Racquet Sports: Most Popular Articles

Squash Tips to Play Better
You want to improve, don't you? Here are the key squash tips for how to improve your squash game most rapidly, whether you are a beginner or an intermediate player.

How to Hit a Good Serve Return
Step by step, here's all you need to know to hit a great serve return, deal with your opponent's toughest serves, and quickly put him or her on the defensive. At the very least, you'll be back in the point, and on an even footing. You'll probably even be on the 'T', ready to dominate the point!

Tips for a Good Squash Serve
In squash, the serve can determine the likely outcome for a point, so it's important to hit a good one. Here are tips for making the most of your opportunity to serve.

Learn to Play Badminton
Here are the fundamentals of learning to play badminton; all the key shots and techniques that can transform your backyard badminton into real competitive badminton.

Serve Return Tips for Squash
Here are three key ideas that can help you return serve effectively in squash. Implement these ideas and you'll be ready to battle for control of the squash court.

Learn the Rules of Racquetball
You'll play better if you know all the rules of regulation racquetball. Begin with a sound understanding of the definitive rules of the game!

Stopping the Inflammation
The bane of many racquet sports players, plantar fasciitis can bring great pain and take pleasure from your game. Here's how to address the diagnosis and get back on court.

A Profile of Racquetball
Here are the key attributes of the sport of racquetball. This short profile quickly gives you a sense of the excitement and accessibility of racquetball, as well as its broad appeal to players throughout North America.

A Profile of Squash
Here are the key attributes of the sport of squash. This short profile quickly gives you a sense of the sport of squash, its prevalence around the world, and its complexity and history.

Learn the Laws of Badminton
Learning the official rules of badminton is a must, especially if you want to graduate from backyard play to competitive play. The good news is that the rules are so well documented, and so well thought-out, that they are labeled "laws" of badminton.

A Profile of Badminton
Here are the key attributes of the sport of badminton. This short profile quickly gives you a sense of the sport of badminton, its worldwide popularity, and its great physical demands.

Hit a Good Serve
Your serve is only shot that you control entirely. You have time, you have placement, you have opportunity. In fact, every racquetball point begins with a serve. Learn how to hit it well, and you will be starting on a great path forward.

Play With a Lighter Racquet
Here's a great way to avoid tennis elbow!

Top Ten Ways to Stay Healthy
These are the top ten ways for you to stay healthy and injury-free as a racquet sports player.

Squash Rules for Safety
Squash can actually be very dangerous, since there are two players running at full speed in a confined space, swinging racquets around while chasing a moving ball. Protective eyewear can help, but it's not the full solution. Knowing the rules is also essential. Here's where to go to learn the rules and stay safe.

Olympic Badminton Rules
The Olympic badminton rules are well-codified, and the competition is well-structured. Here is a description of how Olympic badminton players are selected and the badminton competition is run.

Winning Thoughts for Squash
During a hard-fought squash match, there’s really no time to analyze or reflect. You need simple, positive thoughts that you can remember even when you’re “brain-dead” and gasping for air. Here's how to focus on ten key ideas that can help you play your best.

China Owns Olympic Badminton
China will dominate in Olympic badminton when play commences in August 2008 in Beijing. Find out why.

Squash Tip - Avoid Overhitting
This squash tip explains the perils of overhitting, what overhitting is, what problems it causes, why it is so frequent, and how to avoid it. This squash tip comes from hard-earned experience, and if you take it to heart, you won't have to make the common mistake of overhitting.

Why Play Racquet Sports?
This article explores the unique characteristics of racquet sports that make them so appealing. It explains why and how they are better than other sports, for so many people.

Olympic Badminton Controversy
Olympic badminton controversies began even before the sport debuted in Barcelona in 1992. Controversies surround the selection process for the teams, the way funding is allocated to athletes and coaches, and potential conflicts of interest by committee members. And that's even before we look at controversial player behavior or controversial officiating!

History of Badminton
The history of badminton varies somewhat in every country where it is played. The great players are different, the venues are particular to each country, and the sporting traditions vary. For the badminton history of greatest interest to you, pick your country of interest.

An Easy Racquet Sport to Play
Here is an overview of the easy-to-learn sport of pickleball. This short profile gives you a sense of the appeal of pickleball, its appropriateness for players of all ages, and the ease of starting to play this fun sport.

Getting Your First Racquet
Tips for getting your first racquet

About Olympic Badminton
Everything you need to know about Olympic badminton: past Olympic medal winners in badminton, rules for qualifying and playing Olympic badminton, Olympic badminton controversies, badminton photos, Beijing badminton prospects, and much more.

Watch the Badminton Pros
Badminton videos can show you how the professional badminton players move and hit, and execute their strategy. They also highlight badminton's tremendous worldwide popularity, and showcase the athleticism of the players. Here are some sources for great video recordings of professional badminton play.

A Profile of Jai Alai
Jai alai is an incredibly fast ball game, usually played by teams, and usually the subject of intense spectator interest and gambling. Here's a short description of this fascinating racquet (okay, basket) sport.

Badminton Olympics
With this advice from an instructor and these ideas from a world-class player, here's how you can get on the Olympic track as a badminton player.

A Profile of Court Tennis
Here's what court tennis is all about. This short profile gives you a sense of the sport of court tennis, its unique features, complexity, and rich history.

Racquet Sports - QuickTips
An index of QuickTips for the Racquet Sports guide site.

Strengthen Your Lower Arm
Most racquet sports require exceptional strength in the player's lower arm in order for them to fully control the racquet, and control their shot. Here's a great way to increase your lower arm strength.

N. Widianto and L. Natsir
Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir in mixed doubles badminton competition at the Yonex All England Open.

Watch the Squash Pros
Squash videos can show you how the professionals work their magic on the squash court, and the quality of the videos has gotten better over the years. The technology is now good enough to track that fast moving ball! Here are some sources for great video recordings of professional play.

Squash Glossary
This squash glossary explains common terms that you may hear your squash coach use. It can help you learn the language of the sport of squash, and speed your learning. Communication can be a challenge in a sport as international as squash, so a glossary is valuable.

Racquetball Defense Tips
When you're under pressure, the ceiling ball is the best racquetball defense. It gives you time to safely get back into position. Here are three quick tips for how to employ this racquetball defense.

Xingfang Xie is Striking
Xingfang Xie exhibits her poise, balance, and focus during competition at the Yonex Japan Open badminton championship.

How to Begin Kids' Squash
There are several key steps to starting your child in squash. And a few steps to avoid. Here's a parents' guide to starting your child in squash the right way, without pressure, and with maximum fun.

Get the Equipment You Need
Playing competitive badminton requires the right equipment. Here are some online sources for good badminton gear.

Go to Camp
Get a real boost for your racquetball game. Attend a weekend or week-long camp, and take your game to the next level! Here are a few things you should know in advance, as well.

Warm Up, Play, and Stretch
It sure is fun to jump right on court and play, but that may not be the healthiest approach. You'll play better, and more safely, if you warm up first, and stretch afterwards.

Olympic player Ning Zhang
Ning Zhang of China sends the shuttle on its way in competition at the Yonex Japan Open badminton championship.

How to Find a Squash Partner
Here's how you can find a squash partner, in only eight easy steps!

Finding a Racquetball Coach
You want to improve rapidly and play better racquetball, don't you? Here's how you can find a coach who's right for you.

Bo Zheng and Ling Gao
Bo Zheng and Ling Gao in mixed doubles competition at the Yonex All England Open

Jin Chen's carved forehand
Jin Chen (China) in play at the Yonex All England Open badminton championship.

Cross-Train for Fitness
Here are some tested suggestions for cross-training that can help a racquet sports player stay fit and healthy.

Olympic Badminton Champs
Here are all the Olympic badminton medalists from 1992 through 2004.

Flandy Limpele & Vita Marissa
Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa (Indonesia) competing in mixed doubles at the 2008 Yonex Korea Open badminton championship

Kenneth Jonassen smashes
Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark executes a badminton smash during play at the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open.

Chunlai Bao's precise forehand
China's Chunlai Bao stretches for a precision forehand in competition in England.

How to Find a Badminton Coach
You want to get the best help for improving your badminton game, don't you? Here's how you can find a coach who's right for you.

Dan Lin Victorious
Here are images of top-ranked Olympic badminton competitors, reflecting Badminton World Federation rankings as of April, 2008. These are the top men's singles Olympic badminton competitors to watch in Beijing!

Find a Web Racquetball Coach
While they can't do as much for you as a personal coach, online coaches can help you begin to improve your racquetball play. Here are several coaches offering some free online tips, as well as recorded lessons, that you should definitely check out.

What is Olympic Badminton?
Olympic badminton is a way of life for the competitors. It is the pride of a nation, for several nations on the globe. It is a compelling drama of strategy, tactics, fitness, and luck. Olympic badminton is badminton at the pinnacle, rather than the picnic.

Badminton star Chong Wei Lee
Here are images of top-ranked Olympic badminton competitors, reflecting Badminton World Federation rankings as of April, 2008. These are the top men's singles Olympic badminton competitors to watch in Beijing!

Watch the Racquetball Pros
Racquetball videos can show you how the professionals combine their shots to best effect, and make amazing "dives" to stay in the points. Here are some sources for great video recordings of professional racquetball competitions.

More Than Just Tennis
You can watch racquet sports professionals on the Tennis Channel even if you don't care much about tennis.

Chen Wang of Hong Kong
Chen Wang of Hong Kong confounds her opponent during badminton competition at the 15th Asian Games in Doha.

Online Squash Forums and Blogs
Join up with the online squash community to find kindred spirits who are asking the same questions you are, and who have answers to share.

Become a Certified Squash Ref
Refereeing a squash match can be a real challenge. Here's how to learn the rules, become the best referee you can be, and get certified as an official referee by US Squash.

Yawen Zhang Exults
Yawen Zhang (China) enjoys a hard-earned victory in women's doubles at the Yonex All-England Open badminton championship. Her mixed doubles partner, Zhongbo Xie, is not pictured.

Finding a Racquetball Partner
Here's how you can find a racquetball partner, in only eight easy steps!

How to Play "Power Zone"
Power Zone is a great squash game for juniors, designed to help girls and boys learn to control the center of the court. And, it's fun!

Olympic Badminton Great Moment
Earning the Olympic badminton women's doubles gold medal at both the 1996 and 2000 Olympics qualifies Fei Ge and Jun Gu of China as the creators of some of Olympic badminton's greatest moments.

Yang Yu (China) hits backhand
Yang Yu (China) hits a backhand in women's doubles play at the Yonex All England Open championship. Her mixed doubles partner Hanbin He is not pictured.

Lan Lu of China
Lan Lu (China) exhibits control on her backhand during competition at the 2008 Yonex Korea Open badminton championship

A Profile of Racquets
The historic game of Racquets, Rackets, or Hard Racquets is still played today, though at a small number of clubs in the United States. This short profile gives you a sense of why enthusiasts at seven clubs in the US are striving to keep this wonderful game alive.

Lin Zhu Moves and Smashes
Lin Zhu of China leaps and smashes during play at the Yonex Korea Open badminton championship.

A Profile of Platform Tennis
Platform tennis, or 'paddle', is a great game for year-round fun. This short profile gives the highlights and introduces you to one racquet sport that doesn't even require strings on the racquet.