves the ball, they must remember that the tennis court is not the same as a racquetball court, so they must adjust their body to accommodate the height of the ball. In addition, tennis has a net, while racquetball does not.
In racquetball, players must serve the ball two times in a game. Then they alternate the players for the second game. They must serve the ball properly to get two points. The serve must cross the receiving line and be hit at a high enough angle to let the ball bounce on the floor. For example, a player must serve the ball high enough to hit both walls of the serving area.
A player should never drop their shoulder while serving the ball. It can cause the racket to lose control of the ball. Players who serve the ball high will hit it at a lower point than ideal and will likely miss it completely. Keeping a relaxed body during the service motion will help you maintain your focus and maximize your energy. A relaxed arm and a strong back will help you hit the ball higher.
Racquetball Rackets Are Similar to Squash Rackets but Different Than Tennis Rackets
Squash and racquetball are both court games that start with a serve. To serve well in squash, the ball must hit the front wall. In racquetball, the ball must hit any part of the front wall. Therefore, in a racquetball match, good service is not necessarily the same as a good serve in squash.
Both games have their distinctive racquets. The squash and racquetball rackets are teardrop-shaped and are typically made of graphite. A racquetball racket is similar to a squash racket, but a racquetball racket is longer.
A big difference between racquetball and tennis rackets is the shape of the rackets. Tennis rackets are oval-shaped and taper toward the head. Racquetball rackets, on the other hand, tend to be triangular or quadriform. This difference will affect the sweet spot. A teardrop-shaped racket will offer greater control, while a quadriform-shaped racket will have a smaller sweet spot.
Players Compete in Different Game Formats
The two sports share many similarities but differ in one important respect. Both use a racquet and ball to play the game, and the rallies are played until one team’s player cannot return the ball.
The winning team earns a point, and the match continues. Tennis courts have two inner lines that run the length of the court. Singles and doubles play is conducted within the inside lines, while the other team’s members play along the outside lines.
- In both games, the players must win several sets to win a match.
- For women, the format is the best of the three sets;
- for men, it is the best of the five games in tennis.
- To win a set, a player must reach six games without losing more than two.
- If a player loses the first two games of the match, the set is considered a tie.
- A tie-break is played for matches that are tied at six-all, and the first player to 7 points wins.
Both games are played with two, three, or four players. Singles matches feature one player against one. Doubles and triples games are two players playing against two. A racquetball rally is a singles game. The player hitting the ball first in a rally wins that game. If the ball hits the side wall, the rally is deemed to have ended, and a hinder is called.
The primary strategy in racquetball is commanding the center of the court. It gives the player the advantage of movement while limiting the opponent’s ability to open the court. It is also important to learn the opponent’s typical return shots. This way, you can anticipate when they might return to attack you. It is important since you don’t want to make it predictable.
String Tension in Rackets Are Different
When comparing tennis and racquetball rackets, it is important to consider the difference in String Tension. In racquetball, the thinner the string, the more power you will generate in shots. And tennis rackets with thicker strings have less power but are more responsive to higher string tension.
- The tension difference between tennis and racquetball rackets is important for controlling power and maintaining control.
- A lower string tension produces more spin, but tighter strings produce less velocity. So, depending on how tight you string your tennis or racquet, you may notice a difference in your power.
- While a higher string tension will produce a ball with more spin, the lower string tension will reduce impact-related power.
- The most significant difference between tennis and racquetball rackets is the type of string.
- Tennis strings are either polyester or natural gut; these two materials have slightly different qualities.
- Polyester strings are stiff and low-powered, whereas natural gut strings have the greatest “give.”
In both racquetball and tennis rackets, string tension should be checked after stringing. Measurement of the tension is best done right away and periodically until it reaches about 15 pounds of tension loss. If it goes below that point, restringing may be necessary.
If you are unsure how much tension to give your tennis racket, you can use a tension tester. You can check the string tension as a rule of thumb before playing tennis.
Conclusion
Racquetball and tennis are two popular sports played around the world. However, they both have their own unique rules and strategies to be successful.
The game of racquetball is a fast-paced, high-energy sport that requires players to hit the ball against the front-facing wall of the court with a racquet, followed by a return shot before one or more bounces on the floor.
The object of racquetball is to score points by hitting an opponent’s ball so that it can’t be returned or by hitting a “kill” shot which causes the other player to miss their next return shot. The first player or team who reaches 11 points wins.
Tennis is a racquet sport played on a rectangular court with six singles and one doubles alleys, divided into two halves by the net. Each player uses a tennis racquet to propel the ball in any direction and force it over the net on either side. The game’s object is to strike the ball into the opponent’s court so that it touches their side of the net and lands inside the court.