Michael Ladge | Mike Ladge: What is the Difference between Racquetball Balls?

Exactly how to Select a Racquetball

So you're perplexed by all the different color racquetballs available. Well that isn't? We're right here to attempt to clarify a few of the fundamental differences between the different kinds of racquetballs that are being generated.

Blue Racquetballs

Blue is the basic racquetball shade. This shows an ordinary rate as well as bounce. Ektelon, ProKennex and also Penn make a blue racquetball. These balls have similar speeds, although the Ektelon Premium Select as well as ProKennex balls seems to have more bounce. The Penn Ultra-Blue Racquetball is one of the most prominent racquetball amongst entertainment gamers.

Red Racquetballs

Red racquetballs are available in two flavors: Penn Ballistic 2.0 as well as the Ektelon Fireball (ProKennex makes an Orange Round that is comparable). These spheres are the fastest and heaviest spheres available. Their speed as well as shade make them especially superb for outside play. The Ektelon Fireball Racquetball is the official round of Globe Outdoor Racquetball (WOR).

Mike Ladge

Purple and Eco-friendly Racquetballs

Michael Ladge

The purple as well as eco-friendly rounds are Penn's Pro Penn line of racquetballs. These spheres play faster than blue, yet not as fast as the red. These rounds are rather vibrant in the court and are typical equipment at most sanctioned tournaments. Many individuals like the purple round as a result of it's enhanced presence on the court. The Pro Penn HD Racquetball is the official ball of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).

Black Racquetballs

Ektelon has a line of classic black racquetballs. These balls mimic the older design of racquetball that was slower, lighter and softer. The play of this round can commonly result in longer rallies as well as is preferred amongst elderly players. The Ektelon Classic Black Racquetball is the main sphere of the Traditional Pro Racquetball Excursion (CPRT).

Use Facebook. I am not an expert in social media, but somehow racquetball players have embraced Facebook more than other platforms like Twitter and Instagram. It is a great way to stay in touch with the racquetball community and let them know what you are up to. Never post anything that you wouldn’t want your grandmother seeing!

More on a personal level:

1. It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to people.

You would be surprised how many people do not get this one right, and it is hard to teach. Spend time teaching people on the court and teaching them how to drill, how to hold a racquet, etc. Even hitting with people can pay off. You would be surprised that when you are nice to people, some of them may actually go out of their way to help you financially and in other areas that can help you outside of racquetball. Most importantly, be nice to kids. Help someone’s kid and that parent will love you. That is priceless.

2. Let people know you have a dream.

Don’t assume people know what you are trying to accomplish. If your dream is to go pro or be the best in the world, let them know and tell them the challenges that exist. At this point in time, racquetball is a passion sport and it is very difficult to make a lot of money, so being able to get help making it to tournaments and covering expenses is a big thing. You never know if the person you’re talking to may have an interest in helping you. People become sponsors in sports and are often into race horses, car racing, sailing or even boxing, knowing they will never get any return on their money, why not racquetball if they have a passion for it? Unless they own a racquet or apparel company, it is hard to make money back as a sponsor.

3. Ask and you shall receive

If you are at the club and have (hopefully) been nice to people, you may meet people who have their own businesses and will be able to not only sponsor you, but also may be able to take it as an advertising deduction. It can be a local restaurant, a car repair shop, whatever. Put their name on your shirt, on your website, publicly thank them for their generosity. You don’t have to hit home runs. I saw success when we held a small fundraiser/exhibition and had 25 people donate $100 each. That is more money than most pro racquetball players will ever get from a racquet sponsor.

4. Help those that help you

Go out of your way to help people that help you. There is some upside to being a sponsor besides feeling good though. For example, one sponsor, Ross, owns Super Collision, an auto body and repair shop in West Los Angeles. He helped sponsor a player for a few thousand dollars last year. Not only do I take my own cars to him for everything, but I also let everyone at the club know that he helped sponsor and make sure they go to him (he does great work too). I have probably referred 10 people to him in the last year alone. Make sure you take care of the people that take care of you. He has made that money back several times over but you have to make the effort. No one is going to see his name on the back of a player’s shirt and say, "If I am in LA, I think I’m going to bring my car there." That will never happen, so you have to make it happen for your sponsors, coaches, trainers, chiropractors, etc. by letting people know how good they are.

5. Thank you notes (a lost art)

When someone gives you a gift, and I don’t care how small, send him or her a personal thank you note. Not an email or a text, but a hand written note. They won’t forget this and if you need more help down the road, they may be more open to help again. A thank you goes a long way.

There are a lot of different ways you can go and find what is comfortable for you but I have found this works for me. There is no right or wrong way, but do what you feel comfortable with. No one wants to be pushy, so do your best to be pully.