Racquetball lessons: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What racquetball lessons is

Racquetball lessons teach serves, shots, court positioning and rules, in an enclosed court, with drills for control and strategy. Players book them when they are learning the game, when they want to play in a club league, or when their rallies keep stalling in the back corners.

Signs you need it

  • Your serves are short or do not come off the wall the way you want
  • You get stuck in the back of the court and cannot move up to the center
  • Your shots hit the front wall too high or too low and give your opponent an easy return
  • You are not sure when a ball is in or out, so you lose points on calls
  • You are joining a club league and want to build control before the first match

What the pro does

  • Checks your grip, stance and the serve and shot you use most
  • Teaches the serve with a focus on depth and the angle off the side walls
  • Works on the ready position and court coverage, with drills that move you around the court
  • Teaches shot selection, including ceiling shots, kill shots and passing shots
  • Covers the rules and how to call in-and-out, so you play fair and avoid penalties

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Private, semi-private or group lesson
  • Length of the lesson and whether you book a series
  • Court location and whether court time is included
  • Whether eye protection and loaner racquets are provided
  • Singles or doubles focus
  • Your level, since learning shot selection takes time

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of lessons and the length of each
  • Court location and whether court time is included
  • Whether eye protection and racquets are provided
  • Group size and whether the lesson is private
  • Make-up policy for missed lessons and facility closures

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you require eye protection in the court, and what do you expect me to wear?
  • What do you look at first in my serve and my ready position?
  • How do you teach shot selection, so I know when to use a kill shot or a ceiling shot?
  • Will you give me drills to practice alone against the wall?
  • Do you teach the rules and how to call in and out?
  • Are you certified by a racquetball coaching program?

Red flags

  • Teaches only power shots and skips the basic ready position and court coverage
  • Says you can join a league after a few lessons without checking your skills
  • Pushes you to buy a specific racquet before you have had a lesson
  • Keeps you hitting the same shot with no feedback

What you can do yourself

You can practice serves and wall shots alone against a court wall, work on footwork with cones, and learn the rules from the official rulebook. Video of your shots from the back of the court can show where your shots land. Hire a coach when your shots keep hitting the wrong part of the wall, when your court position keeps you stuck, or when you want to build match strategy.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to coach racquetball. Ask whether the coach holds a certification from a racquetball coaching program and whether the club requires proof of insurance. Check with your state or local licensing agency only if the facility has rules that affect lesson sessions.

Racquetball lessons questions

Do I need eye protection?

Many courts require protective eyewear, and some coaches will not teach without it. Ask the facility what it requires and bring the eyewear it asks for to every lesson.

Can I learn racquetball without playing other racket sports?

Yes. Racquetball is a good first racket sport for many players. Start with the serve, the ready position and the basic shots, then add shot selection and strategy.

Is a group lesson better than a private one?

A group lesson works well for drills and games at your level. A private lesson lets the coach fix one habit at a time. Many players do both.

If my child takes racquetball lessons, has the coach passed a background check?

Many clubs ask coaches who work with minors to pass one, and you can ask to see proof before the first lesson.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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