In November when I was coaching in Guatemala, I was discussing court position and strategy with the team. They asked me if I would compile a list of what I was telling them so they could remember and refer to it. I thought at the time that it would make a great “Top Ten” list for the magazine. The idea behind these strategies is to play the percentages. There are, of course, exceptions to these rules, but if you follow these strategies 80% of the time, you will put the odds in your own favor rather than your opponent’s. Here are my top-10 strategy basics:

• 1. Do not re-pinch a pinch. The highest percentage, successful response to retrieving a pinch is down the line. 
• 2. Pinch when you are in front court and your opponent is behind you (when you can’t see your opponent in your peripheral vision). 
• 3. Hit a down the line or cross court pass when your opponent is in center court and/or in front of you. 
• 4. Set up your killshots with passes rather than aiming for bottom board every shot. 
• 5. The object of the serve is to elicit a weak return (not to ace). 
• 6. The object of the return of serve is to move the server out of center court (not kill the ball). 
• 7. In the rally, hit to open court (where your opponent isn’t standing). 
• 8. Position yourself in center court behind the dotted hash mark line, not in front of it. 
• 9. Never change a winning game plan or strategy. Force your opponent to adapt before you change, rather than assuming they will. 
• 10. Always change a losing strategy.

Now I know that most of these are common sense. However, how often do you hold yourself to these standards? As easy as it seems, a lot of us forget all about ‘common sense’ in the heat of the rally. Next time you play a match, pick one of these strategies to focus on and check yourself out — how often do you choose the high percentage shot? Better yet, videotape your next match. Mastering any one of these strategies will add points to your game. But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself and see!

Marcy is a personal coach specializing in racquetball, fitness, and sports performance. She currently coaches the Guatemalan National Racquetball Team and consults for the U.S. National Racquetball Team. Send an e-mail for Marcy’s free on-line newsletter to marcy@marcylynch.com and visit the web page at www.marcylynch.com. Copyright, Marcy Lynch 2003.