exploited, and even power going to one serve would lead to players started to utilize the lob fewer rallies? INTERNATIONAL serve in certain situations. Drew Kachtik and Aaron Katz It is impossible to know what the RACQUETBALL TOUR developed the “Texas lob”. Andy unintended consequences will be Roberts, himself capable of of the rule change, but we think hitting big drive serves, perfected ISSUE 2 | YEAR 2010 it’s going to be exciting. The 1. The IRT Two Serve Rule - Making a Case for the Change the Texas lob and made it an change undoubtedly will help 2. IRT Network Tops 30,000 Viewers integral weapon in his arsenal. I some players and hurt others. 3. A Preview to the 2010 U.S. Open Racquetball Championships developed a unique lob service Some will develop the drive serve 4. 2010 U.S. Open - The Greatest Show on Earth pattern that was effective against as a weapon, and some may try 5. Racquetball Warehouse Pro Player Gallery and fail! When a player falls 6. ProKennex Racquetball Re-signs #1 Kane Waselenchuk behind in a match, maybe having 7. Wilson Racquet Sports Signs Top Player Mitch Williams 8. The Racquetball “U” featuring Mitch Williams and Shane Vanderson two serves will offer a greater 9. IRT 2010-2011 Schedule opportunity to mount a 10. Championship Racquetball by Fran Davis comeback. We think fans will 11. Racquetball Changed His Life by Mark Cotterman love seeing the return of the crack 12. I’ve Got Next? by Kathy Geels ace and powerful serve and shoot 13. World 3 Wall Ball Championships Announced - Las Vegas, NV game styles. 14. 2010 World Championships in Cali, Colombia 15. 2010 U.S. Open Information & Entry Form We hope you are as eager as we are to see how the two serve rule will impact the IRT, and we THE IRT TWO SERVE RULE - MAKING A CASE FOR THE CHANGE encourage you to continue sharing your opinions with us. By Jason Mannino power players. When these fan responses. Some love the In an attempt to promote more various lob serve strategies took change, others thinks it’s an rallies and put less emphasis on on the power of Cliff, Sudsy and abomination. the serve, the IRT tried quadrant Kane, IRT events were full of serving. Once that failed, a interesting and exciting match In ancient times, the pros decision was made to allow only ups. And it was good. played with two serves. And it one attempt for the server to put was good. And then a guy the ball in play. Many people While one serve emphasized the named Cliff Swain came along. believed switching to one serve rally, it also led to a lob serve With a lethal arsenal of lefty would increase the importance of generation of players. They are drives, jams and Z’s, Cliff was the rally and round out the game. excellent at hitting accurate lob dominating the pro game. There was also a prevailing view © Mike Boatman 2010 serves, and they are equally Turns out that this Swain fellow that control players such as Mike skilled at returning lob serves. After considering over twenty would go on to become the Ray and Ruben Gonzalez would While the rallies are still exciting, proposed rules changes greatest server in racquetball benefit the most from the one there are actually fewer rallies! designed to increase fan history. Others got in on the serve change. Others believed You might be surprised to learn of excitement and enjoyment, the act – Egan Inoue, Tim Doyle, that it actually would hurt control the very high percentage of two IRT Board of Directors recently Andy Roberts, Tim Sweeney – players since they no longer had shot rallies on the IRT (e.g. lob – voted to bring two serves back these guys hit the serve so hard margin of error for serving, and kill, lob nick – kill, high lob – kill, to the pro game. In addition, that it skid across the floor. therefore had to be more junk lob – kill, etc). There are less the IRT passed a rule to While it was exciting to see conservative. than a handful of top players that institute a “10 second shot someone rip an ace, it led to bring serious heat to the serve, clock”. Since announcing the many one shot or two shot For many years the rule change and the crack ace has all but rule change, my inbox has rallies. Many claimed that the achieved its desired effect. vanished from the landscape. been flooded with impassioned pro game had become boring. Percentage racquetball was truly Who would have thought that exploited, and even power going to one serve would lead to Facebook to grow our players started to utilize the lob fewer rallies? membership base. We also serve in certain situations. Drew allowed everyone to watch the Kachtik and Aaron Katz It is impossible to know what the matches for free on Fridays which developed the “Texas lob”. Andy unintended consequences will be really helped our exposure." Roberts, himself capable of of the rule change, but we think hitting big drive serves, perfected it’s going to be exciting. The Scott was asked about the 1. The IRT Two Serve Rule - Making a Case for the Change the Texas lob and made it an change undoubtedly will help upcoming season and says that it 2. IRT Network Tops 30,000 Viewers integral weapon in his arsenal. I some players and hurt others. is going to be amazing. "There 3. A Preview to the 2010 U.S. Open Racquetball Championships developed a unique lob service Some will develop the drive serve are going to be twice the amount 4. 2010 U.S. Open - The Greatest Show on Earth pattern that was effective against as a weapon, and some may try of tournaments with the IRT, we 5. Racquetball Warehouse Pro Player Gallery and fail! When a player falls also will have CPRT Network, 6. ProKennex Racquetball Re-signs #1 Kane Waselenchuk behind in a match, maybe having WPRO Network, USAR Network, 7. Wilson Racquet Sports Signs Top Player Mitch Williams 8. The Racquetball “U” featuring Mitch Williams and Shane Vanderson two serves will offer a greater etc. They will all funnel into each 9. IRT 2010-2011 Schedule opportunity to mount a other and allow racquetball fans 10. Championship Racquetball by Fran Davis comeback. We think fans will full and complete access to 11. Racquetball Changed His Life by Mark Cotterman love seeing the return of the crack nearly every major tournament." 12. I’ve Got Next? by Kathy Geels ace and powerful serve and shoot The Network also says that the 13. World 3 Wall Ball Championships Announced - Las Vegas, NV game styles. large amount of registered users 14. 2010 World Championships in Cali, Colombia has turned the heads of 15. 2010 U.S. Open Information & Entry Form We hope you are as eager as we advertisers. "While the large are to see how the two serve rule majority of the 30,000 users are will impact the IRT, and we non-paying, it gives us several © Mike Boatman 2010 encourage you to continue hundred thousand hits a month. sharing your opinions with us. Nearly every racquetball power players. When these company is now on board as an fan responses. Some love the In an attempt to promote more various lob serve strategies took advertiser, and we are generating change, others thinks it’s an rallies and put less emphasis on on the power of Cliff, Sudsy and buzz from outside industry abomination. the serve, the IRT tried quadrant Kane, IRT events were full of companies. It's important for serving. Once that failed, a interesting and exciting match companies to remember that we In ancient times, the pros decision was made to allow only ups. And it was good. aren't just "racquetball played with two serves. And it one attempt for the server to put IRT NETWORK TOPS people"...we are PEOPLE who was good. And then a guy the ball in play. Many people While one serve emphasized the 30,000 VIEWERS play racquetball and there a lot of named Cliff Swain came along. believed switching to one serve rally, it also led to a lob serve us!" With a lethal arsenal of lefty would increase the importance of generation of players. They are IRT Network announcer & owner drives, jams and Z’s, Cliff was the rally and round out the game. excellent at hitting accurate lob John Scott announced this month Due to the advertising influx the dominating the pro game. There was also a prevailing view serves, and they are equally that the network surpassed the IRT Network is seeking account Turns out that this Swain fellow that control players such as Mike skilled at returning lob serves. 30,000 viewership mark. Scott, managers. For advertising After considering over twenty would go on to become the Ray and Ruben Gonzalez would While the rallies are still exciting, who took over the network in opportunities contact John Scott proposed rules changes greatest server in racquetball benefit the most from the one there are actually fewer rallies! March of this year, says that the at [email protected] designed to increase fan history. Others got in on the serve change. Others believed You might be surprised to learn of growth has been due in large part excitement and enjoyment, the act – Egan Inoue, Tim Doyle, that it actually would hurt control the very high percentage of two to Pablo Fajre, IRT Board of Directors recently Andy Roberts, Tim Sweeney – players since they no longer had shot rallies on the IRT (e.g.