Winterton Racquetball
Let's Talk Racquetball



Coach
Jim Winterton
Hall of Fame Coach Winterton coaches like no other coach out there! In any business, people are measured by their portfolio. Coach W has more national, world, and pro champions than any other coach in racquetball history in his body of work. Why is he so successful?
He teaches athletes how to self-coach. The thinking process to win is much different than hoping to win.
A good example would be “I have to keep my racquet up!” (Process and something a player can control) Instead of “I hope I win this next point!”(Outcome and something a player cannot control)
Using the latest in science and technology, Coach uses the footwork technique of pro athletes in mainstream sports and applies those principles to racquetball. Coach is always changing his approach to match each student’s needs.
No two people are alike so why should every athlete be taught the same?

Our Programs
Find the one for you
come Visit Arizona
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Two days of 3 hour sessions or one day of 6 hours
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Access to Video Collection
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Personal Practice Plan
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this is less then $84.00 per hour!
Pro Package
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Unlimited video coaching*
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Access to Video Collection
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After 3 months in Pro Package free In Person coaching if you visit Coach**
Remote Coaching
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Remote Coaching only
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Access to Video Collection
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Unlimited video coaching*
*Coach reserves the right to fast track long videos into 15-20 minutes of analysis
**up to 3 hours per day in person coaching for two days. Sorry these days do not accumulate.
Example: come to Arizona after 6 months and you will receive 6 hours of in-person coaching, not 18 hours.
Winterton Racquetball Pro Kennex Specials!
The most successful racquetball coach in history is a proud member of team Pro Kennex. Check here for deals on sponsorship or specials through the Pro Kennex Website!

Racquetball
Tip of the Day
Don’t Eat the Cheese!!
This post just crossed my desk. It is a quote by Sean Payton, the head coach of the Denver Broncos. This quote was featured in Coaches Journal, a blog I highly recommend. The quote was titled, “Don’t Eat the Cheese!” “The minute you feel like you’ve arrived or your skill set is done, you have a problem. Don’t get caught in the trap of people telling you how great you are. You’ve got to keep working.” Sean Payton I remember reading a quote by a famous actor who was being interviewed and he was asked if the critics who gave …
How, Not What!
The “how” of racquetball is more important than the “what”. I can say, hit the ball down the line but when my athlete does not, I can say, “they do not listen to me.” or “Try it again!” Or… I can teach “how” to hit the ball down the line with proper footwork (not stepping to the side wall) and technique, hitting at full extension on the forehand and the backhand. Trust me, the “What”is easy to teach but the “how” is not. It takes patience with the athlete and coach’s role in this process. The only way is repetition …
Salute to Fran
Above: Coach W and Fran talking Coaching Salute to Fran Davis. The year was..well a long time ago in the wayback machine. Yours truly got a message from an old friend in Pennsylvania and he asked me if I could help this one wall paddleball player from New York City. He knew she had talent and suggested she visit me. Fran did the drive from NYC to Rochester, NY where I played. At the time I was coaching Mike Levine, an up and coming future junior player who ended playing Pro on the tour at a young age. In those …
UnClog the Blocker
This one drifted across my desk-again will paraphrase to protect the innocent; but this occurs all over the world on racquetball courts frequently. “My opponent never kills the ball but hits it so I have to move through him or around him to get to a shot. After he hits a shot he slides slightly toward the ball to block my vision. I doubt if a ref would call a hinder but I get tired after racing out to a good lead. Signed Help me play full contact racquetball” There used to be a famous actor named Dan Blocker. That …
Practice and Think Stink!
The matches are over. The club is quiet but still open. Down on court 8, way in the back is the ole ball coach and one of his athletes. We are putting in an after hours session working on footwork and return of serve. Motivated athlete wants extra work during the tournament and motivated coach is all over it. I have been in at 6:30am early and midnight late at some of these events. Bottom line: I hate to lose! I hate to lose at anything but if I put in maximum effort and my athlete does also, we …
Get a Grip!
Backhand check list- For reference: https://buff.ly/ecnbWQc Talking backhand grip-V formation of the thumb and forefinger for right-handers should rotate to 11 to 9 o’clock. That roughly translates to Eastern to modified western grips. Why do I not teach one grip? As someone told me last summer, “Coach you teach the wrong backhand grip.” My response? “I’ll tell my national and world champions (which includes the greatest player who ever played racquetball) they have the wrong grip.” Oh, and one more thing, each grip has strengths and weaknesses. No one grip is perfect. For the record, every summer I tried to …
Ref Rules
Ten signs of poor reffing! In fairness to all players out there it is tough reffing and even more tough when you are reffing against good players. Here are ten signs of ref change needed! 1. The ref tries to be part of the action. You know the drill. The ref has a flair for the dramatic and tries to call attention to themselves. The best refs are invisible! 2. The ref is disrespectful of one or more players. Comments like “Yeah sure you could have gotten that” or “no way you could have gotten to that ball, you are …
Whoa-Slow Down Phenom!
Overheard from well-meaning fans and some young coaches. “My athlete is national ranked junior champion and they are a great player.” I am thinking “Poor junior player-all you hear is how great you are from everyone. I hope you do not listen.” Here’s me also thinking , “You are not that good-you must learn your craft! You may be the winningest player of all time in juniors. You may be undefeated or whatever, but you are playing juniors. Do it in pros and now you are impressive.” Am I really saying to junior she or he is not that good? …
11 Tips for Excellence!
11 tips for excellence: 1. Do not come to the coach to get help. Come to the coach to collaborate. 2. Do not take orders from a coach. Work with a coach. 3. Understand that the coach cannot get you better. You must get better by practicing skills taught to you. 4. Playing is fun, but play with a purpose in practice. 5. Do not “blow smoke” to the coach. If you tell them you are practicing and you cannot hit the front wall, they will know you have not practiced! 6. Come ready to learn. 7. Coaches can make …
TRY THE ELITE RACQUETBALL CAMP LED BY COACH WINTERTON
These camps sell out each year. Other camps have 5-8 people attending while Coach Winterton’s next Elite camp already has 40 signups! His last one-day camp had 14 in attendance! Coach Winterton’s camps experience includes top notch instruction and fun!

Racquetball
Upcoming events and News
Coach Winterton’s Athletes Excel in 2025
LPRT The Madison Trust Arizona Open Winners: Angelica Barrios, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Women’s Open Grant Williams, St Louis, Mo, Gold Men’s open at Arizona Open …
World Team Racquetball
World Team Racquetball Report 2024 Top: Tournament Director, Mike Coulter, and Coach W, Bottom: Mixed doubles GOAT team Team Photo courtesy of Game Changer Sports: …
Athletes in Training!
A few of the top athletes Coach Winterton works with.
Elite Camp 2025
Whew!! 49 junior athletes and 11 coaches and a few chaperones! Then add 12 coaches of local high schools..put them together and we have the Scholastic Elite Camp 2024 version!
The level of play in this camp was considerably higher than last year!
Winterton
Testimonials
Kane Waselenchuk
Kane Waselenchuk, 13x World Titles, 14x US Open titles, Winningest player in Racquetball history
Michael Norelli
Michael Norelli, Age division player--(like most of us, a normal club racquetball warrior!!)
Frank Taddonio
Frank Taddonio, Masters HOF Inductee, National age division champion
My experience working with Coach Winterton has been and continues to be extremely positive. He consistently identifies the most smallest details that contribute to improving my performance on the court. Coach provides direction and analysis both in person and virtually through videos I’m making progress regardless of schedules and locations.
I highly recommend Coach Winterton if you desire to improve your game and start competing at a higher level.