Racquetball warehouse has given me another opportunity to give feedback on a few gloves. The difference in this review versus the previous one I did is this is a brand new product that I had no history or opinion on prior to use. I have used python products for the past couple of years, and have a general positive opinion about them as a company.

I have had the opportunity to use these gloves for about a month, so I have had ample opportunity to develop an opinion on the product. I used these gloves with a racquet fitted with a python rubber grip.

Python Deluxe - View at RW

My first impression was this was the best looking glove out of the group. Turned out, it was the best glove out of the three. The fit initially was very good. It was snug and tight. I have not been a fan of gloves that have a strip through the palm, so I was hesitant on this glove from the beginning. This glove has played very well. The strip in the palm gives a bit of extra grip without being intrusive. This glove stretched out a bit and became softer after several uses. It was not to the point of making it difficult to play with, but it was noticeable. Overall, a very good glove, and I would not hesitate to add this to my collection of gloves to use for a tournament.

Python Copperhead - View at RW

Based on price, this would be considered the middle glove of the group. Right out of the package this glove fit well, and played well. The grip was very good and the mesh backing allowed the glove to breathe well when playing. After a couple of games I found that the glove stretched and I had several issues with gripping the racquet with this glove. I tend to sweat quite a bit and this glove did not hold up well when dampness. The dampness is balanced out with the fact that my hands did not sweat as much due to the breathability of the glove.

Python Super Tack - View at RW

Initially I looked at this glove and thought “this looks good.” I really like the looks of this glove. At the low end of price, I did not have high expectations when I used this glove. The fit was good and tight right out of the package. I was not initially pleased on how the glove played as I was having slippage of the grip. This glove was the rare exception that started to play better after a few usages. The more I played with the glove, the better it became. The durability is great and it didn’t seem to lose anything after a few uses. It actually got better. For a low price glove, you can’t go wrong with the Super Tack.

Written by Jeff Kettering

Elite level player

Representative of the pros

Friend of Racquetball Warehouse

I realize there are many good young players around the states and definitely in Mexico and I’m not trying to claim Stockton, CA as the best of the young guns.  BUT, we do have solid representation in the age range of 17-21.  It all begins with Jose Rojas of course.  He’s earned that recognition so far with his countless Junior National and World Titles, two Collegiate National Titles and his solid start to an IRT career with a #8 ranking and his upset wins over Jack Huczek, Ben Croft, Shane Vanderson and the Commish, Jason Mannino.  Jose has lost a few matches to players that will not have the career he’ll have, but let’s not forget that he’s only 20 years old, a full time college student, a kid from the East Side of Stockton who’s parents have kept a close blanket over him so that he stays alive and involved in a serious relationship, which always takes one’s attention.  Now, I’m not saying Jose is a sure thing future #1 player, that’s yet to be determined.  He hasn’t had the start that the greatest of all times have had, meaning he’s not Hogan, Swain, Monchik, Waselenchuck or Huczek.  Those guys won stops early, before their 20’s, but he’s also in the era of the greatest of all time in Kid Kane. BTW, Yellen is apart of the greatest of all time list, but I believe he did his first winning after the age of 20, but I’m also not 100% sure of that. The point is that Rojas will be a top 5 player in due time and he will win stops.  He’s in this game for the long haul and those that think he won’t be a major force by the time he’s 27-28 are crazy.  He’s only 20, he’ll peak in eight years!!

Enough about Rojas, someday he’ll be happy with just being the best player in his own family with brother Markie already taking a tournament match from him…… I’m writing today to talk about this Horn kid from Stockton.  David “Bobby” Horn is now 21 years old and I speak from experience when I say that he is already one of the fastest humans on the court that I’ve ever scene.  It’s raw speed and he doesn’t know how to handle it just yet, but he’s super fast.  He’s 6’0, 170 lbs of pure muscle and has an attitude of “I don’t give a s__t about any of the top players.  He’s respectful and fun to be around off the court, but on the court, he brings an attitude that can get under one’s skin.  His diving ability personally makes me nervous as I always fear that one of his flying gets will end right in the middle of my 38 year old knees, finally putting me down for the count.  But, it’s on my mind and it will be on the mind’s of IRT players over the next decade and a half.  What most don’t realize about Bobby is that he didn’t begin playing until he was 14 years old.  He was the kid hanging around the club, playing hoops and generally just looking for something to do.  He and Jose Diaz first struck up a relationship playing hoops at the club, which of course was a schooling for Diaz as Bobby was a starting point guard for his high school team.  This led to Horn trying racquetball, and from that first moment, he had natural abilities.  He’s only been playing serious for six years while all the other Stocktonians having been racquetballing since they were 5 years old.  Like any young player, Bobby will not peak for another seven or eight years, but the experience he’ll gain over that time will be his racquetball experience and I’m telling you all, he’ll be a solid pro that will threaten to win a stop at some point in his career.  He has a team of friends around him that want the same thing for themselves, but will also do whatever it takes to help him accomplish his goals.  That’s the bonus Bobby has with being from Stockton.

Bobby plays Kane today at 11:30am and it’s likely that the match will be a three game win for the #1 player.  It might even be a rout, but this experience will go along way to what will be a successful racquetball career.  If you haven’t watched Bobby Horn play yet, then today is a great opportunity to get your first look at this talented, but extremely raw player.  You’ll enjoy his speed and his ability to shotmake, although the latter might not be as available today with Kane being his opponent.  You’ll also get a kick out of his little “Stockton mustache” too!!  They all seem to think that is the cool style now adays.  I don’t get it……. Enjoy the matches from Tampa, especially my boy Bobby Horn.

If you’re a racquetball manager for a health club or you’re prominent enough of a racquetball player in your area that you have permission to host racquetball events, then one event you most try is what I’ve entitled Women’s Racquetball Day.  Now, I’m definitely not trying to claim this title as mine, since I’m sure others have hosted this type of event with this name in the past, but here in Northern California, we’re committed to hosting Women’s Racquetball Days at the In-Shape Sport Clubs.

What are Women’s Racquetball Days?  Well, they could be whatever you want them to be with the obvious focus on getting many women together in the club from your region to enjoy a day of racquetball.  Women really do want to play racquetball with each other more so than only be forced to play singles with men or mixed doubles.  The problem is that most clubs no longer have a strong contingency of women racquetball players, so women that enjoy playing with other women are forced to play with only one or two other women from their club.  That will eventually get stale and a bit boring.  The In-Shape Women’s Racquetball Days will all be five hour events, making it well worth the effort for women to drive longer distances since they’ll have the club’s courts for an extended period of times.  The commraderie that’s built with these events is awesome to be apart of and very motivating for the players.  It is to be hoped that our Women’s Racquetball Days will lead to more women deciding to play our In-Shape Shootouts and Tournaments so that I can again begin offering women’s divisions in all events.  With my position as Racquetball Director with In-Shape, these Women’s Racquetball Days also provide me a great venue to promote our In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon, which is naturally all about women’s racquetball with the best female players in the world attending the tournament.  NOTE, always welcome beginning players to this event and have a separate plan for how to make the day fun for them as well………… Here’s two separate itineraries for how to host a Women’s Racquetball Day.  If you do decide to try an event like this, make it your own in some way by adding a unique feature to the day’s events.

Women’s RB Day Itinerary One (9 courts)

9AM-9:15AM: Opening Discussion & Introduction of Instructional Staff

- Ten instructors will be on hand to assist.

9:15AM-9:25AM: Walk Through of Interval Drills & Contests

9:25AM-9:40AM: Warm-up

- Three to four players per court. Basic warm up.

9:40AM-11AM: (10 minute intervals)

Court 1 - FH & BH Down the Line Target Contest (15 shots from each side, behind the encroachment line)

Court 2 - Racquetball Aerobic Games (1min 30 sec)

Court 3 - Drive Serve Target Contest (15 serves to each side)

Court 4 - Pinch Drill (30 sec, 1 min, 1 min 30 sec intervals)

Court 5 - Lob Serve Contest (15 serves DTL from both sides)

Court 6 - Center Court Cross over ball toss hitting drill

Court 7 - Wide Angle Contest (15 shots from both sides, behind the encroachment line)

Court 8 - Splat/Down the Line Drill

Court 9 - Ceiling Ball Contest (Most cosecutive from each side, 2 attempts per player)

11:00AM-12:30PM: Organized Doubles Play (8 min intervals, King Court Style)

11:30PM-1:00PM: Lunch Throughout

1PM-2PM: Singles or Mixed Doubles Play

2PM-2:30: Closing Remarks & Free Play

Women’s RB Day Itinerary Two

10AM-10:30AM: Check In, Partner Pairing, Court Assignment & Introduction of Intructional Staff

- Partners will be assigned by a drawing. All players will put their name in an intermediate or advanced box for selection. Beginners will be kept seperate for doubles play….. Ten instructors will be on hand to assist.

10:30AM-10:45AM: Warm Up

10:45AM-12:30PM: Doubles Queen’s Court (intermediate and advanced)

12:30PM-1PM: Lunch

1PM-3PM: Mini clinics (4 courts, 30 minute sessions)

Court 6 - Serve & Serve Return

Court 7 - Various Hitting Drills

Court 8 - On Court Speed & Agility Drills

Court 9 - Basic Forehand & Backhand Mechanics

1PM-3PM: Singles Challenge Courts (4 courts)

Court 1 - Advanced

Court 2 - Intermediate/Advanced

Court 3 - Intermediate

Court 4 - Beginner/Intermediate

1PM-3PM: Hard Hit Contest (court 5)

3PM-4PM: Closing remarks & Mixed Doubles

Best of luck to all of you out there that decide to host your own Women’s RB Day.  Make it an In-Shape Day!!

John Ellis

As a tournament director that hosts 20+ racquetball tournaments/shootouts per year, I get asked why I sanction my tournaments quite a bit.  Naturally the club players that are not diehard tournament players question why they have to join a state organization for $50 Annual Membership when they’re only going to play one or two events per year.  Even the $20 One Event Fee annoys these players and definitely forces them to question their participation.  So, I prefer to have the conversation with these players so they can get a true understanding of why I sanction 99% of my In-Shape events.  Generally, my explanation will give them the understanding they need and often lead to a new yearly member of the California State Racquetball Association (CSRA).  Here’s my list of reasons why I sanction my In-Shape Racquetball events.

Liability is by far the number one reason I sanction events.  With the insurance coverage that the USAR has in place for it’s state affiliates, I believe it’s my duty to make sure that my tournament players have coverage if something happens to them at the club or on the court.  I would never assume that all the event players would have their own personal insurance to cover any accidents that may occur and I want to make sure that if something does happen to a player, their first concern isn’t about how they’re going to pay for that initial visit to the doctor or hospital.  One might ask, doesn’t In-Shape cover the liability for people in their clubs?  Of course, but I’m an outside entity hosting events using their courts, and even though waivers are signed for non In-Shape members on both my end and In-Shape’s, I do not believe that In-Shape should have to worry about injuries that happen due to my racquetball events.

The R2 site is a close second to the insurance coverage when it comes to sanctioning.  Ryan and Tish Rodgers have created a program that has revolutionized the tournament directing industry and the accessability that directors have with the racquetball tournament playing public is a powerful source.  I was with Ryan and Tish from the beginning when it came to R2 and in the early years, I kind of felt like their test dummy!  There were some late nights with the program when they first had it up and running due to the kinks that existed, but over time, they’ve hammered out a program that works nearly flawlessly for every event.  If I do have an issue then I send out a quick email to Ryan and he gives me the answer in minutes.  Usually it’s an answer that I should have thought of myself, but regardless, they’re customer service is awesome.  The truth is, I can send an email to thousands of racquetball players promoting my upcoming event in a matter of minutes.  There is no substitution for that type of advertising.  The ease of creating the draws and times are the bonus to the whole situation.  Of course, the players themselves are now able to follow the event throughout the process.  I really does not get much cooler than that!

Advertising on the CSRA website (www.californiaracquetball.org) is a factor for me when hosting events.  I know there are over a thousand CSRA members and I’m sure a good percentage of those players are checking the state website to see what events are upcoming.  Unlike many states, California does a fantastic job of updating their website when it comes to the schedule plage.  I try to stay about two months ahead on promoting my upcoming In-Shape events so you’ll constantly see In-Shape’s presence on this site.

You can’t host a racquetball tournament without racquetballs.  As a sanctioned CSRA event, you’ll receive the new Ektelon balls needed to successfully host your event.  This will save you at least $75 in expenses and of course, the players appreciate being able to use a new Ektelon ball for their matches.

Although I’ve had a few gripes about the CSRA and certainly the USAR over the years, the fact is I’m pro state/national organization.  I love this game and want to see the sport consistently thriving.  To do that, national organizations, state organizations, event directors and players have to work together to grow racquetball’s numbers so that we can continue to grow as an entity that has value in numbers and organization.  This includes the entire sport of racquetball, the IRT, WPRO, WOR, IRF and every other association out there.  National, regional and local businesses need to see the value in numbers if we’re ever going to receive financial support from outside the industry.

I could go on for a while and probably come up with another 5-10 points about why I sanction all of my In-Shape events, but these are the main reasons.  Support your state association.  If the association is not performing up to par then ask yourself what you can do to help the situation.  If you’re not willing to help then you can’t complain.  I’m not saying being a board member for a state racquetball association is for everyone, I’ve yet to be on the CSRA Board, but not sanctioning your events are not helping anyone in the sport, not even your local members that complain about a small yearly payment.  I know times are tough for people financially, but the insurance coverage alone should end the conversation on why all racquetball players should be USAR members.

Racquetball Warehouse Sponsors 4 players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and 1 player on the Women’s Professional Racquetball Tour (WPRO). In this series we let you into a glimpse of their lives, impressions, challenges and victories throughout their careers as professional athletes. Our sponsored players are:

Rocky Carson - IRT #2 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=CARSON
Ben Croft - IRT #3 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=BCROFT
Chris Crowther - IRT #5 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=CROWTHER
Jose Rojas - IRT #9 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=JROJAS
Rhonda Rajsich - WPRO #2 - WPRO Pro Player Gallery coming soon..

In our last Pro’s Perspective Article we were unable to include our phenom Ektelon player - Jose Rojas. Here is his story:

I feel like I ended 2010 on a great note, making almost every quarter  and a semi. I do wish I could have done much better in Colombia, but  even then I felt as my ankle was going to fall off. I really had no  control over that. After the US Open,which I didn’t play at my best, I  felt as if I could do much better than what I have been and proved it  at the next tournament in Chihuahua. That has to be my highlight of  2010  when I made the Semi and came really close to making the first  final in my career, losing in 5 to Alvaro Beltran. I am really looking  forward to the next half of the season in 2011 as I feel stronger and  more confident then ever. Although the month of January has been  pretty much a slump for me losing in the 16’s 2 out of the three  tournaments, I still feel mentally stronger than I did in Chihuahua.

Make sure to check back often for more insight and updates from the Racquetball World!

RW Staff

Racquetball Warehouse Sponsors 4 players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and 1 player on the Women’s Professional Racquetball Tour (WPRO). In this series we let you into a glimpse of their lives, impressions, challenges and victories throughout their careers as professional athletes. Our sponsored players are:

Rocky Carson - IRT #2 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=CARSON
Ben Croft - IRT #3 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=BCROFT
Chris Crowther - IRT #5 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=CROWTHER
Jose Rojas - IRT #9 - http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayer2.html?ccode=JROJAS
Rhonda Rajsich - WPRO #2 - WPRO Pro Player Gallery coming soon..

Now that the second half of the season is in full swing, and has brought some excitement with Rocky taking Kane to 5 games for the first time as well as a recent retirement, let’s hear what the pros have to say about 2010 going into 2011:

Rocky Carson

For the first half of the season all of the pros have had to make an adjustment to the new 2 serve rule. It definately puts more wear and tear on the body. Not just the arm but also on our legs. Especially when playing at altitude with 2 serves it makes it a game in which it can be tough to get a player when on fire on his serve out of the service box. A couple of our tourneys so far have been in high altitude; Cali,Columbia and Chihuahua, MX. It really makes for exciting matches and potential upsets.

So far the season has been a lot of fun. Seeing the effects of what the IRTNetwork.com is doing for the sport and allowing everybody at home to enjoy watching all of the pro-stops and to have the ability to follow us every weekend. This is just the beginning of what I believe will be what lifts the IRT to the next level. Not to mention, John Scott’s broadcating is off the hook.

We are seven stops into the season, and for myself I am ranked #2. I won the Chihuahua event and that got me back to playing ball with a much more focused game plan. I have played more solid this year than for most of all season last year. I have at least made the finals in all but 2 stops and look forward to finishing the season strong. If you want to keep up with me you can check me out on Facebook.

Ben Croft

2010. In my opinion, the most interesting and exciting year on tour in years! 2010 saw the first full season under a new President, the addition of many new tournaments, and more ranking changes than anyone could’ve expected! As a racquetball player and also fan, the first half of the season has left me energized and optimistic for the future of Professional Racquetball!

Fortitude was the theme for the 2010 season. It was a battle of who can stay healthy and compete at the highest level through consecutive months of a stacked schedule and very little time off. I found it very challenging both mentally and physically to perform at my best at times because I was competing in too many events. I hope the fans realize that and cut us a little slack when they see our level of play drop as the season progresses! J Considering the alternative, an incredibly busy schedule is a great problem to have! That being said, this has been a season that I am proud to be a part of. The tour has taken such a positive turn under the reigns of Jason Mannino and his “dream team” behind the scenes. 2010 should prove that, and as a player and fan I appreciate their hard work!

We brought in the second half of the season with three consecutive Tier 1’s, and it seems like the second half is on the same path (if not better) than the first! My goals for 2011 are simple but easier said than done, stay healthy and find a way to compete at my best at every event!

Thanks to HEAD, Racquetball Warehouse and everyone else for their support in 2010, and plan on strengthening every part of my game in 2011!

Chris Crowther

Overall the 2010 season was quite a rollercoaster.  I would have to say the highlight was making my first final and the low would be getting injured. Competition is tough out there and with the addition of 2 serves, it is very demanding on the body.  I spent the last few months doing extensive rehab on my back and now I feel good as new.  The goal for the second half of the season is to stay healthy, play hard and hopefully win a tournament. Looking forward to getting out there and competing!

Rhonda Rajsich

Let’s start with the lowlights…
Definitely a rough start at the beginning of the calendar year, just couldn’t seem to find my rhythm for months, concluding with a huge disappointment at the last Nationals that would ever be in Houston. The summer didn’t let up on the let downs either, as I missed my mark at the WOR Championships in Huntington Beach again too, but at least managed to get a great tan.  After taking some time to lick my wounds, the highlights began to take shape…

Now the good stuff…
Going back to Korea for the 2010 World Championships was a thrill in itself, but to come away with three Gold medals in that one was particularly sweet.  A bumpy start would follow in our WPRO season opener in Dallas, but I honestly did the best I could with what I had, and put it behind me quickly. Onto the first ever Grand Slam in another country, it was a joy to be a part of such a new and exciting event, and winning was just more icing on the cake.  Immediately following was the first-ever 3-Wall Ball Championships in Las Vegas.  It was an incredible sight to see all of the courts and the players in the parking lot of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, with the huge needle looming overhead.  Oh yeah, and winning that didn’t hurt either.  And finally the best and most memorable moment of my 2010 is absolutely getting my 4th US Open title in the new home of racquetball’s biggest Grand Slam, Lifetime Fitness in Minneapolis, MN. I’d manage a couple of more victories by the end of the year, but moving on to what’s on tap for 2011….

Predictions:
All I can say with any certainty is that I will continue to get better.  If 2011 brings me nothing else it will be improvement in leaps and bounds over what I have done and accomplished so far…and that is extremely exciting to me!! As much as I love my job, I have only scratched the surface of what I will do in this game…. Stay tuned….

Make sure to check back often for more updates from the dominant Racquetball Warehouse Pro Player Team!

Gearing up for 2011

While the kids from ASU are still on winter break, I am doing my best to get into playing shape once again so we can prepare together for the Intercollegiate Championships in April here at ASU. Having a day job certainly seems to get in the way of my racquetball!!!

Our big focus for the New Year??? Two things: Serves and Return of Serve! The more consistently you can serve the better your chances of winning, period. A good repertoire of serves will be necessary to beat a variety of opponents, and practicing each one is important. I am continually surprised at when people play a lefty in a tournament their biggest concern is what to serve to them. This would not be a problem if you practiced ALL the serves, you would be armed with an answer for anyone you face. Drills as simple as standing a box or small garage can in the target area of your serve should finish is a fun way to see how accurate and consistent you really are. Most people are surprised, thinking they are better than in reality. Another way to practice for two people to for one to hit 10 of the same serve and someone else return each of those serves. The effectiveness of the serve should only be evaluated on the opportunity that you left your opponent with, not whether or not you win the rally. Errors and poor shot selection from the returner should be considered a bonus and not something you count on. Of course for the returner, their job is to minimize errors and reverse the advantage the server has with a smart return.

Since we are on Winter break I left everyone with warm holiday wishes and cautions to be careful on New Year’s Eve. I warned everyone before they left for Winter Break that they would need to come back from break in shape, as we will be hitting the ground running as soon as they return. We add a Saturday practice in during this ramp up time towards the big show, and this gets the kids on the court against local tournament players on a weekly basis. This year we are afforded the luxury (?) of having one tournament per month before the Intercollegiate event in which we can prepare. In past years, this has not been the case and I have felt we could have been a little more “tournament tough” before heading to compete. However there is always the concern for sore shoulders and court burns when you play tournaments that affect the following week’s practice time. But as we all know, this is part of the rigors of the game.

Circling back to the Saturday practices, after playing either me or the invited guests who show up, I usually take the team to run “The Hill”. Within about 5 minutes of the SRC there is a very steep and gravelly hill that is about a 200 sprint/climb to the top. It is a test of will and pushing through the barriers in your head that we all have. It isn’t the toughest climb in the vicinity of campus; the infamous “A Mountain” is notorious for breaking the spirit and endurance of many of ASU’s athletes. But this hill is ours. We run it as a team exercise, each of us individually but as a whole group to encourage and push one another. The main goal is to not slow down, pick a pace you think you can keep and no matter what don’t quit. I have never had someone quit; I did have someone who pretty much collapsed in effort to make it to the top, but she never quit. It develops mental toughness and prepares you for the pressure of all your team mates watching and cheering for you. A great addition to our training regimen.

The whole idea behind the practice sessions, practice matches and The Hill is that tournaments should feel like a vacation compared to what the kids “endure” during the weeks leading up to the events. I am big on having us aiming towards hitting a peak just in time for the Intercollegiate event in April. Using planned practice goals, tournaments as a barometer for progress, and scheduled training sessions which maximize fitness gains similar to on-court anaerobic needs we can get ready in an organized fashion and not a haphazard approach. Not only does this improve our chances for success, I hope that it teaches the students useful life skills as well.

Darrin Schenck

ASU Head Coach

Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions by email about situations that are coming up during club play for the players emailing me.  Most of the questioning has to do with how to handle situations that involve hinders or other interpretations of the rules.  So I thought I’d take a moment and address a few of these issues on the Racquetball Warehouse Blog……. First, let me start with the good ol “PENALTY HINDER”.  When should this type of hinder be called while playing non tournament or league matches at your local club?  Good question and one that will have a few different answers for different types of people.  For me, club play is just practice and meant to be a lot of fun.  I’ve been playing racquetball matches since I was five years old, so thirty-three years later, winning a club match for me doesn’t matter a lot and shouldn’t depend on a penalty hinder call.  Needless to say, I never call them on my opponent unless my opponent simply can’t live with themselves knowing they definitely were in a penalty hinder position or if they were lying on the ground right in front of me and couldn’t go anywhere.  I don’t really care about forcing a player to give me a point during practice, although I will take that same call in a tournament.  Why do I do this since you’re suppose to practice like you play?  Because it’s just practice to me and I’m not looking for freebies or static between me and my opponent if they don’t agree with the penalty hinder call.  Now, I’m not saying you should all be like me in this situation, but it’s an option.  If you can’t play that way, then take the call and get ready for the banter that could come with it.  And oh yeah, don’t get caught in a penalty hinder position yourself or one that’s even close or you’ll be giving up the call!!  A penalty hinder occurs when a player takes away an offensive opportunity for their opponent, regardless if they were trying to get out of the way or not.  Obviously without a ref, this situation will most likely be debatable………….. The next most popular topic players are reaching out to me about is the “HOLDING UP A LITTLE, BUT STILL TAKING THE SHOT”.  This one cracks me up when I see it at the club because it happens all the time, mostly at the A level and lower and it always produces some arguing on the court.  I love it when a player kind of holds up, yet still takes the shot and makes it.  They always walk up like they meant to do that and their opponent just stands there and looks at them like they’re scum for taking the shot.  OR, they miss the shot and then immediately call the hinder, which of course is really the conversation I’m wanting to see.  BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IF YOU TAKE THE SHOT THEN YOU LIVE WITH THE SHOT!!  If you don’t take the shot and you hold up for safety then your opponent should understand and oblige you with a hinder.  If they give you static because you held up for the hinder in that situation then you know what to do the next time that moment occurs, RIP THEM IN THE ASS.  Or the back of the leg, maybe the back fat just above the bum!!!…………. Last example for today is the “CALL FROM OUTSIDE THE COURT”.  This happens all of the time too and most of the time it’s a C player out there trying to interject.  People, if you’re outside the court and they want help from you on a call, forget about it!!  If you don’t say anything then you might find yourself watching an awesome conversation.  Why ruin that just because you can’t resist being apart of the play that you have nothing to do with?  Did you agree to ref the game before it began?  Probably not.  I can see maybe rolling your eyes a little to kind of tell them what you think, but don’t say a word.  Let them handle it on the court as they should be able to do in any practice play situation.  If they’re smart and understanding of the concept that racquetball is just a game then they’ll likely just replay the point.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m very competitive and don’t like being taken advantage of, but I’m not that crazed about RB that I can’t just replay some points even if I think I’m getting the short end of the call.  I never go home thinking I should have won because of a call.  RB does not rule my dome like that and it shouldn’t rule yours either……….. If you find yourself reading this post and thinking that I’m that controversial guy or gal then now is your time to make a change.  It’s almost 2011 and you can add these concepts to your New Year’s Resolutions!!!  BTW, for those of you that read this blog, I’ll be back tomorrow midday for my Ellistyle Top 20 2011 New Year’s Resolutions.  All for now, keep em rollin………………..

Making do….

The ASU Racquetball team just wrapped up the annual Splat Classic Racquetball Tournament which we hosted for the third year in a row. The event itself is always fun, bringing old familiar faces and new friends together right before the Holiday. The tournament has sort of become our first semester ending event, and a gauge for where we are at in terms of our preparation for the Intercollegiate Championships in early April, 2011. While the ECRC schools and the WCRC schools are getting their tournament preparation in by playing other colleges, we have to make do with competing against local players in a regular tournament. Although I think it would be better preparation for us to play other schools for practice, this is the next best thing.

I would have to say one advantage to this isolation we have here in AZ is that we do not “show our hand” until we walk in the door for the Intercollegiate tournament event itself. It is nice to keep our competition guessing, and maybe have a few surprises that we can bring to the table come tournament time. I would assess our fitness level as adequate, but as my players know we will be doing our real training beginning in January when they return from Winter Break. We will be hitting the ground running in the New Year, gearing up for our big showdown in April.

Hosting the Intercollegiate Championships this year has its pros and cons. I would say that an advantage of traveling to a tournament is that for the most part you are totally focused and there for one reason. The kids all have class work to keep up with, and when not playing everyone is supporting their team mates. We spend 24/7 together; the 7 guys and seven girls who went to Springfield last year crammed into 2 rooms each, and I had a room in the middle. We eat every meal together, commute from the hotel to the club together, etc. for four days straight. It can be trying at times, but for the most part I love every minute of it. When we host the tournament, boyfriends/girlfriends show up, Mom and Dad come to watch, kids try to squeeze in classes between matches, and many other pressures and distractions can arise. But, playing on your home courts and sleeping in your own bed is nice sometimes, so I guess it all evens out. We hope to be adding another decal to the wall of Court 1 after this season’s event, but only time will tell.

Happy Holidays everyone, I hope Santa brings you that better backhand you are wishing for!

Darrin Schenck

ASU Head Coach

With all of the technology and engineering Hi-Tec has put into their designs, they really have shoe making down to a science. The M550 is the newest incarnation from Hi-Tec and our playtesters received it with open arms. This shoe hybrids technology and materials used in previous 4:SYS and H700 models to create the perfect player’s shoe. Unbeatable support and a light breathable upper combined with the locking lace system gives your foot the superior ventilation that is usually cast aside with the stifling materials used to provide support.

Our testers tried this shoe out for an average of 20 hours and gave it an overall rating of 4 out of 5. Though views were slightly varied throughout the categories they all agreed that Hi-Tec has produced a high performance shoe for a wide range of skill levels. Our testers for this playtest ranged from B to Top 10 Pro in skill and from 15 to 55 in age. We have paraphrased our tester’s comments below for easier reading:

Comfort- 4

Out of the box, the shoes were comfortable to wear and had a minimal break-in period. Comfort and Arch Support both received a 4 out of 5 rating on average. After allowing adaptation to the new materials during court movement, all of the testers agreed that the shoes exhibited aspects of comfort that allowed them to forget that they were even wearing shoes, commenting that, “after the initial break in [they] were very comfortable. It is one of the few shoes I’ve worn that allows you not to think about the shoes while playing.”

Foot Support / Stability- 4.5

Stability is where this shoe really shined. All of our testers agreed that the stability was outstanding, “The most stable low tops I have worn.” Even our testers with ankle troubles found the shoe to be very supportive and reassuring when it came to planting and changing directions. Typically stability is sacrificed at the expense of comfort, as softer materials tend to be more comfortable, but lack the stability of a stiffer structure. This was not the case for the M550 as our testers found that the stability played nicely with the comfort.

Traction- 4.5

Backing up the stability was the traction of the shoe, which was well received by our testers. One of the players mentioned that, “On one occasion I was playing with an individual that was slipping all over the court, and I had no problems while wearing the Hi-Tec shoe.” The Peak Force gum rubber outsole is what can take credit for the great traction our testers experienced on a variety of different surfaces.

The only complaints to come from our testers pertained to the fit of the shoe, commenting that the opening seemed a little small, which caused some discomfort with the positioning of the tongue on the foot. The stiff materials presented a problem for some at first but after a brief break in period they could all agree it was not an issue.

With comfort, traction, and stability highlighting the performance of this shoe, it is easy to see how Hi-Tec hit the mark for those looking for a competitive high performance shoe. The testers spoke on their experience and Hi-Tec has the science to back it up, now it’s your turn to give these shoes a run for your money and see how a well-made shoe can amplify your experience on court.