Making a raquet at Bryanston Sports Club

Every Thursday night the squash courts are packed at Bryanston Sports Club, but the people on them are not playing squash.

Racquetball is six months old at the club and has taken off as a sport that offers longer, easier rallies than squash due to the bouncier ball.

Thus it provides an easier, but if desired, more thorough workout. And as a player improves, the game gets faster.

The shorter racket is also different, but otherwise, the rules for racquetball are very similar to squash.

So when the group of roughly 20 players meets up each week to play singles and doubles, they are ready for a good time.

“It can be a fast and challenging game but I love it,” said Ursula Armitage, playing for her second time.

“There are lovely people here and we are all learning the sport together.”

Jan van Rooyen has been playing since the sport was brought to the club.

“My friends and I play once or twice a week for the good exercise,” he said.

Convener of racquetball at the club, Clive Williams said his aim was to convince other squash clubs to play racquetball so a league could be formed between clubs.

“We are just playing socially at the moment but it is picking up. I would invite anyone interested to pitch up at the club at 6.30pm on a Thursday,” he said.

“We will provide the rackets but they must bring their own shoes suitable for the court.”

After the introduction of B20 bowls (a combination of lawn bowls and cricket) by the club’s bowls section, Bryanston Sports Club is becoming known as a sports club that also offers some of the lesser known and minority sports in the country.

Details: Clive Williams clive@exmc.co.za, 082 338 2829.

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