Court Specifications

Outdoor racquetball courts have no official size, no enclosed space, no ceiling, no back wall and are either One Wall or Three Wall. Court classifications include one-wall, short-wall and long-wall courts. A one-wall court doesn't have side walls. A long-wall court has side walls longer than 30 feet. Some courts have a free-standing back wall-like surface not connected to any other wall but included in the playing area.

Play Regulations

To address the nature and design of the outdoor court, special play regulations for the outdoor game address serving rules, return of serve and balls bouncing over a side wall. Court hindrance doesn't generally apply outdoors, although local rules might designate a particular feature of a specific court as a court hinder. Sun, wind and rain do not constitute a hinder.
Special rules apply to a ball that strikes a light pole or a light attached to a side wall. And a safety holdup includes situations in which players on an adjacent court or mobile spectators prevent a player from hitting the ball. A safety holdup can apply to a vehicle entering the playing area. If a player intentionally launches a ball far beyond the court, it constitutes a technical foul for delay of game.

Quadrant Serving Rules

The server can choose either left or right quadrant for the first serve at the start of the game or after a side out, and must alternate quadrants for each serve until side out or end of game. A serve that hits the center line is a good serve. Choose red balls designed specifically for outdoor play.

Bevels

If the ball hits the beveled top of the front wall or the beveled end of a side wall and remains in play, the shot is good. Generally, if a ball hits a wall and remains in play, the shot is good.

Markings

The placement of line markings varies because the size of outdoor courts varies. Additional lines specific to an outdoor court include side lines, back line and singles service lines. Side lines and a back line mark a 20 foot by 40 foot play area. Singles service lines, if used, reduce the server advantage by marking off 18 inches inside each side line from the short line to the back line. These lines only apply to the serve and do not apply to doubles play. Outdoor courts do not have a receiving or 5 foot line but the receiving player's racquet swing cannot break the plane of the service box.