subject: This Is No Leisurely Golf Game [print this page] Growing up as a kid in New Jersey we were all playing handball on a wall for fun and exercise. It didn't cost any money to play and the only gear required was a ball and a wall. The wall could be anywhere, as long as the surrounding area was relatively flat. We played for hours on end.
Some time later, being first introduced to the actual game of handball as played in a 'real' court, I was amazed at how much more complicated the process became. Instead of just one wall and the ground you now had six playing surfaces. The game is played within a rectangular box and all planes are fair game.
For this new version gloves were mandatory, at least for me. And even with a good pair of specialty handball gloves I still felt the pain, right through the leather. And those shots I missed by reaching too far would inevitably leave welts on my wrists and forearms. Very manly, eh? Ha ha.
Racquetball, I learned, is played in the exact same court as is used for handball but is somewhat 'gentler' because you get to use a racket (or, as our cousins would say...'racquet'). No more hitting the ball with the hands sounded good to me, plus, the ball itself is softer. Getting hit by the opponent's shot shouldn't hurt as much, right? Getting hit with their swinging racquet can sure smart, though.
I noticed the court next to the one I usually used was different than its neighbor in that it had more lines painted on the walls and seemed smaller. This, I found out was a squash court and I was subsequently asked by a friend if I wanted to try it out. He lent me his extra squash racquet and we gave it a whirl. It was okay but not nearly as much fun for me as racquetball.
Back in the corner, just past the tennis stringing machine was a large display of all things 'racket'. They even had ping-pong stuff in that section. I guess ping-pong is a racket game too, in a sense... sort of a mini version of tennis.
Tennis is a great game but requires access to a 'specialty' court, just as do handball, racquetball and squash. Ping-pong is another racket sport that has garnered my attention and we play right at home. The set-up was inexpensive and everyone in the family has fun playing this one. It's a great alternative to my original 'ball against the wall' learned as a kid.
