Text by Shane Klippenes and Photography by Jim Wells
Unlike some athletic endeavors, racquetball is an inexpensive sport to tryout, with many court facilities offering equipment rentals to newbies for a fair price. (Access Fitness provides a ball, racquet and eye protection for $5 per visit).
After you’ve rented a few times, or if you’re just ready to buy your own equipment right away, here’s a short list of essential gear you’ll need and price ranges to go with them.
• Eye Protection is the most important thing you will spend money on. Hang around a court long enough and you’ll hear stories of how these ugly safety glasses saved players sight. Don’t skimp on your eye pro… you’ll want a pair that sits comfortably on your face with enough air flow around the lenses to keep from fogging up. $5 to $100 or more.
• Without a Racquet, you’re playing handball. Scheels has several racquets listed online from $14.99 to $100. The experts I spoke with suggest going with a cheap to mid-range on price for your first racquet “until you’ve played enough to know what you want in a racquet”.
• Racquetball shoes in a myriad of colors, styles and brands abound with price points all over the map from $30 on up.
• Gloves are optional equipment, but if they help you hold onto a slippery racquet or drive the ball harder, they’re probably worth the $5 to $20.
• Racquetballs cost 2 bucks apiece or less, depending on the brand and the quantity you buy. So there you have it; A fun, competitive sport that encourages fitness, teamwork and friendship for a starting price tag of $5 for gear rental or under $100 for purchase entry level gear (www.scheels.com). Enjoy!
