The 70s and 80s racquetball techniques have changed drastically with one exception; the Dave and Gregg Peck School of racquetball. They were way ahead of their time, having conferred with movement experts and linked science and racquetball very early in our game’s history. Tennis has gone through the same growing pains racquetball now is. USA tennis took a huge hit a some years ago because of our kids being taught outdated techniques. I watch the tennis instruction pages and see a ton of misinformation, and things that do not work. Racquetball is the same. I like to swap notes with the best footwork minds so last week I am talking to one former touring pro on the Men’s Tennis tour and a lady coach who is friends with the Williams sisters and I am making sure I am on the right track in my coaching.
During the conversation I mentioned this large school of racquetball coaching that teaches step to the side wall backhands and in some cases forehands.
The tennis people said this word for word. “Wow, I hope they do not injure too many people before they learn they are wrong.”
Now to be fair, racquetball is not tennis and the walls and angles cause random movement patterns so never step to the side wall is almost impossible but footwork can always be improved!
Too often immediate results are confused with improving. It is simple not to change and hope for the best. In some cases due to the athleticism of the player winning can happen; but not necessarily injury prevention or improvement!