Need A Gloves For Racquetball? (Getting The Proper Grip)
Perfecting your grip in the game of racquetball is a pretty complicated thing to master. You may be wondering if you need a glove to enhance your grip. Finding the right glove is even more complicated if you’re just starting to play.
Do you need a glove for racquetball? A glove is not necessary to play racquetball, but it is highly recommended. Utilizing a glove does a variety of things for your grip. It helps you control your grasp and it helps protect against blisters. If you wan’t to play Racquetball seriously, you definitely need a glove suited for Racquetball.
If you’re looking to compete in racquetball, you’re going to want a glove that fits right and provides the most control over the racquet. You want the racquet to essentially become an extension of your arm. To do this you’ll need to know what to look for in a glove. Don’t worry, follow the guide below to help you find the perfect glove.
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Finding The Right Glove
Although a glove is not required for racquetball, it comes in handy when you’re trying to master the swings you need to know during play. There’s more to racquetball than merely swinging around the racquet.
A glove can help you master exact movements you need to be able to make, such as switching from forward-hand to back-hand. This move requires rapid and precise changes, and a glove helps you to better control those movements. Here’s a better look at what to look for when you’re shopping.
- Breathability: You’ll want to find something that lets your palms breath, especially if you have naturally sweaty hands. Along-side that you’ll want to find something with good absorption if you have sweaty hands as well.
- Padding: If you’re the type of player known to go for the dive, you’ll want a glove with some padding in the palms. You’ll want to avoid gloves with mesh backing. These types of gloves won’t provide the padding you need to go in for the dive.
- Sticky: You’ll want the gloves to be sticky, so when you pick up the racquet it doesn’t slide out of your hands. Try switching your racquet from fore swing to backswing. Does it glid but stayed in your hands? That’s what you’re looking for.
- Mesh: If you sweat a lot, you’ll want something with a mesh backing. A mesh backing has tiny holes in the back of it that allows airflow into the rest of the glove. So if the palm is something like neoprene, which doesn’t allow proper airflow into the glove, then the mesh backing will allow you to breathe.
- Comfortable: You want the glove to be comfortable but a little snug. Get a size smaller because the glove stretches over time.
- Durability: The expensive gloves generally last longer than the cheap gloves. You want something that is made of good strong material. You’re going to be spinning a racquet around in that glove. This will cause wear and tear in the glove over time.
Padding
When you’re shopping around for the right glove, you’re going to want some padding during play. You’ll want something soft, allows breathability, comfort, and excellent grip. Let’s take a look at the different types of material. After this, you’ll be rocking you’re new glove and ready to kick some behind!
- Foam: Some manufacturers offer a glove that includes foam padding. Foam padding easily protects your hand from hard surfaces such as hitting the wall. It is primarily made for diving. This means that gloves with foam padding also protect the knuckles.
- Airprene: Airprene padding provides more protection because it is much thicker than foam. It’s a softer material, so it’s going to be more comfortable as well. The downfall is it doesn’t provide much breathability, and it’s also bulky.
- Neoprene: Neoprene is more heavy-duty padding that offers great absorption. This type of padding would be used for the aggressive player. The downfall with this type of padding is that reduces airflow.
With all of this information, you should have no problem finding the right glove for you. Now that we’ve covered that a glove is highly recommended – let’s get into perfecting your grips. Time to try out that new glove!
Perfecting Your Grip
Finding the right glove is only part of the solution when you’re trying to perfect that grip. You need to know how to maneuver and fine-tune your movements to easily switch your grips and, at a reasonably quick pace. So, let’s break it down into bite-size chunks. Everything is more comfortable that way.
- The V: When you grip the racquetball handle you want the “v” of your hand (the part between your index finger and your thumb) on the top of the handle. This enables you to have more control during play.
- Loosen the Grip: You don’t need to hold onto the racquet for dear life. Relax your grip.
- Keep Your Pinky Finger on The Top: For easy balance, rest your pinky finger on the top of the grip where the flare part is. It might seem awkward at first, but practice makes perfect.
- Keep Your Hand Low: Keep your hand low on the handle of the racquet. The lower your hand is on the racquet, the better. This will enable you to have a much more powerful swing.
Racquetball players say that you want the racquet to become an extension of your arm. You want that racquet to be as natural as your other body parts are. You could say they want you to become “one with the racquet.”
We’ve talked about the glove, and how to pick the perfect one. We’ve talked about the grip and how to master that. Shall we get into the juicy parts?
The Swings
There are two main types of swing you should be aware of. You’re going to use these the most. They are called the back-hand swing and the forehand swing. They are very different. These two swings get confused a lot. Which is why so many racquetball players get confused. Let’s look into them.
Forehand Swing
The forehand swing is a pretty straight forward swing. The most important thing you want to remember with this swing is to keep your body in line with the ball and follow through on the swing. This is important when hitting or throwing any ball. Here’s how to successfully use this swing.
- Hold Racket Up: You always want to hold your racket up and be ready. Hold your racket so that your elbow and your should are in line with each other.
- Step Into The Shot: Stepping into how shot gets you in line with the ball. With this technique, you want to lead with your front foot.
- Rotate Your Hip: Think of this as leaning into your shot. You want to rotate your hip so that it goes into the shot. The rest of your body will follow. This also builds momentum for the shot.
- Make Contact: When you make contact with the ball you want to lead with your elbow. This will ensure that you will, indeed, hit the ball.
- Follow Through: Even though you have made contact with the ball you still want to swing all the way through the ball. This ensures accuracy.
Backhand Swing
The backhand swing is a little more complex, but the same in some ways, than the forehand swing. Like its name, everything is done backward. Let’s take a look.
- Racquet Up To Opposite Shoulder: while using this swing you’re going to put the racquet above the opposite should you’re holding the racquet with. Hold it up to the back of your shoulder.
- Step Into the Shot: Like the forehand swing, you’re going to step into your shot, but leading with your back foot.
- Rotate Into The Shot: This is where it gets really different. You’re going to move the same hip your racquet is in line with forward, leading you into the shot.
- Swing Into Shot: Once you rotate into the shot your body will follow, getting you in line with your shot. At this point, you will swing.
- Follow-through: Once you’ve spun around like a pro, make sure to follow through like a pro.
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