Racquetball vs. Handball: A Comparison and Contrast by John iynch Professional Racquetball Player

Modern Day Rivalry Over the past ten years, racquet-

ball and handball have experienced a brutal head-to-head competition between the respective par- ticipants. There are many reasons for this heated competition, a few of which are:

1) A tremendous upswing in physical fitness programs in the United States.

2) A relatively scarce number of courts in comparison with the number of participants.

3) The ability of the female sex to participate.

4) The difference between the personalities of the handball and racquetball players.

In fact, the rivalry became so in- tense that when racquetball gained popularity, the game was criticized by handball players who resented the game because it occupied time in "their" courts, which were already in great demand. Because of this feeling, racquetball was ban- ned or had restrictive time limits put on it in many private clubs, com- munity centers, and YMCA's, where most handball courts are located. However, the strong ap- peal of racquetball helped it to en- dure. By the mid-1960's, the strength of numbers of racquetball supporters and players caused the opposition to accept the game and allowed it to be played more widely.

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Handball was formally organized by Robert Kendler, a well known businessman and handball player, in 1951. Along with a group of hand- ball enthusiasts, he formed the 36

USHA - United States Handball Association. This is the "Players Fraternity" established for and by the players. The USHA has welded the nation's players together and holds a number of national tourna- ments throughout the year.

Handball is an excellent sport for developing and maintaining phys- ical fitness and presents a real chal- lenge to its participants. It provides them with a wonderful opportunity to develop strength, endurance, agility, coordination, and other physiological benefits that help to counterbalance the inactivity of sedentary living. Physically uncon- ditioned individuals may not be able to meet the unexpected stress situ- ations without sustaining serious, and possibly permanent, organic in- jury. It can be said without contra- diction that handball, played on a regular basis, provides the needed strength and endurance for emer- gency situations.

Handball has been considered a better overall conditioner than almost any other sport. Overall con- ditioning is accomplished through running, bending, twisting, and flex- ing and bending the arms in the ser- ving during the game. Many ath- letes who engage in other sports that involve great strength and en- durance engage in the game of handball because it builds strength,

a- endurance,-.and-flexibility-in -shoul--- ders, arms, and wrists, and in the legs because of the quick bursts of speed required during play.

Psychologically, handball can assist in relieving the tensions of everyday living. The great joy of hit-

ting the right shot at the right time and the physical and mental relaxa- tion after a good workout gives a feeling of real satisfaction. This ac- tivity in many ways acts as a safety valve in releasing pent-up emotions as a player works off feelings of frustration and tension by slamming the ball against the wall. The libera- tion of these feelings is socially ac- ceptable when accomplished in this manner. Everyone who plays hand- ball understands and appreciates the benefits that are derived from it socially as well as psychologically and physically. Here is a game that is played most of the time without supervision, in the absence of spec- tators, and in an atmosphere that develops sportsmanship and good fellowship. It can be played by almost any age group. In recent years handball has had a decline in play, which is probably due to the major upswing in racquetball. Yet there are many who support and play the game steadily throughout the nation.

Racquetball Racquetball is not to be confused

with tennis, squash, badminton, handball, paddleball, court tennis, platform tennis, shuffleboard, or kick-the-can. While it is not the sport of kings, it is not a run-of-the- mill hoodlum pastime. The game re-

" - quires-- strength,_* stamina, .agility, -- quickness, brains, guts, and a high threshold of pain.

Racquetball was formally organized by Bob Kendler 14 years ago, in 1968. It is a game that has captured the enthusiasm of phys-

ical fitness minded men and women throughout North America. Founda- tions of our present day racquetball games may be found more than seven centuries ago.

In an idle moment seven- hundred years ago two French monks began batting a ball around a monastery courtyard with crude wooden paddles. As a result, this impromtu game, which came to be known as court tennis, gained popularity with royalty and Louis X was so over-extended chasing balls that he became ill and died shortly after a match. Also, the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon were both reported to have played the game.

While the game of racquetball has its origin in court tennis, it evolved directly from the game of paddleball. Earl Riskey of the University of Michigan is credited with being the individual who organized the concept of paddle- ball in the 1920's. While watching tennis players practice their strokes in a handball court, Riskey decided that one could play a game similar to handball, that would also include the skills of ten- nis. Paddleball was the result of this idea.

The popularity of the game of racquetball has spread and sur- passed paddleball. Players of all ages and of both sexes can now be found playing racquetball. The in- crease in interest, facilities, and the addition of racquetball to the physical education curriculum has done much for the promotion of the sport.

Racquetball is a game requiring endurance, skill, and body control. It requires the use of almost all parts of the body. Because of its demands on the cardio-respiratory system, it ranks as an excellent conditioning activity. Research in- dicates that racquetball is an excellent means of providing the stimulus to bring about endurance gains. Racquetball can be a means to help control body weight

because of the high caloric expen- diture required in the playing of the game. In our society there is a need for physical activity to relieve the stress and tension of modern life. The fact that racquetball is a means to relieve this stress makes it an important aspect in the devel- opment of good mental health.

What is the appeal of racquet- ball? The answer is that racquetball makes it possible for a person to en- joy a physical and mental workout without requiring a high degree of skill ability. The game eliminates the pitfalls of a tennis net, yet re- quires similar stamina necessary for handball. Also, because of the short length of the racquet used in racquetball, the game may be played at an even faster pace than squash. A major advantage of rac- quetball is that it can be played by men and women, boys and girls - anyone who has a general degree of motor ability.

In recent years the game has made rapid gains in numbers of par- ticipants (especially in intramural programs), refinement of rules and equipment, and the establishment of a national organization in spite of a relatively brief history. Also, in the last five years a professional tour has been established with good prize money available. Many col- leges across the country are com- peting in the Intercollegiate Nation- al Championships held annually.

Which Will Survive and Prosper?

With respect to this question, I think we must realize that neither of these sports is going to force the extinction of the other. There are basically four areas which I would like to explore in attempting to answer the question:

1) Amount of exercise put out. 2) Speed and excitement of the

game. 3) How difficult the two sports

are in relation to each other. 4) The role of the female in the

two sports.

When talking about the amount of exercise handball and racquet- ball give the individual, it really is a tossup. Because of the increase in the need for physical activity in the eyes of people nowadays, both handball and racquetball serve as excellent conditioners. Research has been conducted as to the amount of calories expended while playing the two sports. As in any ac- tivity, the approach to the competi- tion is very important. Findings show that caloric cost of playing handball and racquetball is greater for inexperienced players than for experienced players. This has been clearly shown that the caloric cost per hour for experiences players playing each other (652.8) was nearly the same as when inexperi- enced players played each other (656.4), and was greater (734.1) when playing against an opponent of superior ability. These findings are about the only concrete statistics available with regards to exercise expenditure. All in all, it can basically be said that there is little, if any, difference in caloric output between handball and racquetball.

When dealing with the topic of speed and excitement, I feel rac- quetball has it all over handball. Because of the speed that the ball travels, it makes it more interesting to witness. In handball, your hand cannot propel the ball around the court as fast as you can with a rac- quet in your hand. When talking about speed and excitement, you also bring in the aspect of spectator appeal. Neither sport presents itself to tremendous crowds, yet improvements are being made in that glass courts are being con- structed to permit more viewing. Still, only about one thousand peo- ple are able to watch a top profes- sional match. Having watched both handball and racquetball matches on a professional level the racquet- ball matches are much more ex- citing. The speed, pace of the game, and the acrobatics of the --

players surpass that of the handball matches.

One of the major disputes be- tween handball and racquetball is that of the degree of difficulty in the two games. From having played handball on a beginning level and currently playing racquetball on a professional level I would say that handball is a harder sport to pick up than racquetball. I would qualify this in saying it is much more difficult to hit a ball with your opposite hand than it is to hit a backhand shot in racquetball. Strictly on a beginning level handball is harder. It does not follow when players reach tourna- ment and professional levels. A great amount of skill is needed to play both handball and racquetball on a top level of play. Five years ago a challenge match was set up to find out who was better: the handball player or the racquetball player. The match consisted of the handball player using his hands and the racquetball player using a rac- quet. A handball was used. The par- ticipants were Paul Haber, the United States Men's Open Handball Champ, and Dr. Bud Muhlheisen, the Master's (45 years or older) Racquetball Champ. Haber won two out of the three games. This match to me personally proved nothing because I feel that if the World Champion Racquetball player, Charlie Brumfield (26 years old) played Paul Haber, using the same rules he would absolutely "destroy" him.

Another deciding factor as to which sport will prosper is the role of the female. The female does not play handball because it is too brutal on them. Girls are able to play racquetball because it is much easier on a beginning level. The

.. basic reasonthe female even plays racquetball is just as a form of exer-

handball and why it will continue to in the future. Because of the female, handball is a dying sport. The number of participants in rac- quetball outweighs handball because it is available to the female and also because I feel it is a more satisfying game. Handball has no lifeline left, in that the younger players now play racquetball. I feel in future years racquetball could be a big booming business. I do not think it will ever reach the stan- dards of football, basketball, etc. because of its restrictions on the spectator.

In conclusion, I would say that racquetball presents a better game to American society. It enables the male and the female to compete on any level they wish and for what- ever reasons they wish. I also feel that because of its daring and ex- citing nature, racquetball is truly one of the sports of the future.

Bibliography Roberson and Olson, Beginning

Handball, Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1969.

Yessie, Michael, Handball, William C. Brown Co. Publishers, 1966.

Bouisher, E. W., American Associa- tion of Health, Physical Educa- tion and Recreation, "The Cal- orie Cost of Playing Handball".

Sports Illustrated, "A Win For Booze and Nicotine", Sept. 12, 1 968.

Kerkpatrick, Curry, Sports Illus- trated, "The game plan is to avoid getting waffle-faced", June 17, 1972.

National Racquetball, Volume 3, Number 3, Sept. 1975.

cise. It is my opinion that the female is the single most important reason why racquetball has overtaken