racquetball

racquetball, sport played indoors by two or four players, combining elements of court handball and such racket games as squash racquets. It is played on a standard handball court 40 ft (12.2 m) long, 20 ft (6.1 m) wide, and 20 ft high, with a back wall at least 12 ft (3.6 m) high. The fiber-strung racket is attached to the player's wrist with a thong, and the ball is slightly larger and lighter than that used in handball. Racquetball was developed in the early 1950s and enjoyed a boom in popularity throughout the United States in the 1970s. The United States Racquetball Association holds annual singles and doubles championships.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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