Re: Then Versus Now: Who Stacks Up?

Kane versus Cliff? Who's the modern day "Sledge?" Can anyone's tan match Rocky's? With Ektelon Nationals returning as Ektelon Nationals presented by PENN, a Grand Slam tournament featuring the Finals for amateurs and also men's professional players, we thought we'd take a look back at the pros from back then to see how those who hit the courts with small racquets stack up to their counterparts swinging the big-string surfaces today.

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Posted: 04/09/11 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 Then Versus Now: Who Stacks Up? 0 replies

I didn't play great in a tournament last week and felt like I lost some ball control. However, the past couple nights I'm hitting well/better. Perhaps it is tournament play vs club play.

My favorite racquets strings broke right before the tournament - 17g Ektelon premier @ 42lbs was in the racquet. I had it restrung but my stringer didn't have 17g in stock just then so he put in 16g. I'm questioning whether the gauge mattered in my hitting *or* just new strings moving when I hit the ball *or*, of course, I'm looking for a lame excuse for my bad play.

Others have issues hitting with control right after stringing until the strings notches a little?

Posted: 04/07/11 in Equipment. Score: 0 New Ektelon premier strings time to notch/play 7 replies

Sunday, 13 March 2011 16:45
Written by Jennifer Johnson

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Dual careers can be tough on a marriage, unless the couple is Andy and Tracy Hawthorne and the profession involves racquetball. “We both love the sport. He’s playing the tour full time. While my friends say that’s hard, I understand the game is his job. A lot of relationships would really struggle, but it works for us.”

When we spoke the couple had just returned from Michigan, where she and Andy drove eleven college students to compete in a regional tournament. “It’s really special for me to be involved at that level because that’s where I started to play. They have the same passion getting into to it as I did when I started. It’s really awesome.”
[snip]
http://www.irt-tour.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=175:rb-couples-andy-a-tracy-hawthorne&catid=3:newsflash
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Posted: 03/31/11 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 RB Couples: Andy & Tracy Hawthorne 0 replies

[size=200]NEW RACQUETBALL LEARNING CENTER![/size]

We are proud and excited to announce the launch of our Racquetball Learning Center. We have designed the Learning Center to be the one stop information shop for rookie to tournament level players. Buyer's Guides provide practical advice for choosing new equipment, Product Facts supply more information than you ever wanted to know about technology and features, and our helpful Video Sections have both game improvement and equipment related content. We will be constantly adding more content so let us know what you think. Enjoy!

Click here.

http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/LearningCenter/lc.html

Posted: 03/27/11 in Equipment. Score: 0 RW - NEW RACQUETBALL LEARNING CENTER! 3 replies

Title of video: "Racquetball Girl Gets Comfortable - undressing"

This disgusted me. How can they call this racquetball when clearly it is squash.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_it2IJu4c


Clearly if it were racquetball it would be WOR! (War for those wanting to be on the same court as her that is. Men are pigs :) ).

P.S. Hope I put this in the right sub-forum... I'm not very good at this internet thingy.

Posted: 03/23/11 in General Discussion. Score: 7 Racquetball Girl Gets Comfortable - undressing 14 replies

Team USA Attempts to Qualify for the 2011 Pan American Games!

Dear Racquetball Family,

Team USA will compete in Nicaragua from April 16-23, 2011, in an attempt to qualify for the 2011 Pan American Games (Racquetball's equivalent of the Olympics). The Pan American Games occur every 4 years, this year being held in October in Guadalajara, Mexico. The top 10 teams will qualify for the prestigious October event.

We are proud to announce that US Team members Jansen Allen, Tony Carson, Chris Crowther, Krystal Csuk, Cheryl Gudinas, Andy Hawthorne, and Rhonda Rajsich, along with US Team Coach Mike Guidry and USAR President Cheryl Kirk, will be making the trip to Nicaragua to represent the United States.

Please visit US Team Donation <-click here to view the bios of each US Team player.

Travel and hotel expenses are expensive for this event, so any assistance you can provide to these athletes would be greatly appreciated. All contributions are tax deductible, and no amount is too small. Contributions can be made on our website or sent directly to the USAR office located at 1685 W. Uintah, Colorado Springs, CO 80904. You may also call with your credit card number to 719-635-5396 ext 129.

Thank you for assisting Team USA and supporting our deserving athletes' aspirations to qualify for the 2011 Pan American Games!

Sincerely,
Jim Hiser
Executive Director, USA Racquetball

Posted: 03/22/11 in USA Racquetball. Score: 0 Team USA Attempts to Qualify for the 2011 Pan American Games! 0 replies

You will have tears in your eyes...

http://damnyouautocorrect.com/category/best-of-dyac

Posted: 03/08/11 in General Discussion. Score: 0 Damn you auto correct phone features 1 replies

My wife and I flew to NY last Friday and picked up the Volt from Neal (great experience). We had a great day in NY on Sat (car sat in hotel parking, tho). We drove 1/2 way home (IL) on Sun and stayed at a Bed and Breakfast where they let me charge from the garage. Drove the other 1/2 way home Mon and arrived about 4:15pm. 38 CS MPG @ 65 MPH at 40ish degrees. I charged for a couple hours and then flew off to play racquetball on electricity and a natural high.

Test drives everyday for friends and co-workers. Did two today so ended up using < 0.1 gallons of gas on my way home from work.

Attached is my first full work week. 154.9 miles driven on 0.1 gallons equals 1549 MPGu (Miles/Gal_used).

Actual pictures below are from my car's dash

See attachment: "First week mileage.JPG"


My first full day at home I drove to work and back then charged for a couple hours then went to play racquetball. Here is what it looked like that day. 0.0 gallons of gas. Arrived home with 1 EV mile left and while taking the picture in the garage with the car on it went to 0 EV miles left and the display changed to a fuel pump (but did not start).

See attachment: "First full day.JPG"


I'm living the dream and am in a good place right now as my wife told me tonight. I'm considering writing more of a story of how I got here and the trip etc.

FYI, I charge the Volt from midnight to about 4 a.m. when my hourly electricity rate is lowest. It probably cost me about $0.60-$0.70 per day to charge. Gas at my local station is $3.69 for regular unleaded. I wave when I go by. My previous ride to work took 2 gallons of gas per day.

Posted: 03/05/11 in General Discussion. Score: 17 VIN #01234's first week gets 1549 MPGu (Miles/Gal_used) -1 replies

RB Couples: Mitch & Jesi

Saturday, 19 February 2011 12:24
Written by Jennifer Johnson

Hard-hitting Mitch Williams retired from professional racquetball but not from the hearts of fans or his fiancé, Jesi Fuller a six-year member of the Junior Olympic Team. They met as juniors. “We’ve known each other since she was twelve and I was sixteen. We were both juniors in racquetball, but we didn’t start dating until she was about nineteen and I was twenty-three.” Jessie’s memory is a little different. “I was thirteen and he was seventeen. I hated him...”

http://www.irt-tour.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165%3Arb-couples-mitch-a-jesi&catid=37%3Arokstories-showcase

Posted: 02/19/11 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 RB Couples: Mitch & Jesi 0 replies

A Marital Partnership
Tuesday, 15 February 2011 19:11
Written by Jennifer Johnson

What are the chances for two singles from two different countries to start dating while visiting a third nation? Pretty high as it turns out, if the couple is Canadian-born Christie VanHees and American Jack Huczek who were competing in the Dominican Republic. It wasn’t love at first sight.

http://www.irt-tour.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162:rb-couples-a-marital-partnership&catid=37:rokstories-showcase

Posted: 02/16/11 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 A Marital Partnership 0 replies

RB Couples: Pro Partners off the Court

http://www.irt-tour.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:rb-doubles-partners-off-the-court&catid=37:rokstories-showcase

Monday, 14 February 2011 15:15
Written by Jennifer Johnson

When we hear professional athletes have met their match, the first thought that comes to mind is in a competition and against each other. The opposite was true when these top pros found love around the courts ~ and the perfect match Kane and Kim at the Cali, Colombia Grand Slam for making a family and home. This is the first of a three-part series, featuring top pros and the partners they met playing racquetball.

Kane Waselenchuk and Kim Russell Waselenchuk
{snip}

Posted: 02/15/11 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 RB Couples: Pro Partners off the Court 2 replies

Ruben's "farewell tour"...can someone you repeat the details... signed a contract to play the IRT tour with goal of top 10 before age of 60?

I only caught a little of this on IRTNetwork as I was at a one day racquetball tourney today.

New toron Ruben series?
"1986 - Ektelon introduces the Toron: the first oversize graphite racquet."
http://www.ektelon.com/racquetball/files/ektelonHistory.aspx

Posted: 02/13/11 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 Ruben's "farewell tour"... 2 replies

This has been quite the busy year at USA Racquetball. One of the biggest changes has been the introduction of a combined membership and event system. If you haven't been on the new system, now would be a great time to check it out!

One feature to point out is the ability to do some sample test with the first one being a ref test. When you log in to the system, there is a menu on the left hand side. Look for "Courses and Testing" and select it. Then select "My Courses and Test".

Take this one: Rules and Officiating Sample Test - Part One

"Knowledge of the rules is an important responsibility of all instructors,coaches and players. This sample test will prepare you for the referee certification program that approves players to become certified referees."

Note: The USAR did not make up the above text ... I did since I thought the test was a nice challenge for myself and others. I'd suggest you read the questions carefully ... unlike what I did!!

Posted: 12/25/10 in USA Racquetball. Score: 5 USA Racquetball New Feature - My Online Courses and Tests 10 replies

Merry Holiday Wishes to our Racquetball Family!

This has been quite the busy year at USA Racquetball. One of the biggest changes has been the introduction of a combined membership and event system. If you haven't been on the new system, now would be a great time to check it out!

One feature to point out is the ability to sign yourself up for inclusion in various groups. When you log in to the system, there is a menu on the left hand side. Look for "User Groups" and select it. Then select "My Groups." You have been automatically entered into your state association group already, but you can add yourself to any other state from which you would like to receive updates and information. You may also be interested in receiving news from affiliated organizations like the pro tours and outdoor racquetball, for example.

Please write to us with any questions about the new membership system or any other racquetball topic. We hope you are having a safe and enjoyable holiday season, both on and off the courts!

See you in the New Year,

Your USA Racquetball Staff -- Jim, Heather, Melody, Terri, Heather, Eddie, and Jo

Posted: 12/25/10 in USA Racquetball. Score: 0 USA Racquetball New Feature - various groups 0 replies

http://www.usra.org/Rulebook.aspx

2007 USAR OFFICIAL RULES OF RACQUETBALL

Includes Rule Changes Effective September 1, 2007 This updated rulebook contains several additions/revisions from the previously published version (©2004). The most significant changes affected Rule 2.4(e); Rule 3.9(j); Rule 3.17(a)6; Policy A.6; and Policy A.8.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The 2007 USAR Official Rules of Racquetball are copyrighted. All rights reserved. These rules may be downloaded and printed for reference. A new or updated rulebook will be available soon with any new changes. You must have Adobe Reader to download and view the rulebook. If you do not have Adobe Reader, click here to download and install the free program.

• Downloadable/Printable Rulebook (32 pages)

Copyright © 2007 USAR. For information about reprint rights and fees, please contact USA Racquetball, 1685 West Uintah, Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2906. Tel: 719/635-5396 -- Fax: 719/635-0685 -- E-mail: racquetball@usra.org --www.usaracquetball.com

Posted: 10/29/10 in USA Racquetball. Score: -3 USAR OFFICIAL RULES Downloadable/Printable Rulebook (32 pages) 7 replies

IRT documents ranking calculations (points)

In the professional world we call that transparency and it can be a good thing because people have more faith, respect, and appreciation.

http://www.irt-tour.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133&Itemid=180

Posted: 10/29/10 in Men's Professional. Score: -5 IRT documents ranking calculations (points) 19 replies

iPhone

Check out the newest App. for Racquetball. Racquetball Mobile. Designed by Nick Hand and sponsored by Gearbox Racquetball.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A9myr2iUR4



http://www.racquetballmobile.com/

Posted: 09/26/10 in Showdowns and Meets. Score: 0 Racquetball Mobile - The new Gearbox App. by Nick Hand 3 replies

IRT RULE CHANGES FOR 2010-2011 SEASON
The following rule changes take effect at the start of the 2010-2011 IRT season:
I. Two Serve Rule - Player has two (2) chances to get the serve in play.
II. Ten Second Rule - Player has ten (10) seconds to put the ball in play after the referee calls the score. Referee is to call the score at the end of the last rally. If the court is wet, referee to call the score immediately following the court being in safe condition.
III. Arguing Skips, Double Bounce, Short or Foot Faults - At no time may a player question or argue skips, double bounce, short or foot fault calls.
IV. Hitting After the Rally - No player shall hit the ball after the rally has ended.

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Like how the new rules are working out. Watching the Kansas City tourney.

Seems like they could enforce this one better:
IV. Hitting After the Rally - No player shall hit the ball after the rally has ended.

Posted: 09/11/10 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 IRT RULE CHANGES FOR 2010-2011 SEASON 3 replies

Want to know what racquet your favorite player uses? What glove? Eyeguards? String? Racquetball Warehouse has put together a web page dedicated to IRT players, packed with action p h o t o s , i n f o r m a t i o n and interviews.

Learn about your favorite player’s accomplishments, products, *interviews*, and more by visiting: http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/proplayergallery.html

Posted: 09/05/10 in Men's Professional. Score: 0 Racquetball Warehouse Pro Player Gallery 0 replies