I spent the early 90’s traveling the country, and had the opportunity to play in and view some amazing racquetball tournaments. State championships, regional events throughout the Midwest, and the AARA National Singles tournament in Houston, Texas. I recorded some extremely talented players in open level matches. Almost all of these players are National Champions and are Hall of Fame caliber. Until now, I have never shared these videos. I’d like others to enjoy seeing these amazing matches, so I have created this RU-vid channel. This was one of the greatest periods in the sport of racquetball!
NOTE: I have included bios of the players when available. If you are watching these videos and have more player info or corrections, please leave it in the COMMENTS and I will make the updates. If you are in touch with any of the players in the videos, please share this Channel with them. I will be adding a new video approximately once a week. Please SUBSCRIBE to see the latest videos.
In history of the sport, its gone back and forth on how many serves are allowed (or how many extra serves I should say). During the 90's (the best decade for the sport IMO) it was one serve. Today it's two serves total allowed per rally in the pro's. However, IMO, one serve is more fun to watch (and play) as finesse becomes more important of a factor which allows the rallies to usually be longer. The only exception IMO when you play on really fast courts where it's almost impossible for a power-drive-serve to not to come off back wall (again making rallies longer).
I’ve seen Andy Roberts play many times. Once when he beat Cliff in the finals in New Orleans. He’s a master at having his feet set when he shoots. You don’t see it much here but he has a crazy mean backhand splat. I was sitting next to Sudsy one time when he was warming up and heard him comment on it.
nice video, this is the oldest racquetball video I have seen. I wonder if there are videos of Cliff Swain that year, Kane was probably to young to be in proffesional racquetball in 1992
i have seen rball videos from 2008 that have worst quality than this video. I have tried understanding the correlation between rball quality videos and the year the event took place but I think I've given up. Great upload and video quality for its time, 30 years ago almost, and even for now.
Brings back fond memories for me. I was a nationally ranked amateur in the late 80's. 66 years old now and my knees are long gone; one replaced and the other no ACL. I'm stuck with playing golf. C'est la vie!
Loved seeing Amatulli play as back then I was a better than average A player from northwest Indiana where John grew up & played sensational racquetball! Used to see him play at tournaments & really learned from watching him play so smart & athletic! Would like to find more of these videos of him. Also love how he respects Dave Peck in this match as there were a few close calls that he did not challenge & even overrode the ref on one call. Love & miss the game
Because I played the game, travelled to tournaments & competed. I understand the competition strategies etc... I wasn't a pro but played against Open players as that's how I know about Amatulli!@@johnnyjoejapan
@11:44 Skip ball from Roberts backhand. Not even close. What a stud tho Andy Roberts stomping all over the court! Look at him! He's huge, and with a brain. Not the guy to trifle with as a ref. That serve of his just banging photons. Fun to watch
@1:31 Skip ball. Good upload. Thanks. Dave Peck is a Hall of Fame(r), dontcha know? Not everyday you get to play one of those guys in a Nationals Final. Also, the Dave Peck racquetball instruction book is a good read and beneficial for any player wanting to improve. Sadly no instructional tips for combating boorish on-court behavior.
That's the dumbest take on racquetball i've ever heard. Racquetball is one of the highest calorie burn athletic activities out there, on a par with rowing, running 6-minute miles, etc.
@@Fe_de_ri_co I know exactly what Squash 57 is. This video is not Squash 57. This is a video of Racquetball from the early 1990s. Squash 57 wasn't even invented then.
Hearing the tournament director calling for the 3 o'clock matches to check in is so nostalgic. Those weekend racquetball tournaments were simply the best!
Man what an emotional moment. I had just clicked on my RU-vid account and what did I see in the top row right- a tape of my son in a match the year he won the nationals. From the 16s on he would call me after every match. His tone of voice and comments like "I gave it everything I had" would convey to me he lost. After a bit he would start to tell me the scores of the games. I would not think he won until after a big sigh he would tell me the third game score. I would cuss at him and he would laugh. Some history behind his delay tactics and his crouch serve. As a high school junior Chris was a great baseball player. 400 hitter and excellent defense. During practice early in the year while doing reverse pivot throws( as a coach myself I wondered why they were doing this early in the year.) He tore a couple his rotator cuff muscles. HE never regained full power in that shoulder again. Lost speed on his drive serve he did not regain. I think it speaks highly of his adaptability for him being relatively successful at a time when the ball was speeded up and power became so important. I think too that is why he retired so soon because to win he had to use strategy and super focus. He just tired out mentally. By the way we had Chris tested at MSU at one time for body fat, reflex speed and sprint speed. He was of the charts in most. In the 40 he was a 4.4 at 15. Thanks for posting. When I saw it the tears came a bit. It is the second Christmas without him. Happy Holidays to all the racquetball people of yesteryear and now.
