Rec Center Racquet

  KEITH ENRIQUEZ/Daily Bruin Senior Staff First-year
psychology student Jennifer Du prepares to whack
the ball across court during her racquetball match.

By Colin Yuhl
Daily Bruin Contributor

The last four weeks of every quarter are painful ones for many
UCLA students. For many weary academics looking for a way to vent
frustration after myriad term papers and exams, they look no
further than the Wooden Center racquetball courts.

In the belly of the recreational center, the hollow sound of a
rubber ball smashing against a solid wall hails the solution that
will allow a mentally exhausted Bruin to unleash that bitter,
resentful little person lurking within him. Racquetball is that
solution. Not only is it a way to release stress, but it’s
also a fun way to work up a heavy sweat.

“It’s a good workout. It’s fun, and when
it’s close to exam times, it’s great stress relief. Way
better than squash, anyway,” first-year pre-med student
Ronney Shantouf said.

The rules to the game are fairly simple. Games are played to 21
or 15 points. Points are scored only on serve. The server must stay
within the lines of the frontcourt. On serve, the ball must hit the
front wall first, no more than three walls total, and land outside
the back line. From there on it’s just a mad whack-fest, with
the only requirements being that the ball must hit the front wall
at some point in time, and be on the fly in one bounce.

“Once you figure out where to serve, it’s fair game.
The rules are instinctive,” first-year Sean Jones-Quaidoo
said.

There are certain precautions that need to be taken when
playing. It is an absolute must to wear eye protection and to be
very certain to keep an eye on the other player’s racket
swing. A lack of careful attention can lead to three stitches above
the left eyebrow and a whole new fondness for Tylenol. Also, try
not to let the ball hit any exposed skin. Getting hit by a hard
rubber projectile flying at 100 mph will definitely leave a
mark.

But don’t be intimidated. There simply isn’t a way
to be able to appreciate the therapeutic effects of laying the
smackdown on a small rubber ball until you try it.

“I like the one-on-one competition. It can be really
competitive,” Jones-Quaidoo said.

Racquetball is not just for the young and foolish. Players of
all ages go to the Wooden Center in order to vent and sweat.

“The courts are open to all students or recreation card
holders,” said David Koehne, assistant manager at the Wooden
Center. “That means any faculty, staff or alumni who have
purchased the card can play.”

Because the Wooden Center is not often able to provide balls,
you may have to purchase a can for roughly $3. Thankfully, there
are racquets available to be checked out. Court times are obtained
easily enough.

Either call or stop by the Wooden Center a day in advance to
reserve an hour of court time. Of course, being the popular
diversion that it is, courts may not always be available.

Admittedly, racquetball won’t make you summa cum laude. It
can’t even guarantee you’ll ace your exams. But if
you’re looking for an amazingly fun and healthy way release
stress and burn calories, just grab a partner and make a short trip
to the Wooden Center. That angry little person inside your head is
looking forward to it.