With respect to Kenny Rogers and his hit song, the Gambler! –smart racquetball is a phrase many players use. Here’s what’s smart; winning or at least so it seems to the average player. Your opponent will not respect you unless you beat them and even then they can say you were lucky so you have to do it twice….in a row. I do not know why that fact escapes people.
So the first rule of winning racquetball…know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em. That translates into trying to win a rally with an offensive attempt vs hitting a defensive shot.
Know when to walk away and know when to run–translates into giving up on a shot vs chasing it down and wasting energy.
Never count your money when you’re sitting at the table–Do not crow over a victory. Be humble and considerate of the opponent. The great Dr. Bud was fond of saying “The floor beats most people.” I liked that statement so much I actually used it as a missions statement for some of our USA team singles players in the 90s. My athletes were so fast and talented the only way they could be defeated would be by making unforced or forced errors. If they focused on leaving a margin of error nobody could beat them. If they got too ambitious and tried to force the action, they were in for a long day at the office.
Know when to hold’em and know when to walk away translates easily..The ceiling ball can be a non-flashy shot and a way of preserving victory for the player willing to “fold’em” for a rally!